Personal connection isn't really in someone's mind on a day to day basis, yet it is one of the most important aspects we have going on in our lives. In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, it speaks a lot about the loss of personal connection. The main character, Guy Montag, realizes this loss and the value of connecting with others.
In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, the government has made it illegal to read, let alone own any books. The people in this society have been morphed into soul-less bodies who are interdependent on technology. Clarisse McClellan, another character, helps Montag view the world they live in a different way. In the novel people don't read, share ideas, or value the gift of life. Clarisse is someone who is considered to be antisocial in their society all because she loves having meaningful conversations unlike others. People are attempting suicide and it seems normal. It really is heartbreaking. When Montag listens to Clarisse she gives off a sense of presence because their conversations are thought provoking. Clarisse’s whole persona reminds us of a much happier time, when books were being opened. Unlike with Clarisse, when Montag speaks to others he is reminded how bad the loss of books impacts character. People are turning into robots, personal connection has faded.
We can feel this heartbreak in the novel by the way Bradbury uses characterization. Clarisse McClellan is the girl who loves nature and life. Then Guy Montag is a man who follows the rules without questioning. The names are also dramatically different because Guy's name is so ordinary and Clarisse's name is unusual and beautiful. The loss of personal connection can also be seen when in the society’s overdose of technology. Montag’s wife, Mildred, would constantly wear seashells in her ears in order to escape in her own world whenever Montag would come home. They were both married yet they were also two strangers under the same roof.
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