Inequality In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

Many people would agree that absolute equality would be great. A society like this would seem to function perfectly, with no conflict or problems, however, in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, we start to realize that a world that strives the most for equality can actually end up having the most corruption. With no freedom or right to express individuality, Montag’s society is just about as corrupt as they get. This society views books as a way of gaining knowledge, power, and therefore, inequality. “‘A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it’” (Bradbury 58). Beatty is insinuating to Montag that books are as powerful as guns. If one person has a book, he or she has more power than everyone else, and this is exactly what this society

‘“No one has time anymore for anyone else”’ (Bradbury 23). Clarisse McClellan tries to point out the flaws of their culture to Montag, saying that everyone is separated so much that they forget what it’s like to build normal relationships with others. It’s as if everyone is in a building on the same floor with the same stuff, but they’re all separated by tiny cubicles. The goal is for everyone to be happy by making them equal, but we find out quickly that this is not the ideal way of living. Clarisse is the first one in the novel to go against society and express individuality, but she ends up disappearing. Although readers don’t know exactly what happened to her, it’s safe to infer that society caught on to her actions and eliminated her. This early event really foreshadows what might happen to another character if he/she turns against society. Later in the novel, when Montag decides to rebel against the average cultural ways of life, the prices he has to pay are excruciating, but he begins to uncover the horrible truth about the

“‘But remember the captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority. Oh, God, the terrible tyranny of the majority’” (Bradbury 108). Faber explains to Montag that as much as society needs change, people within it are not willing to do so. They all know what will happen to them if they go against the system, so they try to blend in. Furthermore, when people obtain books, they start to learn about the flaws of humanity, and begin to understand some of the truth about it. Unfortunately, most people would rather pretend that the real truth doesn’t exist. Instead of picking up the garbage on the floor, they sweep it under the table where it can’t be seen. Their commitment of going along with society is so strong that almost nothing can break it. They live for entertainment and instant gratification, but after that, there’s nothing left to do in