Role Of Society In Fahrenheit 451

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Pages: 2

Society can and does fundamentally shape individuals, for better or for worse. Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury, explores this idea in a society that burns books and doesn’t think. Mildred, the wife of main character Montag, has been molded by society to be unfeeling, self centered, and robotic.

First, as evidenced by the following quote, Mildred is incredibly self centered: “Will you turn the parlor off?” he asked. “That’s my family.” “Will you turn it off for a sick man?” “I’ll turn it down.” She went out of the room and did nothing and came back. “Is that better?” Rather than turn the parlor off, or even down, for her sick husband, she keeps it as is. This shows she is self centered, as she would rather have the parlor on than help her sick husband, who she denies is even sick. Additionally, her initial response of “That’s my family” shows that she puts her own enjoyment above her husband’s well being.
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She responds to most anything with automated and often unrelated responses. Example: He looked with dismay at the floor. “We burned an old woman and her books.” “It’s a good thing the rug is washable.” She fetched a mop and worked on it. “I went to Helen’s last night.” Rather than show concern, or even react to, the fact that Montag and the other fireman burned a woman alive with her books, she talks about how her day went. Her robotic, uncaring response also ties into how she is self centered and