Happiness In Fahrenheit 451

Emotional happiness might seem redundant at first, since happiness is an emotion. We will be looking more at emotional well-being, or whether characters are emotionally satisfied. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “No aspect of our mental life is more important to the quality and meaning of our existence than emotions” (Emotion). So it seems reasonable that we would examine the effect emotions have on our well-being or happiness. We are first introduced to the emotional aspect of the novel when Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy (Bradbury 10). At first, Montag asserts that he is indeed happy, but upon further reflection, he realizes that he is not (12). This awareness prompts Montag on his journey that becomes the center
of the novel.

One of the most obvious expressions of unhappiness in the novel is the high suicide rate in future America.
We learn of this problem when Montag is speaking with the rescuers after his own wife attempts suicide. The medics inform us that they attend to 9 or 10 suicide calls every night. The high occurrence of suicides had led to the invention of special machines to save suicide “victims.” Suicides are often committed out of despair, and often some type of mental disorder is present in the person who commits suicide. Suicide has become a serious issue in the world, more so in the developed nations. Suicide rates are highest in the Baltic states, such as Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia. The suicide rate in the US is half that in Russia (30,000 compared to 60,000). Since the time Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451, the suicide rate in the US has nearly tripled. Almost 11,600 people took their own lives in 1950 (Suicide Rates by 100,000). Suicide rates parallel with levels of unhappiness in these countries. The Happy Planet Index, which rates countries based on several factors, rated Russia, the Baltic states, the US, along with many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the lowest in “happiness” in the world. Interestingly, these countries also have the highest rates of suicide. Bradbury uses the suicide to dramatically illustrate just how unhappy the modern citizens are. The attempted suicide of Mildred could be considered a contributing event into Montag’s journey towards finding his own
happiness.

Bradbury gives us something else to think about when he describes what becomes of people when they die in the future. Captain Beatty explains, “Funerals are unhappy and pagan? Eliminate them too. Five minutes after a person is dead he’s on his way to the Big Flue, the Incinerators serviced by helicopters all over the country. Ten minutes after death a man’s a speck of black dust. Let’s not quibble over individuals with memoriums. Forget them. Burn all, burn everything” (Bradbury 60). We can see that the elimination of funerals probably came over a long period of time. This probably would occur as individuals deal less and less with each other, therefore becoming more and more detached. Why bother having memorials when no one has meaningful memories of each other? The solution? The incinerator. Referring back to the ancient philosophers, Confucius taught: “Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice; then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence” (Confucius). Even the ancients understood the virtue and even happiness involved in remembering the dead. This valuable knowledge was discarded in future America, becoming one factor in the decline of happiness of this people.
Spiritual Happiness
Recent research has shown that persons who are religious or spiritual have higher rates of happiness and satisfaction than those who are not (DeNeve). This is due largely to the emphasis that most major religions place on happiness. The Catholics refer to this type of happiness as beatitudo, perfect happiness or perfect well-being, which is only achievable in the next life (Catholic Encyclopedia: Happiness). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (unofficially but more commonly called the Mormon Church) teaches the Plan of Happiness, which gives followers guidelines to follow in order to achieve happiness in mortal life and in the next. Buddhists subscribe to what they call the Noble Eight Fold Path, which describes “the way to the end of suffering” (The Eightfold Path). We’ll look at how Montag follows the Eight Fold Path and what benefits are gained from it.
The first step in the Eight Fold Path is called ‘The Right View.’ This is when a person begins to see things as they really are. This realization happens for Montag very early, when he realizes that he is not happy (Bradbury 12). The second step is referred to as ‘The Right Intention.’ This is described as a commitment to mental and ethical self-improvement. Montag enters this step when he makes the decision to actually read the books that he had always burned. This commitment shows that he is willing to put the work into gaining the knowledge contained in the books (68). The third step in the path is ‘The Right Speech.’ This involves using speech appropriate to the knowledge the person has gained. Montag fulfills this in quite a few ways. One example is when he is trying to convince Mildred of the usefulness of reading books, he says, “Is it true that the world works hard and we play? Is that why we’re hated so much? Do you know why? I don’t, that’s sure! Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They might just stop us from making the same mistakes” (74). The fourth step is ‘The Right Action.’ This involves the person not only speaking according to their knowledge, but also acting according to it. One way Montag does this is by phoning Professor Faber and then visits him. Montag acts correctly according to his knowledge because he finally discovers that books are valuable, and chooses to partner with Faber to combat the destruction of books (80-91). The fifth step is the most ambiguous. It is ‘The Right Livelihood,’ and involves the person striving to be employed in a career that does not go against the knowledge they have gained. In Montag’s case, a Fireman is not the occupation someone should have if they have the knowledge Montag has. Montag fulfills this step when he unofficially resigns by burning Captain Beatty alive and going on the run (119-121). The sixth, seventh, and eighth steps all involve mental development. They are, in order, ‘The Right Effort’, ‘The Right Mindfulness’, and ‘The Right Concentration.’ While some of Montag’s actions could fulfill the requirements of this step, it is more likely that Montag will fulfill these in the future. He’s already put in effort and concentration by memorizing portions of books, but he has a large potential for improvement there.
So we find ourselves asking, “Well, Montag isn’t a Buddhist, so why would following these steps help him improve spiritually?” Aside from the fact that Montag is memorizing the Book of Ecclesiastes, we don’t have much information on his spiritual side. The thing to remember with the Eight Fold Path is that it is not a set of rules or requirements. It is general knowledge that when closely examined, can be related to tenets of other religious faiths. Truth is truth no matter where it exists, and Montag develops a capacity to understand things on a spiritual level once he has moved away from the person he used to be. Like Montag, we don’t have to be Buddhist to follow this path. In fact, if we examine our lives we may find that we are somewhere on the Eith Fold Path without even intending to be. Spirituality is an attribute each person has, but can be lost or forgotten through our actions. If we are lazy and complacent about our lives, we will never reach a level of spirituality that will bring us true happiness.
Conclusion
While explaining to Montag the history behind how society came to burning books, Captain Beatty says, “People want to be happy, isn't that right? Haven't you heard it all your life? I want to be happy, people say. Well, aren't they? Don't we keep them moving, don't we give them fun? That's all we live for, isn't it? For pleasure, for titillation?” (Bradbury 59) One could argue that our modern society only lives for pleasure. The most important thing that Fahrenheit 451 teaches us is that pleasure is not happiness. Happiness is a core value developed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is not easy, and is not developed overnight. Hopefully our world will not become as Bradbury’s America of the future. Hopefully we will keep in tact those things which bring the most lasting happiness. Victor Hugo writes in his masterpiece Les Misérables, “An admirable thing, the poetry of a people is the gauge of its progress. The quantity of civilization is measured by the quantity of imagination” (1240). If we, as citizens and human beings, can remember things which bring true happiness and forget the things that don’t, we may be able to continue to progress as a civilization.