23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Personal Freedom Through Resisting Gender Roles in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
Amanda B. Hamilton
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451 depicts characters that conform to or resist the gender expectations of their civilization. Bradbury constructed this apathetic and wasteful futuristic community as a warning, as it explicitly reflects the values and goals of the average American in the 1950's, when the book was published. The juxtaposition of Mildred's weakness and frivolousness against Clarisse's confidence and intelligence provides proof that Clarisse defeats the female stereotype through her detachment from the oppressive society. In this same way, Captain Beatty's hyper-rational and aggressive behavior embodies the male stereotype while Montag resists this gender expectation by fighting against and eventually escaping his society. Ultimately, through the study of these characters, I will prove that it is not a person's nature to behave within one's gender stereotype but rather that society forces those roles upon the individual.
Keywords: English, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451, Gender roles
Topic(s):English
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 32-2
Location: VH 1232
Time: 9:45