When the novel begins, we learn that Montag’s values are similar to that of the society he lives in. The culture in which Montag is accustomed to is one without cogitation or analysis. Their society believes that
In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag,experiences a personal journey of loss, love, and hope. He changes from a ruthless and fierce fireman who burns books because it his job and he is dedicated to someone who loves and admires books and wants to learn from them. He would not have made it on this journey if it were not for the encounters he had with other people. Some of these encounters were positive, some negative, but all helped Guy become a stronger person. These encounters influenced and shaped Guy Montag’s thoughts and decisions.
The people Montag meets, his personal experiences he has with life, and the events that he goes through, cause him to develop an overwhelming sense of determination to change the morals of the society. Thus, Throughout the novel, Fahrenheit 451, Montag changes as a result of the influence others have on him, his personal experiences in life, and major events in the novel. Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, demonstrates that even in a society where certain behaviors are accepted and encouraged, there will always be people, who will stand up for what they believe is right, and will try to change others around them. Fahrenheit 451, is a novel that shows the struggle of an individual, who was hated upon and almost killed for doing what he believed was moral and correct, and in the process, transforming into that of one which was determined to permanently alter his life for good, along with attempting to have a lasting impact on the other individuals, that were residents of the corrupt society, which he once was apart
Being his new neighbor Clarisse engages in a conversation with Montag. In this conversation Montag notices how she’s full of life and so different from
As they story continues to unfold, Montag begins to develope his curiosity about books. Later on, Montag and the fireman get a call that a lady has been keeping books in her house. It's the firemen responsibility to burn those books. But before the firemen get the chance to do anything, the lady starts a flame that engulfs the books and as well as herself. This event effects Montag's well being, making him question the importance of the books and what would make the lady go as far as burning herself alive. When Montag arrives home he explains to
Have you ever read a book you enjoyed a lot? Well if not read Fahrenheit 451. The author of the book is Ray Bradbury. There are many characters, but one of the main, main ones is Montag. Montag is a person who changes quite a bit throughout the story. Montag goes from being conservative to being a rebel.
In the novel, Montag eventually realizes the importance of rebelling against his employer and society. Montag later recognizes the significance of books and information and knows that the society he lives in is not ideal. Montag begins to wonder if books actually do have meaning and are important to civilization itself. Montag first rebels against his employer early in the novel by stealing a book from a house that had been called in, yet when asked to turn that book in, he had planned on lying to his boss and turning in a “substitute” (Bradbury 72). This early sign of civil disobedience hints toward bigger acts of rebellion and is just the beginning of what Montag, unknowingly, has started. This simple act of rebellion leads Beatty to believe that Montag has stashed away a full library of books. As the novel progresses and Montag meets Faber, Guy Montag recognizes even more the importance of rebellion. Montag says to Faber, “Plant the books, turn in an alarm, and see the fireman’s houses burn” (Bradbury 82). This idea itself is an act of rebellion by Montag to try and
Montag grew closer to Clarisse each time they talked, and he enjoyed that. So this shows that Montag, when he talks to Clarisse, gets to be himself and become independent and has to think for himself instead of everyone else thinking for him.
The second stage of transformation occurs when Montag spreads his flame to Faber. Faber is like a dry log sitting in the hearth. Montag is the match to release Faber’s energy and spread the heat. When Faber does not agree to join the movement, “His (Montag’s) hands, by themselves, like two men working together, began to rip the pages from the book. The hands tore the flyleaf and then the first and then the second page.” (84) Ripping these pages shows his decision to strengthen a movement or destroy society. He rips pages out of the Bible because he knows it will earn Faber’s attention and effort. After he agrees, Montag and Faber plan to print books and implant them in firemen’s houses. By joining with Faber, Montag turns his feelings of being lost and ignorant into actions to change society. He is becoming a more independent character as the effects of the dystopia disintegrate and rush away from him like smoke. As the flames grow, Beatty, the captain of Montag’s fire station, is water. Beatty knows what Montag is doing. Montag counters this resistance as he says, “You always said, don't face a problem, burn it. Well, now I've done both. Good-bye, Captain.” (115) Montag means that Beatty never actually solved problems, he just burns them and hopes they go away, so he kills his captain with the wrath of his flamethrower. These actions show Montag’s determination to do what is right. By this stage, Montag has changed from a
Firstly, Montag faces the conflict of having to burn down a house with a woman in it, which led him to thinking that something important may be hidden within the books that could be different from what he has learning in this new version of society; Montag becomes more curious through this event and starts to wonder. Eventually, the protagonist is so deeply engrossed in his curiosity that “his hand closed like a mouth, crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest” (Bradbury 34). This quote illustrates
He is curious and fearless in his quest for knowledge. Otherwise, Montag would have never taken such a big risk in order to find out if poems stir up something inside of a neighbor. Montag is one of the few people in society that presents any sort of human emotion. Shocked was the only way to describe him after hearing of Clarisse’s death, whereas Mildred refused to talk about dead people. Gazing at the woman who burned himself, Montag was horrified whereas the other fireman continued merrily. An ability to think for himself was also prevalent in his personality. Considering the amount of influence the media plays on F.451’s society, Montag could have just as easily been wrapped up in the mob mentality of the evil in literature. Instead, he followed his heart, which constantly told him what he was doing was wrong. It allowed him to understand the wrong in burning books, ultimately aiding him to escape.
Subsequently, Faber monumentally influenced Montag and his decisions he made throughout the novel. Faber was a retired English professor and he is the second mentor that Montag comes across. He was one of the few people who is not like everyone else because he, just as Clarisse, are intellectual beings. Faber met Montag in a park. A short discussion revolving around small-talk like the weather quickly escalates to a deeper topic and Montag and faber soon find themselves discussing Faber’s past and the history of books. They talk for hours and their conversation ultimately ends with Faber leaving Montag his contact card and Guy soon contacts him when he discovers his love for books. In Faber and Montag’s conversation, Faber says, “Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality.” (83). The significance of Faber
Montag first changes when he meets Clarisse, opening his eyes and being able to see his own faults and those of the society. He then proceeds to further change when he questions himself and thinks about his lifestyle after learning how powerful the meaning in the books are when the woman insists on dying. Montag learns the importance of books in the society when he meets Faber, learning how the meaning in books can be applied to what is happening in society. Finally, killing Beatty shows his change from being a passive reader and spy to an active
Over the next several weeks, Clarisse and Montag develop a friendly relationship. They talk about ideas and thoughts in a way that no one in this society seems to do anymore. Because of Clarisse's influence, Montag grows more concerned about his own life. Then one day, Clarisse disappears and Montag is troubled. Work troubles him even more, for he must participate in burning an old woman's home. Refusing to leave her books and her belongings, she lights her own fire and stays inside, dying a martyr. Montag is moved by the woman's bravery and sees it as a symbol of what is wrong with society. Almost in protest, he steals a book from the woman's house.