Comparing The Characters In Ray Bradbury's The Paterson Public Library

In the beginning of the book they both share the same love for burning book, and the love for the smell of kerosene. In Beatty’s past life he had a lot of curiosity about books just as Montag does. They both have the same knowledge that they have gained from reading books. By the way they both argue with the characters in the book they both love to argue. Both of them realize that something is missing from their lives. Montag, obviously, realized the emptiness of his life, especially after Clarisse asked him "Are you happy?" He hesitated and had to think whether he is really happy or not. Whereas Beatty, he seemed to be really tired of his life and wanted to die. If not, he wouldn't dare to challenge Montag, who had a weapon.

Suprisingly, he knows a lot about books. He spends a lot of time quoting from books. Montag and Beatty are foil characters because of their different views as well. He manipulates Montag into going against what he wants to believe in. However, at the same time, makes Montag want more knowledge. Beatty says to Montag, “Each man, the image of every other, then all are happy.” (58). This quote is saying all people need to be made equal. This is a contrast between Montag and Beatty because Montag becomes free and realizes all people should have their own minds. This a strong point tthat describes the differences between Montag and Beatty. Beatty and Montag are both very knowledgeable, but all in all, they have different views that leave one satisfied and the other in

Montag is wondering what is inside books that could further his ideas since he has been hooked to clarisse’s world. The significance to the claim is that Montag wants to be lively like clarrise instead of boring fireman, and there is no other way to be like that without the imagination and creativity in books. “ Not if you start talking, the start of talking that might set me burnt for my trouble” (Bradbury 87). Montag is starting to notice his speech is more developed like a book reader, Beatty is catching on! The significance of this quote is that Montag is starting to be like Clarisse and he likes that a lot. Montag likes being free, and calm with the world and books gave him

In this passage in which a conflict between Beatty and Montag results in Beatty’s death, Ray Bradbury uses imagery, dialogue and pace to develop both characters. Bradbury develops Montag as a character who finds a new appreciation for the deeper meanings within the forbidden books of his society. Beatty, on the other hand, is developed as a character who is closed minded and considered the norm of his society.

Writing this novel Bradbury has let other readers feel close to him allowing them to feel like they can relate to him through his stories as well as Montag. Bradbury and Montag relate because they know what is expected of them to succeed and satisfy themselves. Montag holds the responsibility as being a fireman and burning books instead he keeps them other characters in the story can relate who have escaped the society and they will also help him to do the same. They both feel they need to catch up on their past and make the most of their life while they have it. “ Montag opines on several occasions throughout the novel that he needs to catch up with the memories of the past.” They both love books and would

In Zadie Smith’s article, “The North West London Blues,” she repeatedly stresses on the vitality of public libraries, building an argument, through which, she attempts to induce her readers that public libraries are important and should remain accessible. In pursuance of her goal, Smith resorts to the use of ethos, the appeal to ethics, pathos, the appeal to emotion, and logos, the appeal to logic, in addition to her unique use of diction, rhetorical devices, and subtle word choice.

Montag is the anti-hero in this dystopian futuristic society created by Bradbury. He started off as a follower of society. Montag had a plain wife, worked as a firefighter and followed the rules of society. But, when

“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them” In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury depicts a dystopian society in which books are not allowed and banned by the government. In this futuristic society firemen start fires rather than put them out. Bradbury masterfully writes about topics such as unfair government, euphoria, and lack of contentment in one's job, proving the idea that rebellion is acceptable when the Government is cruel and discriminatory, when your contentment is harmed, and when you have disbelief in your profession.

In Montag 's case, he understands that he is unhappy with the way he is living, and he begins to rethink his ways of destruction. In like manner, a literary criticist, Rafeeq McGiveron, gives a good analysis of the character of Montag when he says that Montag has a “blithely clear and pathetically blank conscience” towards burning books until he relives his childhood through walks with Clarisse (p.6). Clearly, Clarisse tugged and Montag 's heart and helped him understand the heartlessness of burning books. Most definitely, it was Montag 's hand and not his brain or mind that was the true monster. In another example, the reader sees Montag 's private life during a conversation between he and Mildred, his wife, when she says, “when can we have a fourth wall television put in? It 's only two thousand dollars” and Montag responds by saying that two thousand dollars is one-third of his yearly pay (Bradbury 33). The example presented adds more depth to the grim life of the main character because Montag is married to a woman that is selfish and has no interest for any part of Montag 's life. Similarly, because Montag is faced with unhappiness in both his professional and private life, he is quick to accept the words of Clarisse that there is a better and brighter life possible for him. Overall, Bradbury successfully acomplishes a sense of sympathy for Guy Montag by revealing the

