The Pedestrian And Fahrenheit 451 Comparison

The Lone Wolfs

As the famous poet, Maya Angelou, once said, “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” In “The Pedestrian” and Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist Mr. Leonard Mead and the young woman Clarisse McClellan, both exemplify this sentiment as they strive to know better and do better in a society that values conformity and discourages intellectualism and personal expression. Both works of literature serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of a society that suppresses individuality and intellectualism. Through the characters of Mr. Mead and Clarisse, Bradbury reminds us of the importance of intellectual curiosity and personal expression, something that the two worlds seem to ignore.

In both the novel and short story, Ray Bradbury explores the theme of conformity. In Fahrenheit 451, this idea of being similar to one another has led to the ban of books, distinguishing what might inspire independent thought. As Captain Beatty explains, “we must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal…each man the image of every other” (“Fahrenheit” 58). Similarly, in “The Pedestrian,” Mr. Leonard Mead is ostracized for his nonconformity, as he is the only one that still enjoys going on a leisurely walk. The police car’s metallic whisper asks, “What are you doing out?...Walking where?...For what?” (“The Pedestrian” 2). The “whisper” is, in a sense, awestruck, surprised to notice Mr. Mead walking around all alone. Ultimately, Bradbury’s portrayal of conformity serves as a warning against the dangers of blindly following societal norms and the importance of preserving individuality and

In the novel, the government progressively tries to suppress knowledge and critical thinking by burning books, instead promoting a culture of mindless entertainment supplied by “parlor walls.” The result is a world filled with superficial, unoriginal thoughts and even forgetfulness, as demonstrated by characters like Mildred, who cannot remember basic details about her past. When asked where she and Guy Montag had met, she had said, “why, it was at…I don’t know… it’s been so long” (“Fahrenheit 451”). Meanwhile, in the short story, Mr. Leonard Mead is arrested for the seemingly innocent act of walking. This behaviour seems the opposite of Mildred’s shallow-level and controlled way of life. Thus the suppression of individuality is destroyed, leading to the dismantling of unique and original ideas. As Mr. Mead says in the short story, “he had never met another person walking, not once in all that time” (“The Pedestrian” 1). At one point, everyone wanted to be unique but now, conformed to the silent grey homes, people have forgotten how to express