Examples Of Light And Darkness In Fahrenheit 451

In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, he uses light and dark as contrasts is used as a motif to help further develop differences between people in society through characterization and plot. Light symbolizes knowledge and purity; on the other hand, darkness shows ignorance in the society, while also being a form of safety.

Ray Bradbury created the novel Fahrenheit 451 as a way to admonish future generations against social and economic trends that would emerge during the twentieth century.

Montag soon begins to enter the bonfire stage. Clarisse, is an observant, curious, open-minded and unique 17 year old girl. Montag, after meeting a couple times with Clarisse, is when his eyes truly open that his society is full of fake realities. He becomes observant and starts asking questions about his society. While being with Clarisse, Montag would smell the leaves and notice the small details; therefore, he was having a shift from being a prisoner to going up to the bonfire. On page #48 it says, “ You’re not sick,” said Mildred. Montag fell back in bed. He reached under the pillow. The hidden book was still there. “Mildred, how would it be if, well, maybe I quit my job awhile?” “You want to give up everything? After all these years of working, because, one night, some woman and her books-” “You should have seen her, Millie!”…. “You weren’t there, you didn’t see ,” he said. “ There must be something in the books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.” This is the event that changed Montags viewpoint on books

Fahrenheit 451 is a book that uses a lot of imagery in order to convey its message written by Ray Bradbury an American author and screenwriter who let himself through his imagination. Theis novel book is set in a futuristice American society where people are not allowed to read books. The story revolves around the main character, Montag, a fireman whose job it is to burn books, and the people that he meets and experiences that challenges him to his societaly beliefs. Fire is one image that is used as something that represents distraction. Sad,unhappy and not adventurous are a way to describe Montag.

Clarisse is one of the characters who influenced Montag by showing her own world. Clarisse remind Montag the fireman’s real job. Clarisse said ‘”strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames”’ (pg 8). Clarisse is the one of character who read a book in conflict read society. She confused Montag on

When Clarisse told Montag about what firemen used to do as a job, it got him thinking, why do we burn books and what’s so bad about them. Furthermore while Montag gets caught for having books, “Mildred, of course, she must have watched him hide the books in the garden and bring them back in. Mildred. Mildred.”(pg

There are many themes in Fahrenheit 451, one of these themes found is that a society full of distraction will lead people to ignore. Ray Bradbury demonstrates ignorance throughout the when he writes about people caring about them self and the ¨parlour walls “ and not being concerned about others.

In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, author, Ray Bradbury, uses symbolism to feed the reader with a deeper more insightful meaning of the story by guiding his protagonist and the mindset of the society in which he lives, from a brainwashed technology driven society lacking independent thought, to a human-focused society through the use of the symbols fire and mirrors.

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel of little happiness. Society as a whole has become content with watching television and wasting away their lives, while a few individuals ponder the true meaning of life and happiness. Bradbury throughout the book depicts what our world could become, and almost sends a warning to the reader on how to avoid this unfriendly fate.

Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 presents readers with multiple themes. In the fictional society of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, books are banned and firemen create fires instead of putting them out. Bradbury portrays the society as dystopian. Bradbury crafted the novel to be interpreted intellectually. The characters claim to be happy. However, the reader can conclude otherwise. Bradbury creates a question for the reader to answer: Is ignorance bliss or does the ability to think for oneself create happiness? Bradbury shows the importance of self-reflection, happiness and the ability to think for oneself as well as isolation due to technology, and the importance of nature and animals. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury conveys the stories’ themes through characterization and symbols.

Clarisse is showing how different the time periods are from “back then” to what is now in the novel. Clarrise even states, “‘Is it true that long ago firemen put out fires instead of going to start them? I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames.’” (page 8). This shows that people were afraid of firemen because during this era, firemen start fires, mainly to houses that contain literature, whereas in our time period, firemen put out fires. In addition, this shows how people changes from looking up to firemen to being afraid and fearful of them. This is important because although Montag does not realize it then, he would soon come to know that a once blinded-by-the-law firemen like himself can learn the truth.

This symbolizes a crack in Montag’s shell of ignorance and shows how he is capable of thinking about the past with the knowledge he gained from Clarisse. Moreover, the shell of ignorance breaks even more when Clarisse compares Montag to other citizens. In her narration, she describes how different Montag is and how she feels it is strange that he is a fireman:

Bradbury integrates many symbols into his novel. Fire is the most important symbol in the book. One of the meanings that is revealed is when, "Clarisse reminds Montag of

She refuses the entertainment that society offers, such as watching television. Instead, she prefers to wonder, sit, and talk about things, most particularly with Montag. Furthermore, she is not intimidated by the government like the rest of society. All of this enlightens Montag to reveal all the goodness that is being hidden in this blind society. Clarisse never tells Montag what to think; she just shows him that thinking is an option. She simply asks Montag questions such as “How long’ve you worked at being a fireman?” (8) and “How did you get into it?” (22) Such questions awaken him to realize why he really “enjoys” doing what he does, to a point where he realizes he really does not admire starting fires, and burning books. Montag grows extremely dissatisfied with his life and work as he talks more with Clarisse. She instigates him to wonder if perhaps books are not so bad, and so he even steals one from a book burning. In Fahrenheit 451, it states, “So it was the hand that started it all . . . His hands had been infected, and soon it would be his arms . . . His hands were ravenous.” (41) The reader is able to see here that Montag is becoming more and more influenced by Clarisse. The more time he spends with her, the more he begins to contemplate. This phrase clearly shows how Montag is being “infected”, but in a positive way. His thoughts are taking control over him all because of his conversations with Clarisse. She invites him to

Take a look at any timeless movie like the Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Marvel superhero series. In each of these movies, a villain dressed in long black robes, with a corruptive smirk and mind uses their malicious powers to battle relentlessly with the force of the hero, the strongest and at times, the most kind-hearted character in the film. In these films, Luke fights Vader, Harry battles Voldemort, and Spider-Man combats against his villains. In the end, the hero is praised for bringing peace by restoring their community from the depths of darkness. Even in these classic movies, the archetype of light vs. dark is incorporated through it’s heroic and villainous characters. Similarly, Ray Bradbury incorporates this archetype into his