Imagine a world where everything has changed– firemen start fires instead of putting them out, books are illegal, and TV dominates life. Imagine a world where family dynamics have changed, and society is about as twisted and delusional as possible. In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, this world becomes a reality. In this novel, the firemen start fires, not put them out, because they live in a world where television is life and the family dynamics and definition of social have changed quite a bit.
In this world, a fireman named Montag changes his perspective on life after he meets a young girl named Clarisse, who teaches him the true value of life. In the wonderful book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury creates a world where family dynamics have changed completely, having negative effects on Mildred, Clarisse, and Montag, yet positive effects on Montag, Faber, and Granger. In Fahrenheit 451, the family dynamics have changed from the loving and supporting way things are today to complete isolation, all because of television; this is usually a negative relationship for people.
Today, but with a few sad exceptions, most families love and support each other. However, in Fahrenheit 451, that has changed completely. Mildred, Montag’s wife, does not greet Montag with a hug and a kiss, but instead continues to watch her virtual reality TV (18). This has a negative effect on the relationship, as the couple has no bonding time, and, rather than a couple, they exist as two individuals. Clarisse, the young neighbor girl, can even sense that Montag is not in love (20).
That is not the only relationship affected. Mrs. Phelps is not even worried for her husband, Pete, who went to war, further demonstrating the lack of compassion (91). Although one might argue that TV would serve as a distraction and prevent arguments, that would be wrong. Once again on page 18, Mildred and Montag argue about TV, this time over money. Mildred says: “How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall TV put in? It’s only 2 thousand dollars. Montag replies with: “That’s a third of my yearly salary,” leading to an argument over Montag being neglective and Mildred being irresponsible with money, putting tension on the ever-changing family dynamics.
Finally, the family dynamics have changed in that the couples no longer protect each other. In Chapter 2, Montag asks his wife, Mildred, to support him in his work to bring back books. However, it is revealed that Mildred reported Montag’s books, leading to the burning of their house. In essence, Mildred betrays Montag, showing that they have no mutual trust, yet again a negative to the family dynamics (108).
So, in Fahrenheit 451, the family dynamics have changed from loving and supporting to fighting or utter isolation, as demonstrated by Montag’s and Millie’s lack of compassion, arguing, and lack of mutual trust, as well as Mrs. Phelps’s relationship with her husband. So, overall, the family dynamics have turned for the worst, but they affect every character differently in the examples of Mildred, Clarisse, and Montag, the effects are negative. In the case of Mildred, the family dynamics cause her to lose a sense of purpose. In chapter one, Mildred is introduced.
Her description is of a broken woman with frizzy hair who sleeps with a seashell radio in her ear and spends all day with her fake family on the TV. She can’t function in society, and thus she is just a shell of the woman she once was– definitely a negative thing, all caused by the new family dynamics of TV life. In the case of Clarisse, family dynamics cause her to be looked down upon. Clarisse says: “I’m anti-social, they say. I don’t mix. ” She then describes that she is social, just not in the way most people are (26-27).
Most people consider social gathering around a TV or other things of that nature. Clarisse likes to talk of the leaves, the chestnuts, and everything around her, unlike everyone else. She stops to enjoy life, while others live in a virtual reality. This has a negative effect on Clarisse. Even though she doesn’t mind it much, she spends most of her time alone, even though 17-year-olds should have people to talk to. Even though sometimes it is good to be alone, too much solitude is definitely negative, and all due to the definition of the word “social” caused by the new family dynamics.
In the case of Montag, he loses his home, has a bad marriage, and begins a life on the run. In Chapter three, after Mildred reports him, Montag is forced to burn his own house. To avoid being arrested and to save his friend Faber, Montag kills the fire chief, Captain Beatty, and plants books in a fellow fireman’s house. After killing the mechanical hound, he is forced on the run, joining up with a group of book-loving hobos and starting a new life. The loss of his home and his marriage as well as being turned into a fugitive are definitely negative things, all caused by the lack of mutual trust in family dynamics.
So, even though family dynamics have changed for the worst, they affect every character differently: in the cases of Mildred, Clarisse, and Montag, the effects are negative. Despite being negative, the family dynamics can also in some ways be a positive: in the case of Montag, it inspires him to fight for what he believes in; in the case of Faber, it inspires him to do something with his life; in the case of Granger, it allows him to build relationships and craft a legacy through books.
Even though family dynamics cost Montag his marriage, his home, and his crime-free history, throughout chapters two and three, Montag really grows as a character. When he first meets Clarisse on page three, he thinks her ideas to be crazy nonsense. However, he decides to come out of the closet about his secret book collection, works with Faber in chapter two on a plan to sabotage the houses of firemen, and finally stands up for what he believes in when he shakes the firemen and begins life on the run in chapter three. Eventually he joins Granger’s gang of book-loving hobos, and they begin their work to keep books alive.
If not for family dynamics, he would have never begun his book crusade. Even though family dynamics are in most ways negative, in the case of Faber family dynamics are a positive. Montag convinces Faber to join his plot to sabotage firemen’s houses (82-86). Montag’s pain from his losses kindles his passion for justice and return to healthy society, and Montag’s passion inspires Faber. Family dynamics inspire Montag to fight, and Montag inspires old Professor Faber to finally return to doing something with his life, making him feel proud to be doing something again. In the case of Granger, family dynamics allow him to keep the legacy of books.
As the family dynamics change, Granger is inspired to keep his legacy alive. As families turn from loving groups to TVwatching groups of individuals, Granger is inspired to teach people to act differently, and passes on literature by word of mouth. If it weren’t for family dynamics, Granger would have no reason to seek out fellow book-lovers, and his cause allows him to forge friendships (145). So, even though the change in family dynamics is overall negative, some effects are good: Montag gains passion for his cause, Faber gains a reason to be, and Granger builds relationships and finds his legacy.
So, in Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, families no longer function as groups of loving supporters of each other, but as groups of individual TV-watchers. This can have both negative and positive effects. In the cases of Mildred, Clarisse, and Montag, family dynamics have a negative effect. However, in the cases of Montag, Faber, and Granger, family dynamics also have a positive effect. So, family dynamics have changed drastically in this novel, from the usually loving way it is today to showing a lack of compassion, demonstrated by both Montag’s marriage and Mrs.
Phelps’s marriage, having arguments constantly, as demonstrated by Montag’s and Mildred’s arguments, and having a lack of mutual trust, shown when Mildred reports Montag’s books. This has a negative effect on Mildred. She turns into a hollow shell of the woman she once was. This has a negative effect on Clarisse, because she is looked down upon. This has a negative effect on Montag. He loses everything! Despite being negative, family dynamics has a positive effect on Montag by building his character and inspiring him to stand up for what he believes in.
Faber is inspired to join a cause again. Granger is inspired to make friends and make a legacy for himself. Thus, family dynamics have changed drastically, but can be both positive and negative. In this novel, much insight can be gained. As stated in the introduction of Fahrenheit 451, anyone can say what the novel is about–books– but if they say that that is all the book is about, then they are wrong. This book tea many lessons. It teaches the value of family and friends, as this book creates a world that would be awful to live in, but is coming very soon if nothing changes.
It teaches to fight for what one believes in. Perhaps don’t go as far as Montag did, killing Captain Beatty with fire, but have a firey passion for what one believes. It also teaches to not jump on the bandwagon. The world where everyone is the same– TV-watching zombies– serves as a warning. Uniqueness is the foundation of society. So, anyone can say what a book is about. However, if they say Fahrenheit 451 was just about a fireman burning books, they’d be wrong. Many lessons can be learned from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.