Examples Of Characterization In Fahrenheit 451

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The author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, uses the the literary element of characterization to reveal the theme that society leads people to conformity. Throughout the novel, Ray Bradbury has this theme present in most interactions with characters and reveals it through their speech. For example when the main characters Mildred and Montag are reading through novels and attempting to understand the content, Mildred gets frustrated because she does not see a point in the task. Mildred, “[...] kicked at a book. ‘Books aren't people. You read and I look around, but there isn't anybody!’ He stared at the parlour that was dead and grey as the waters of an ocean that might teem with life if they switched on the electronic sun. ‘Now,’ said Mildred, …show more content…
An example of this would be when Montag stood up and read a short poem from a book to Mildred and her friends. Mrs. Bowels then, “[...] stood up and glared at Montag. ‘You see? I knew it, that's what I wanted to prove! I knew it would happen! I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proved to me. You're nasty, Mr. Montag, you're nasty!’” (Bradbury 129). By Bradbury characterizing Mrs. Bowels as a conformist who believes that reading and owning literature is erroneous, it reveals how deeply some people in society believe that what the government is doing is correct. Mrs. Bowels, -- along with others -- have been exposed to media such as television and other devices which make them conform their beliefs into what the government wants them to believe. It also reveals that because society provides these materials, they do not want people to adapt to new ways of thinking or learning. Since Mrs. Bowels actions of interrupting and standing up out of her seat are so brusque, it disclose the fact that she does not want to have people read or change their previous ways of life to adapt to literature it depicts how society’s role in the life of characters leads them to conformity. Thus, Bradbury’s use of characterization for the people in his novel through speech and actions lead to the revelation of the theme that society ultimately lead people to
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