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Fahrenheit 451 Character Analysis

Decent Essays

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. In the city where Guy lives, the citizens enjoy access to technology for their entertainment. For instance, their homes have “walls,” or televisions, which program news and information for the citizens. Montag’s wife, Mildred, who does not have a job, spends her days in front of the

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