Examples Of Anomie In Fahrenheit 451

The social condition, anomie, is presented in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, within many major and minor aspects. The society seems to promote isolationism and that begins with things as simple as their leisure activities and architecture. Clarisse McClellen’s uncle seems to hit the nail on the head stating, “My uncle says there used to be front porches. And people sat there sometimes at night, talking when they wanted to talk, the real reason, hidden underneath, might be they didn't want people sitting like that, doing nothing, rocking, talking; that was the wrong kind of social life.” (Bradbury pg. 30) The society prevents its citizens from free thought as a way to suffocate the potential of uprisings. These leisure activities display anomie by making them an independent experience rather than a group activity. Mildred sits at home all day talking to ‘relatives’ programmed by the society, and has little to no interaction with others aside from Guy. The society is telling her what to think while
When Clarisse plants simplistic questions and ideas in his head, this inception grows and spreads much like a disease or virus. Simple ideas such as watching the landscape rather than rushing past or even the question, “Are you happy?” (Bradbury pg. 4) cause Guy to reconsider his role and he feels alone, superstition rises and then society seems to be isolating him with the hounds, “But Montag did not move and only stood thinking of the ventilator grille in the hall at home and what lay hidden behind the grille. If someone here in the firehouse knew about the ventilator then mightn't they "tell" the Hound . . . ?” (Bradbury pg. 12) It appears that they use it as a red flag, a way of monitoring those deemed ‘different’ and almost threatening those who begin to generate free thoughts by alienating