Exploratory Draft Stage 4

Proposal: I am interested in writing about Mildred and how she thinks and feels, because I want to understand if she is really happy like she says she is. One way to look at this might be to think that she is not truly happy inside.

                Seeing Mildred overdose on sleeping pills made me think that she possibly might not be actually happy, because happy people generally don’t overdose on drugs. Also, when Montag was looking back at that night and it was said that the Mildred that overdosed was “Another Mildred, that was a Mildred so deep inside this one, and so bothered, really bothered, that the two women had never met.” The reason this seems weird is that for most of the book, Mildred seems to be a happy, normal person who socializes with friends and watches TV, and actively denies being unhappy, like the morning after the overdose. She might be brainwashed, like most of the society in the world of Fahrenheit 451, but doesn’t seem to be happy as well, even if only a little deep inside. In fact, it seems like other people have this deep inside them as well, as evidenced by Mrs. Phelps being moved by Montag reading Dover Beach. Montag also had this unhappiness before he found books, although to a greater extent than someone like Mildred.

                One thing I saw that was interesting about Mildred’s description (page 48) was that it said she had a “Cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils.” A cataract in an eye impairs sight but doesn’t cause full blindness. This implies that Mildred can’t see completely clearly, and is missing something, but that something is buried deep within her and is not obvious without looking very closely at her. What could this missing thing be? I think it could be books, or just not being able to truly think as a result of not having books. Not being able to really see and think for herself would be very similar to a cataract.

                However, it is possible to put together an opposing argument. You could say that Mildred herself denied that she is unhappy. That brings up what may be going through Mildred’s mind. If I think she is not happy, then why is she trying to deny it, saying she would never overdose on drugs and she is fine? Maybe she is trying to keep sane and is denying that she is unhappy, even going so far as to convince herself. Also, Mildred seems to be very happy watching the shows on the “wall” with her friends. When she is doing that though, she is being sucked into the crazy shows and is empty, not really thinking.

                In addition, Mildred seems very insecure, always worrying about the house, or her walls, or her “family,” or that Montag is paying attention to something other than her and she is worried he doesn’t really love her. Why is she so insecure? It seems like she is trying to grasp on to her few remaining, steady pillars.

                Going back to the point about other people not really being happy, or needing books, all the people who have committed suicide can be brought into this point, even Beatty, they are so unhappy with this world that the killed themselves. This all shows that the people in 451 are not all brainwashed happy people, at least not completely, they all have unhappiness and a need for books inside them.