Knowledge is the passport to the future. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury focuses on a dystopian society that discourages independent thought. Censorship is rampant, and humanity struggles. When knowledge is suppressed, humans lose identity and thus suffer dire consequences. Montag, Beatty, and all the citizens in this society are severely impacted by this lack of knowledge. Montag is a fireman who admires and has faith in his society until a deep conversation with Clarisse. Clarisse states “ ‘You laugh when I haven't been funny and answer right off. You never stop to think what I've asked you’ ”(Bradbury 8). Montag is content with his life and views the world the way he is told to; until he meets Clarisse who encourages him to think about his role in this dystopian society. Montag’s encounter changes him and he begins questioning everything. He reflects on his job and states “ ‘I suddenly realized I didn't like them at all, and I didn’t like myself at all any more. And I thought maybe it would be best if the firemen themselves were burnt’ “(67). Montag begins to understand how to think …show more content…
The fire station receives a call, once arrived Montag witnesses “[A] woman on the porch reach[ing] out with contempt to them all and [striking] [a] kitchen match against the railing”(40). The old woman feels there is no point in living without the knowledge inside her books, and thus burns herself alongside them. People in this society are not the happy individuals those in power want others to believe they are. Mildred overdoses and Montag makes an emergency call, some handymen arrive and state “ ‘We get these cases nine or ten a night’ ”(15). Montag discovers how common suicide attempts are, leading him to believe the problem is society itself. The citizens including the old woman, and Mildred are victims of this suppressive society which forces them to desperate