The word “social” may have as many definitions as there are souls inhabiting the planet, but what happens with that term is turned around completely? One answer can be found in the world of Fahrenheit 451, where a person is considered antisocial if he or she thinks freely or rebels against the norm. Society uses this term when referring to Clarisse, who spends her time exploring the world around her, rather than trying to fit in with her peers. Indeed, this world’s idea of social behavior is turned on its head, yet it is not so different from that of our own society. In the brainwashed world of Fahrenheit 451, most people mindlessly believed the shadows depicted on their television screens. Television “families” almost entirely took the place of interpersonal relationships. Moreover, the …show more content…
Factors, such as our abuse of phones, the internet, and television, indicate so. These forms of communication often obstruct the most meaningful type of interaction—face-to-face. Furthermore, some engage in frenetic activities in search of a sense of belonging, connectedness, and fulfillment. There seems to be a lack of middle ground between disconnectedness and unruly behavior. Lastly, we devalue elders and their wisdom by refusing to hear what they have to say, just as the people of Fahrenheit 451 ridiculed and criticized those who were knowledgeable about the world before the “purge” and refused to have a blind pulled over their eyes. In conclusion, throughout Fahrenheit 451, the social standard consisted of a lack of deep relationships with others and a blind acceptance of society’s norms. Outliers, such as Clarisse, who wanted more than what was fed to them through the “funnels,” were thought to be rebellious and antisocial. However, though Bradbury’s depiction of this society may appear far-fetched, it still bears similarities to our own civilization and social