Ever heard your parents say, “If your friends jump off a cliff, would you jump off too?” Of course, anyone in their right mind would say no. Conformity is a behavior by socially accepted conventions. Something we all find ourselves doing, whether it’s buying those pair of shoes that you can’t afford, but everyone else has, or even becoming a vegan, because who would sit down and think becoming vegan would be a good idea? As Muhammed Ali, once said, “The man who has no imagination, has no wings.”
Conformity; is the loss of individuality. Brainwashed. In the worlds created by Ray Bradbury and Arthur Miller, in the novel and play, Fahrenheit 451 (F451) and The Crucible, we see the universal and timeless detrimental effects of conformity to human nature.
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In olden day Salem where the Crucible is set, the government as a whole, is a theocracy, with the legal system based on the Cristian bible. We see 16-year-old girl Abigail Williams, as a sneaky, manipulative young lady, whilst the Church and the main priest, Reverend Paris, see her as a child of god. In the day and age of 1952, witches were seen to be true and the work of Satan, thus starting the witch trials. This is where darling sweetheart Abigail Williams, got many people hung, stoned, and imprisoned because she claims she saw the devil upon many people, including her former obsession, John Proctor.
The values, attitudes, and beliefs of the Salem community believed everything the Church said was God’s word and to go against that was a sin, this can be seen through the cultural assumption, that people's culture is related to their religion. ‘According’ to their religion, they must show their respect to god, they cannot touch witchcraft, and they are not allowed to commit adultery. People who doubt to use of witchcraft will be punished. It is forbidden. This is the core of all problems. A prime example of this and also what happens when you try to go against the quota, is Mary Warren, who was a part of Abigail’s’ little children of god’s group who claimed they could see the devil. Marry Warren who was forced to confess to her lies by John Proctor in hopes of the Church releasing they are being fed nothing but pure lies, so they would realize his Wife. When Mary begins to confess, Abigail turns her back on Mary and starts acting like the Devil is on Mary’s shoulder. With her life now on the line, she finds herself giving in to the fear, and conforming for a sense of safety again. Author/Director, Arthur Miller has carefully positioned his audience members, to see the danger of what conforming can do to you, but also to see what happens when you’ve conformed for so long, that going against what everyone else does and thinks, even when what they are doing is wrong, is just something you would never consider.
Because God hated everyone and wanted innocent people to die… sounds about right. Does that all sound familiar? We see this happening in our day-to-day lives. Remember that time it was YOU who ate your mum’s last cookie, and instead of confessing to your wrongs, you blamed it on your younger sister and they coped the blow? Yeah EXACTLY like that (just minus the murder and hangings… I hope).
In a similar vein, Ray Bradbury, author of F451, set out to show us, once again, what the effects of conformity have on one’s sense of individuality and freedom, and it’s scary. The society in which the story takes place, installs strict social regulations on its population, forcing the public to act, talk, and think the same. The citizens are a part of a population seemingly brainwashed by the oppressive government that controls their daily lives. Conformity is found throughout the novel in many different aspects. Everyone lives the same days, every single day of their lives (Groundhog Day, we’ve all been there). Their lives are bland- to the point where depression and suicide become a social norm. After Montag returns home to discover that Mildred has taken pills and is unresponsive in her bed, he questions why the hospital sent a machine instead of a doctor to help her. This response given by a hospital operator highlights how common suicide attempts are and how the hospital has decided to handle such events- “We get these cases nine or ten a night. Got so many, starting a few years ago, we had the special machines built.”
“I’m anti-social they say. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it?” This quote shows the social stigma in the novel, held against creative and unique people in such an oppressive society depicted in the novel. Those who go against the social norms and ask or talk are often questioned and labeled crazy, and need psychological evaluation. This pushes the pressure on people to remain quiet and dull.
Sometimes, being forced to do and be something, makes you want to not do or be what you’re being forced to do or bed. Like when you decide to finally do your chores without asking and then your parents ask and you’re turned off doing anything for them? No? Just me? Okay. Well at least Montag relates, because after being just a firefighter burning books, and being so controlled by the Government, and his work. He is inspired by 16-year-old Clarisse, who asks him “Are you happy?” This sparks a flame in Montag. He becomes a renegade and goes against his everyday life, he starts to read, talk, and ask.
Ray Bradbury cleverly uses the phoenix as a representation of hope throughout the novel, symbolizing Montag and his inspirational journey. The word phoenix symbolized immortality, but for the people in Fahrenheit 451, their only hope was that the phoenix would be burned out, and be reborn again. The myth of the phoenix gave optimism to the life of Montag, to the books, and the world of Fahrenheit 451. The world was now dying, and nobody seemed to care, because the government had brainwashed the people. It was a situation, where not only the brave, but the ones who can think for themselves, who can help break the government’s control.
Conformity is not only a loss of individuality, but a loss of freedom, of thinking, of asking. This novel and film have cleverly portrayed the dangers and detrimental effects conforming takes on one’s life and soul. So next time you feel obliged to do something, just because everyone else is, remember Ray Bradbury’s wise words, “If they give you lined paper, write the other way.”
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