1. “Seashells” and Isolation “And in his ears the little seashells, the radio thimbles tightly closed, and an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk coming, coming to the shore of his sleepless mind.” (Bradbury 76) The clamshell radio is a piece of technology in the novel. Guy Montag's wife, Mildred, uses him constantly and becomes a very antisocial person as a result. This is very similar today to teenagers, among others, who use headphones to listen to their music and isolate themselves from the rest of the world. I know this because I have used this tactic too. This clamshell radio represents the widespread development of technology in the novel. Headphones are just one of the results of technology widespread in our world today.2. Violence Throughout the novel, there is clearly excessive violence in the world. Teenagers kill each other, TV is full of violence, and even cars can spark a need for speed and destruction. Violence seems to be an outlet. This aspect, although perhaps already present in Bradbury's time, is also similar to our present. Youth violence is present, TV and films are full of violence and blood, and cars are often used for sport as well as transportation. Overall, our society can definitely seem violent.3. Technology and the Dumbing of Society In the novel, technology, especially huge television screens, are responsible for replacing literature, intellectualism, and curiosity. People spend so much time watching programming that it is considered unproductive. People in the novel became less likely to seek knowledge and discover new skills. This happens frequently today. Many people are absorbed in technology and mass media. They have become less likely to… middle of paper… The culture does not support free thought or expression, as demonstrated by the banning of books and mindless entertainment. In the novel, people who express individuality and question life are seen as a threat. Clarisse McClellan, who was one of these people, eventually disappeared. In the novel, anyone who goes against conformity is in danger. Our society, although less drastic, proceeds in a similar way. Due to the spread of media, conformity is more prevalent than ever. Now, at the touch of a button, everyone knows what's popular around the world. We have encouraged ourselves to conform to certain ways to be favored by the masses. While we still express individuality, we express it on a narrow spectrum that will not cause others to ridicule or question us. In our society, conformists are normal and those who express individuality may be seen as marginalized.