Fahrenheit 451 Characterization Essay Example

While Montag is storming through the house, searching for every nook a book could fit in, he is stopped by Beatty. A holler sending for all of the firemen to come down and prepare to burn. The owner of the house, an old lady, refuses to leave without her books. She lights a match and the house bursts into flames along with herself and her beloved ledgers. In Ray Bradbury’s society Fahrenheit 451 he illustrates how technology and books have changed the behavioral normalities of society, along with the actions they pursue as well. Just like us, Fahrenheit 451 has a set book of standards on how people should, and should not act. In the book, technology has an influence on each character along with their actions,and interactions. 

One person technology has an effect on is Guy Montag. Throughout the novel Guy is at conflict with his actions, and his heart. At the beginning of the book, Guy is a soulless robot doing exactly what everyone else does, burn. He doesn’t realize how unhappy he is, until he meets Clarrisse. “ He was not happy. He said those words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask,” (Bradbury 9) Clarisse opens Montag’s eyes to a new world allowing him to finally find what he has been missing, his happiness. With his new discovery of happiness, Guy finds out that there is also a great amount of stress involved too. “Nobody listens any more. I can’t talk to the walls because they’re yelling at me. I can’t talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it’ll make sense,” (Bradbury 82) Montag explains his frustration to Faber about how technology has taken over, and how nobody has time for anyone, or anything. The lack of human interaction contributes to the unhappiness Guy realizes he has been feeling all along. This is why he began looking for something with a greater meaning. 

Another person technology has an effect on is Mildred. Throughout the novel you will notice how Mildred is consumed by technology, whether it be her parlor walls, or her seashells, she always has her technology. Mildred is so engrossed in her ways, that she has forgotten all else. Nothing else matters to her, all she cares about is what the next show on TV will be. “Mildred watched the toast delivered to her plate. She had both ears plugged with electronic bees that were humming the hour away. She looked up suddenly, saw him and nodded. “You all right?” he asked. She was an expert at lip reading from ten years of apprenticeship at Seashell ear-thimbles. She nodded again,” (Bradbury 18) Mildred is so used to having seashells in her ears that she has learned to lip read. Mildred doesn’t even take the time to listen to what her husband is saying because she is so far gone down the black hole that absorbed her. Mildred and Guy have very different perceptions of happiness, books make Guy happy and make him feel alive, while the ‘parlor walls’ make Mildred happy. “Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody! Now.. My family is people. They tell me things: I laugh, they laugh! And the colors!” (Bradbury 69) Mildred has an emotional connection to the parlor people, and doesn't acknowledge that books can be that way for people, too. When Montag questions Mildred about the parlor characters she doesn't understand what's going on to really get the purpose of her life. 

In contrast to Mildred you have Clarisse. Clarisse wasn't personally affected by technology through interaction with it like Mildred, she was affected by it due to the lack of interaction, “ I rarely watch the parlor walls or go to the races or Fun Parks. So I've lots of time for crazy thoughts, I guess. Have you seen the two hundred-foot-long billboards in the country beyond town? Did you know that once billboards were only twenty feet long? But cars started rushing by so quickly they had to stretch the advertising out so it would last." (Bradbury 9) Clariss is explaining to Montag hre disconnection to the world, and with people all because of her lack of screen time. She tells him that's why she doesn’t go to school anymore because she is ‘antisocial ’and that no one would miss her anyways, “I’m antisocial, they say. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it? Social to me means talking to you about things like this,” (Bradbury 33) In the real world of Fahrenheit 451, “antisocial” means not being interested in the things that other people enjoy, like watching the parlor walls or reckless driving. Clarisse is considered antisocial because people have lost the sense of communication and connecting with others unlike herself.

Mildred, Clarrisse and Montag really represent how much technology can affect us. Whether it makes you realize your true purpose, and what makes you happy, or it consumes you little by little till you have nothing left besides technology making it the only ‘family’ you have left, or pushing you away from everyone else because it didn’t practically eat you alive. Technology can really change certain aspects of your life as well, as you saw with Guy. Technology imprints a mark onto everyone in this world, good or bad, and we are the ones who decide how it changes us.