Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, is a Dystopian novel that is based in a futuristic society where it is illegal to own or read books. They enforce these book related laws by use of firemen whose have the job of burning books when they become discovered. Bradbury creates a society where the people completely depend upon technology for everything. Due to these laws and the influence of technology, many people had lost intellect and no longer thought for themselves. All in all, this society outlaws critical thinking, or thinking in any ways that might oppose the government. The main character of this novel, Guy Montag, works as a firefighter, who faces a moral dilemma regarding whether or not he really wants to burn the books and the knowledge …show more content…
Montag’s personal journey takes him from a devoted burner of books to a believer in all their worth. Several characters in the book influence Montag’s new outlook, such as Clarisse, Faber, and Beatty. Clarisse had an especially significant impact on the way Montag begins to regard books and life. Clarisse influenced Montag to start to think more, and to question his job of burning books more. She did this mainly in their initial interaction. Montag starts coming home off the subway and he starts walking to his house when he encounters Clarisse in the park. They have a discussion about themselves, and about life. Montag notices that Clarisse has a very unique way of thinking and how she interacts with him. Clarisse mentions that she does not go to the fun parks, or talk to the Parlor walls, and as a result of this has more time to critically evaluate issues. At the time, this sounded very peculiar to Montag, and got him thinking as well. As …show more content…
When Montag first met Faber he had seen him hide something, and as such, he approached him to talk. They talked for a while but then Faber ran away. Montag eventually went to Faber’s home to talk to him about why he felt unhappy and what he needed. Faber tried to explain to him the importance of the knowledge found in books, and the sense of loss he felt in knowing that they, for the most part did not exist. Faber also explained how books have quality, and that in this society no time existed for thinking, or any ability to carry out any action. While Faber talked to Montag he said, “It’s not the books you need, it is some of the things that were once in books” (82). Faber goes on to say, “The book has pores. It has features. This book can go under a microscope. You’d find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion…Off-hours, yes. But time to think?” (83-84). Faber tries to explain through these quotes, what books used to have, and how their society has changed to the point where they have absolutely no time to think. He explained how the books had certain qualities that could provoke thought, and make people more free-minded. At this point in the novel, Montag had already begun to attempt to read, and after this conversation with Faber, he could see that his life was not complete without books, or the knowledge they contained. This made Montag realize
He wanted Montag to change himself and change life as they knew it. “Faber glanced nervously at his bedroom door. ‘To see the firehouses burn across the land, destroyed as hotbeds of treason … You and I and who else will set the fires’” (86)? Faber displays how he will go along with Montag’s plan to help Montag. He can tell that Montag does not want to burn books anymore, and wants to help him stop doing so. This will help not only Montag’s view of himself but also the community. Lastly, Captain Beatty helps Montag change, although he is unaware of
Guy Montag has a few influences, personal experiences, and event that effect the way he changes throughout the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury. Montag’s personal experiences especially affected the way he thought of things and also the way he acted. He lives in a society where books are banned, burned, and illegal to use, Montag enjoys burning the books as a fireman until he makes an encounter with a reenager named Clairesse. Guy Montag makes a total transformation as the main character of this novel because of his personal experiences, the major events, and the influential characters.
35 paragraph 1). The shock of these sudden events gives him the crave to read, to learn and be aware. This theme is shaped throughout the book by Montag’s conflict to choose between reading and following society. As the
Faber is a character that is introduced into the novel towards the end and is the most relatable character to Montag at this point. "It 's not books you need, it 's some of the things that once were in books" (Bradbury, 78). When Montag reveals to his wife, Mildred, that he is in possession of books, he reminisces back to a year prior when he met Faber in a field. He knew then that Faber also did not support the censorship, but rather, he just didn’t voice his opinion on it for fear of his own life.
