1950's: A Decade of Conformity - Fahrenheit 451

The ultimate instance of conformity within society is represented by Ray Bradbury’s classic science fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451.  In Fahrenheit’s society, the people are deluded into thinking that they are happy because they are all made to be equal by removing anything that could make anyone feel inferior.  Simply put, as Captain Beatty explains to Montag, “Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against.”   This is the ultimate form of conformity, suppressing individual thoughts by taking away anything which would breed deliberation, contemplation, or discussion.  Even Montag unquestioningly accepts his role as firefighter, burning illegal books, until Clarisse inquires about his happiness.  Only then does Montag begin to doubt society’s rules and attempts to break from his established role and begins to think for himself.  However, once Montag questions his happiness and begins presenting individuality by defying society and looking for answers in illegal books, he ultimately becomes a hunted criminal who is even betrayed by his own wife and colleagues.