Post #1

Journal Entry #! - The customs of society in the setting....
I'm not quite sure if this qualifies as a post from 'beginning of the book.' But here's a post anyways.

In the very first scene we are introduced to Guy Montag's profession; a firefighter who burns books (as well as houses) instead of putting out the fire. This may seem odd, but we realize that the setting of this novel is in the distant future where certain peculiar customs are practiced. For example, cars drive over a hundred miles per hour, people listen to their radios (Seashell) rather than hold conversations with others, and owning books are considered illegal. Another evident custom is alienation of others - a great example being Montag and his wife. Mildred is always absorbed in her radio plugged in her ear and the three walls of programming parlor she calls 'her family.' Where is Montag in all this? Well, he is absorbed in mass unhappiness, and wonders of certain encounter with a strange girl - Clarisse McCellan. Clarisse surprises Montag by her abnormality, by holding conversations, asking why rather than how, and pursuing happiness in ways others do not consider. (Hiking, catching butterflies, tasting rain) So Montag finally discards his 'mask of happiness,' that is, the way the society expects everyone to behave like. He questions his own unhappiness and how Clarisse stays happy despite being so out of place.
A question is, how did these people obtain such custom of life ? What is the true meaning of 'happiness' in this novel?

First of all, the population of the setting were planted with ideas of 'acceptable life in society' since young age. The quote, "That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle..." (Captain Beatty pg60) explains how young kids were to assimilate the ways of society since young age. "We've a record on her family. We've watched them carefully..." (Capt. Beatty, page 60) also describes the authorities' influence on keeping everyone orderly.

Second of all, the expectations and rules of society; one of the law states that all books must be disowned. This is an act to keep everyone happy and maintain peace; the books are against sustainability of peace because they contain philosophy and ideas rather that facts. This means that one may be proved wrong and one may be proved right. So Captain Beatty explains that to keep everyone happy, they must have facts. If they have facts, they have a sense of knowledge, and they will be happy. However, if the facts are questioned why, and other sides of opinions are thrown out there, one may not feel so happy. So it's as if people are living in a world of only facts, not opinions because people are bound to contradict with one another, causing conflicts. "Cram them full of noncombustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information...Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy and sociology to tie things with." (Capt. Beatty Pg. 61) explains the idea of only facts, but not opinions. So basically this can be an act of censorship, as books are forbidden and people are not allowed to express their opinions.

Thirdly, another reason why the books are forbidden because straightforward facts are facts - they do not differ from different perspectives. The society is designed to make everyone feel equal. (Montag realizes this when he observes that all the other firemen look exactly like him.) Ideas and philosophical views make everyone unequal, and by providing facts no one shall differ and contradict with one another.

These ideas are very important because it is evident that Guy Montag changes after he meets Clarisse; before he enjoys book burning, and considers the smell of kerosene to be like perfume. But after he questions the act of book burning, obtains a book himself, admits that the smell of kerosene makes him vomit, and promises he will not be a fireman again.
So it is important to note why Montag has changed; it's also important to know what effect Clarisse had on Montag. Clearly Clarisse had influenced Montag with her own ways of life - and made him question the lives of their society. So we must be able to know the background knowledge of their society (the setting), what situation Montag is facing (the conflict) and finally what he will do to pursue happiness and relinquish his uneasiness (the overcoming of conflict)

The quotes mentioned above are important because they give an explanation of the setting and the conflict Montag is in.

The quote, "That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle..." (Captain Beatty pg60) is important to me, because this brings up my previous knowledge about assimilation of young minds. I can relate to actual events learned from history of the past, and understand the intention behind such acts.

The quotes and the ideas which describe everyone's equality (facts, not opinions) are important because I can relate this to nowadays' issue of equality. In our current lives people are meant to be born equal, with equal rights to learn and prosper. However, in the novel the acts to keep everyone equal are extreme because people are rather made equal if not born equal - people are limited to what they know and the influences of the government is massive. This completely contradicts to what our meaning of equality is: we have a right to learn and reach our full potential. However, in the novel censorship is used and people are only fed facts, establishing learning barriers.

Now the final question is: despite all these censorship and expectations of life set by the society in the novel, what would Montag do to establish happiness? Can he overcome living in a life where his own wife drifts ever so distant everyday? Is Montag left to stay unhappy whilst other people of living population live in a society full of censorship? Will Montag only live to succumb to everyday life of disconnection?