In the year 1953, Ray Bradbury published a book titled Fahrenheit 451. This book explores a dystopian world where houses are completely fireproof, and instead of putting out fires, firemen start them. They do this for one reason, which is to destroy all books. The author has many things he wanted to convey, one of which is that books are people. The theme of Fahrenheit 451 is that books encompass the author’s entire life and their opinions. Along with this, Bradbury was trying to show that by reading a book, the reader also shares these experiences.

Montag is someone who is shy and keeps his thoughts to himself, but thinks many things. He shows that he is distracted instead of being happy throughout the book. At the time, he was walking home from work and was looking at Clarisse. Clarisse is a girl who would roam the streets and was also Montag's neighbor. She walks over to Guy and they start to have a conversation while walking to their houses. They discussing if talking about to see if Montag is really happy or if he was lying. She keeps questioning him. Bradbury explains “He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as true state affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run across the lawn with the mask and the way

The character of Montag expresses the theme of the ability to think for oneself and the importance of self-reflection. The main character Montag transforms throughout the story. At first, Montag is content with his job as a fireman. Montag is comfortable with his life. Shortly into the story, the character of Clarisse McClean is introduced. Montag tells Clarisse, “You think too many things” (Bradbury 6). Reading further Bradbury’s dialog between Clarisse and Montag demonstrations Montag lacks critical thinking. Clarisse enlightens Montag and the character of Montag awakens. Montag begins to understand the world around him and comes to realize he is unhappy. In a way, Montag rebels against his society. Montag begins to think for himself. Montag reflected upon his happiness and the theme of self-reflection is conveyed for the first time within the novel. “He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back” (Bradbury 9). It wasn’t until Clarisse asked Montag “are you happy” did Montag stop to consider if he was happy. Bradbury expresses the importance of self-reflection by displaying Montag as content and then developing Montag’s character to awaken and identify he is unhappy. In addition, Bradbury illustrates the ability to think for oneself creates happiness. Bradbury creates an overzealous Montag towards the end of

Before Captain Beatty was killed, he was taunting Montag while Montag was holding a flamethrower, but did not have anything to defend himself with. Beatty knew Montag would kill him if he kept taunting Montag, so he kept on until it finally happened. Throughout the novel, Beatty seemed to be the bad guy who represented the evil side of society, but this reveals otherwise. Montag was doing what Beatty could not by defying society’s law against books. When Montag burned his own house down, that seemed to put Captain Beatty over the edge and accept the fact that Beatty was a coward who executed actions that he did not agree with. An additional important character in the novel is Professor Faber. Faber serves as a mentor to Montag in the book. He does not agree with the established rules of society, yet never personally takes action throughout the book. He describes this lifestyle in a conversation with Montag: “I’m one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the ‘guilty,’ but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself” (Bradbury 78). Faber looks back with regret on his earlier life when the ban on books began. He did not want to take action due to the fear that persecution would fall upon himself. Those experiences are what make Faber a good mentor to Montag; Faber has learned from them and is glad that Montag is not scared to do what Faber could not.

A couple pages into the book, Bradbury introduces another character whose name is Clarisse McClellan. Clarisse is introduced to Montag as his new neighbor. In the book, Montag thinks of Clarisse as crazy. The way she was exposed to the world and how her mind works is something that Montag had never seen before. It’s was strange and foreign to him. She begins to ask Montag many questions regarding his beliefs and decisions about his job. With each absurd question he begins to slowly see her view of the world. Even though he still thinks they are ridiculous and unheard of questions. The last question that she asks him is, “Are you happy?” He had never thought of asking himself that question before. Was he really happy with burning books and not exploring something new?

Montag is a conformist in the totalitarian society in which he lives.  He, in the beginning of the story, loves his job.  However, he is manipulated repeatedly by his nemesis, Captain Beatty.  Captain Beatty is a manipulator who is expert in being able to aggravate Montag into a verbal duel that is basically one-sided. Montag and Captain Beatty seem to have a relationship where the boss is always trying to pin an untruth onto one of his employees.  Montag becomes discontented at work.  He becomes complacent by going through the motions by not really concentrating on the job at hand.