ocietyused widely a drug called soma, which induces hallucinations and escapesfrom the conscious world for two to eight hour periods. Those very few whodidn't, John included, mainly did not because they thought the drug eitherunclean or an easy escape, one not needed in a society aiming at makinglife very simple. By refusing to "go along" in this escape from reality,John is ultimately able to break from society and define his own destiny. In Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag, the main character, is able to seethrough the government and the official policies of his society. He doesso by gradually beginning to question certain aspect of society which mostsimply accept as fact. Montag's job as a fireman serves as a setting toshow how many people passively accept the absurdity of their society.Instead of rushing to put out fires, as firemen today do, Montag rushes tostart fires, burning the books and homes of people reported to have books.This was considered by most people to be a respectable profession. But ondifferent occasions Montag took a book out of burning homes and would fromtime to time read them. From this, he begins to to question the values ofhis society. Montag's marriage also serves a setting to contrast passive acceptanceversus questioning of society's values. His marriage is not the happy kindthat couples today experience but more like a coexistence. He and his wifelive together and he supports her, though he apparently neither loves her agreat deal or expects her to love him. This relationship and living arrangement, with its lack of love, isBradbury's way of showing what life could be like if people not only stopcommunicating but stop thinking and choosing, thus loosing control overtheir lives. Montag and his wife continue to live together though peoplein that situation today would not hesitate to terminate such arelationship. Montag's wife apparently accepts this relationship becauseit is normal for the society...