Montag describes a time in his childhood where he was sitting on a dune in the summer trying to fill a sieve. His cousin offered him ten cents to fill the sieve with sand, the faster Montag tried to fill the sieve, the faster it came flowing out the bottom (Fahrenheit 451, 74). Montag was experiencing the same filling as he started to read books. The more he read the books and tried to memorize the words in them, the more he realized he did not understand what he was reading or could not remember the words at all. The sieve now symbolized Montag’s struggle to gain the knowledge and understanding from the books that he so desperately wanted, but the more books he attempted to retain, the more he felt like he was forgetting, just like sand in a
After his wife shows no interest in the activity and realizing that he requires guidance in comprehending the text, he requests that Faber provides with such. Furthermore, he reasons desire to understand books by explaining that he has no one in his life to talk to. For Montag, the reason for communication is the access to ideas that it provides and as people are not intellectually adequate enough to source them, he depends on literature simply because it communicates the thoughts of other human beings. Therefore, the motif present in such part of the text is that one must covet communication of any form as it engenders cultivation of knowledge. In summation, through its portrayal of Mildred, Faber, and books, Fahrenheit 451 coincides with the third and fourth verses of “Intellect” as their authorial message is that one should spread his thoughts and
Montag slowly begins to discover the importance of literature and realizes books may hold the key to his future happiness. Montag’s awakening is evident when he proclaims to his wife, “There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there” (Bradbury 51). As Montag gradually breaks free from the oppression in his life, he looks towards the wisdom of the past, by embracing the books he once sought to destroy. It is therefore through books that Montag discovers his new found freedom and knowledge which give him the comfort and hope many people find in
These changes within Montag are highlighted to the audience; Montag goes to see Faber. Faber like Clarisse, represents everything in society Montag has begun to question. Visiting Faber, is where Montag firsts begins to make ideas of what he himself can do to change the parts of his world he is beginning to grow distaste for. After reading a book, and seeing what is out there, he begins to act, and do something. He begins to suggest the idea of planting books. Bradbury uses books as an ongoing metaphor for individuality. Books represent the individual; burning them alludes to the way society takes out anyone who thinks differently. In one of the later scenes, Bradbury links this metaphor where he has the men referring to themselves as books. “Here we all Montag, Aristophanes and Mahatma Gandhi, and Gautama buddha and Confucius…if you please, we are also Matthew, Mark, Luke and John”. Bradbury represents the full growth and development of Montag as he comes out of the river. This scene links back to
In Montag’s society, because a significant aspect such as knowledge was restricted, technology played a detrimental role in the lives and development of people. As people began to procure mass technology they read less while the technology became significantly advanced. By the twentieth century there was a rise commercialism, and the establishment of the television impacted the development of people, which was reflected in the novel. Although books weren’t appreciated within the society they were significant because they “have quality and pores” meaning one can “find life under the microscope… and the more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life”(79). In other words, books represent the reality that many are afraid to experience.
Imagine a world without any independent thought, action, controversy, real family, love, or true beauty. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, his writing captures a glimpse of this world. The main character, Guy Montag is a local fireman. However, in this utopian society the firemen start the fires rather than putting them out by burning books to censor any controversial thoughts. His boss, Captain Beatty, is a very intelligent, intimidating man. Montag has a wife, Mildred, but they are nowhere near what today’s society would consider a married couple. Mildred and her friends, specifically Mrs. Bowles, have their own television “families” and they enjoy talking among other friends. Montag meets a rebellious young woman named Clarisse, who takes pride in not being what the society tells her to be. Each character has their own way of contributing to the many themes that form throughout the book. In this novel, the fear of differentially provides a strong foundation for the loss of self and intimacy, eventually leading to the complete destruction of the concept of family.
People can change a lot across the time of their life, in some instances however, people can change in just a few weeks. Guy Montag, fictional character in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, is a fireman of a dystopian future where books are illegal and are to be burned, but in this story Guy Montag is the perfect example of change. Some of the things that influenced Montag and changed with him throughout the story being; some of the people he met, his emotions for his strange wife Mildred, and his views on fire and books.
In conclusion, Clarisse had a large effect on Montag. For the most part Clarisse changed by questioning his lifestyle. This caused Montag to become more interested in books, and lead him to stealing and reading books out of curiosity. There were some parts in the story that were questionable if clarisse had influenced Montag, but he showed he really was changed throughout the novel by continuing his curious actions. In all, Clarisse has the biggest impact on changing Montag's mindset towards books by questioning the way he treated and thought about
In societies around the world, there are always people who follow society guidelines and rules. There are also people who are a threat to the societies due to them rebelling against these guidelines. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, readers can observe this being shown in their society. There are people who are ideal society members because of their obsessive use of technology and their cold and unemotional behavior. However, there are also rebels in their society who do not conform to the typical use of technology. Two characters, Mildred and Clarisse, demonstrate the ideal society member and the threat to society. Mildred and Clarisse are opposites because Mildred is an ideal member in their society, while Clarisse is a threat to the society. However, they both influence Montag and his behavior in wanting to live a new and more productive life.
Guy Montag is the main character in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.” Guy is a fireman and leads an ordinary life with his wife, Mildred. In the book, a fireman is one who starts fires instead of putting them out. Guy’s particular responsibility is to burn books, which have been deemed by the government to be a bother to society. The firemen are called upon to search for, seize, and destroy any books throughout the city. Usually, citizens report or turn in their neighbors, if they believe their neighbors are hiding books in their home. Then, the firemen come and search the home for books, and burn them if any are found. Most of the citizens are satisfied with the book burning, because it leads to a dystopian society, in which everyone enjoys equality. Guy Montag, however, becomes convinced that saving the books is the right thing to do. In order for Montag to save the books, he not only has to break the law and go against the government, he also must abandon his responsibility as a fireman. Yet, Montag commits to saving the books because he values books more than technology, he recognizes that he can gain information from them, and he desires for the citizens to discover their own individuality.
Some small things that no one ever notices leaves or is obtained by a person might make them a new person that no one knows. In the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main character Guy Montag changes by meeting many people who change him to read books instead of burn them. As results Guy Montag has to change from being a person who never thought about anyone to being someone who killed to protect someone he cared for.