The Consequences of Blind Trust in Authority and Why it is Important to Think For Oneself Mindlessly obeying authority is the easiest thing one can do in society. This fact is proven in both George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Both novels explore societies in which citizens have blind trust in their government and depict the negative impacts that follow, whether they be governmental corruption and authoritarian principles, a false sense of unity between individuals, or the perpetuation of harmful societal norms. These factors serve as a reminder of the dangers of blind trust, and the importance of thinking for oneself, allowing readers to get a sense of the need to develop one’s own moral compass. To begin with, it is important to understand that blind conformity occurs when individuals cannot think …show more content…
It is evident here how Squealer manipulates the animals and takes advantage of their trust. Had the animals taken a moment to reflect on the situation, they might have realized that they too were being exploited; instead, they blindly trusted Squealer’s words over their own, and mindlessly played into their own oppression. This further proves the importance of thinking for oneself, showing how blind trust in authoritative figures can lead to exploitation. Though corrupt governing bodies are often the ones who exploit individuals, society as a whole is what perpetuates harmful and unjust practices—a direct result of the blind trust that they place in their government. For example, in Fahrenheit 451, the burning of books is the norm; though this is arguably immoral, no citizen questions the law. While it is not explicitly stated, it can be interpreted that way through the following quote, when Montag shows Mildred all the books he has