Breaking Free from the Opinions of the World

First impressions – they can make or break us. But why? Why should we care what others think? Why should we change the way we live, just because our favorite movie star did? Unfortunately that is what opinions have become in our corrupt world; they change the way we look at ourselves. Celebrities, television and magazines have changed our thoughts on what “fitting in” really means. This world has taken advantage of delicate minds and filled them with this idea that in order to be happy you have to be a certain weight, have a certain style of hair, or wear a certain style of clothes. Our bodies need to be freed from these worldly standards. The burden of always wanting to fit in needs to be lifted of our shoulders. No one, except for ourselves, should care how we live our lives – it’s our lives – and we need to have the freedom to design our own lifestyle.

What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger

Going through life worrying about every little thing that may cause anger or controversy, is unhealthy. Living a healthy life involves paradox; you need both happiness and sadness, love and hate. Too much of one concept, or living with no emotions can lead to a life of emptiness. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, the idea of avoiding pain, in order to live a flawless life, comes into play. When Beatty visits Montag’s home, he lectures him with a history lesson about how the world came to be. He tells Montag that staying away from topics that may cause discussion or talking about one’s feeling will result in your life being perfect – this is very untrue. “So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people only want moon wax faces, poreless, hairless, and expressionless.”(p. 83) Throughout this scene, Bradbury is warning us to fear people who will try and convince us that having no emotions is best. Beatty encourages Montag not to read books in order to stay clear of dealing with life’s problems. The truth is, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger -- it builds character. In the end, feeling nothing is worse than living a normal life and dealing with the difficulties that may come your way.