Bradbury uses the parlor walls to demonstrate how an obsession with technology can isolate an individual. Mildred was particularly intrigued with the parlor walls. Clarisse, on the other hand, was not. Clarisse commented, “I rarely watch the parlor walls . . . So, I’ve got lots of time for crazy thoughts” (Bradbury 7). Her thoughts are not crazy, Bradbury illustrates how backwards the society is. Having time to think is portrayed as abnormal in Fahrenheit 451. Clarisse is the epitome of normal. Clarisse has time to think, she can connect with the world around her. Mildred, on the other hand, refers to the parlor walls as family and the parlor walls have isolated her from her actual family and the outside world.
He saw her leaning into the great shimmering wall of color and motion where the family talked and talked and talked to her, where the family prattled and chatted and said her name and smiled at her and said nothing of the bomb that was an inch, now a half inch, now a quarter inch from the top of the hotel (Bradbury 152.) Bradbury is giving an example of how technology isolates and individual. The bombs were closing in on Mildred and she was leaning into the walls, oblivious to the bombs getting closer to her.
…show more content…
Lenhoff Alan stated, “Fahrenheit 451 raises challenging questions. Is it better to be unthinking and content, or thoughtful and troubled? Can people really be happy if they are passive automatons? But do books--or, rather, the ideas in them, or the act of pondering those ideas--assure happiness and wisdom?” Bradbury encourages cognition. Bradbury calls the reader to awaken and contemplate the themes of the novel. Through self-reflection one can identify their short comings. Bradbury’s is optimistic that self-reflection will prevent repeating mistakes of the past. The novel’s themes are an ideal way to prevent an unconnected and out of touch