Fahrenheit 451 Essay
“My theory on life is that life is beautiful. Life doesn't change. We people change. We can be miserable or we can be happy. It’s what you make of your life.” said Mohamed bin Rashad Al Maktoum, the Vice President of Dubai. This quote means humanity can’t blame undesirable situations and others for their depression. It’s vital that they modify themselves to conform to their situations. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag meets starts to fathom the problems with burning books after he meets 17 year-old Clarisse McClellan; he changes from ostensibly, blissfully ignorant to caring, self-thinking, and courageous. Throughout the book, Montag’s beginning to think for himself. At the beginning of the book he seems
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Standing up for what is right appears to intimidate Montag. This is evident in the way he gets excessively nervous around Beatty, his captain, and doesn’t oppose him at all. As the plot continues, Montag’s character is developing a strong need for others to see how broken their world is. At one point Montag shows some of Mildred’s friends books that he’s secretly taken. He haphazardly performs this task even though he could be arrested and have his home burned. According to page 97, “ Mildred beamed, ‘You just run away from the door, Guy, and don’t make us nervous.’ But Montag was gone and back in a moment with a book in his hand.” (Bradbury, 1953). Montag is hiding nearly twenty books in his home and his bravery amplifies continuously. By the end of the book, he is on the run from the police and he is a publicly-known criminal, all for the cause of bringing books back into the world. I believe Faber helped Montag become a hero. Faber tells Montag his regrets at not being more courageous, and he helps calm Montag when he is distressed and act like a dolt. It’s phenomenal that Montag gains courage, but without love he would never have made the changes he …show more content…
Clarisse helps Montag start caring for others because he sees that she cares for him. According to page 72, Montag stated, “ ‘But Clarisse’s favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me. She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted. These men have been dead a long time, but I know their words point, one way or another, to Clarisse.’” (Bradbury, 1953). Montag perceives a similar theme in Clarisse and the books, love, which he has never experienced before. Love is so powerful that Montag’s longing for it begins to transform him. We observe this selflessness when he fought to save the woman who wanted to be burned in her house, his heartbreak at Clarisse’s death, and his worry for Faber’s safety. At the beginning of the book these thoughts would never even have crossed his mind, as he was only worried about
This is an important part of the book because this realization could cause Guy change the way he acts. He could also end up trying to take steps to regain his happiness that he lost. By trying to fill that hole in his heart that once contained happiness, Montag could end up doing something very drastic or unexpected.
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
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
Clarisse affected Montag by showing him how to be curious and adventurous and teaching Montag to try new things. Montag being a fireman doesn't know what he is doing for his society, by him burning books everyone's knowledge goes down. Clarisse is not for society, she is more free minded then Montag "'I rarely watch the 'parlor walls' or go to races or Fun Parks. So I've lots of time for crazy thoughts, I guess.'"(9). She is against watching the parlor and doing stuff society wants you to do. Montag will be affected by this and learn from this, he will later be against watching the parlor. Clarisse's attitude to life is good too, it seems like she is the light in a dark room. She also always has something interesting to say this makes Montag want to be around her "'Let me come in. I won't say anything. I just want to listen. What is it you're saying?'" (17)Montag wants hear what she has to say for there is always something interesting to be heard when she is talking.
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
_____ is shown when takes out the books he had previously hidden in an air vent. He does this in an attempt to explain to Mildred why they are important. She becomes upset and confused by the seemingly meaningless excerpts Montag reads, used to her idle distractions that required no in-depth thinking or interpretations. This is similar to when Montag brought out a book to read the poem “Dover Beach” to her friends. As to not worry the women, Mildred tried to play it off as a familiar occurrence by saying that once a year, firemen were allowed to bring home a book to show their family how silly it was, when in reality she had no idea what Montag was doing. Through his earpiece, Faber protested but Montag would not listen: “‘What good is this, what’ll you prove!’ ‘Scare hell out of them, that’s what, scare the living daylights out!’” (95). It is clear that Montag was not thinking straight because of his shouting at Faber, who he was supposed to keep secret. Montag desperately wanted to make the women understand why literature was important that he acted without thinking in trying to get them to cooperate. Montag believed that he could make them change their minds to realize the importance of literature with this small act, although he failed to take into consideration that when people are brought up thinking one way, it is very difficult to
Montag believed that Clarisse was crazy in the beginning, it states, “I’m still crazy. The rain feels good. I love to walk in it.” (Bradbury, 19) Clarisse replies to Montag. Montag thinks she is crazy, but as he got to know her on the walks in the dark to and from work, he started to think she was not so crazy, that maybe, perhaps books were the answer to this curiosity and the misery that had been poured into his life since the start of this novel. So he decides to go over to an old professor's house to learn about books. This professor, named Faber, helps Montag develop a plan to bring books back and destroy all the firemen. Faber gives him a green two-way radio that fits in his ear, and Montag heads back to work. When he gets to work he hears the alarm, so all the firemen get into the car(called a salamander) and drive to the location
The consequence of this behavior could send Montag to prison, which Montag does not care about. After reading several books Montag talks with his close friend, Faber, and says to him "We have everything to be happy, but we're not happy" .What Montag tells Faber at that moment is really an expression of how he started analyzing more after starting reading books. Although Montag's love life changes and his view of society are changed too, this is not the only change Montag must admit. In the start of the book Montag is delighted in the work of burning illegal books and the homes of where they are found. However, as the book progresses, Montag becomes increasingly disgruntled, as he realizes that he has an empty, unfulfilling life. A point that shows that Montag in the start of the book is happy about his job is when he hangs up his helmet and shines it; hangs up his jacket neatly; showers luxuriously, and then, whistling walks across the upper floor.
As Montag is becoming more and more rebellious, he finds a confidant in Faber. Faber was once a college professor but lost his job when things started to change and books were burned. Though he is somewhat of a coward who does not want to rebel due to the fact that he does not want to face the consequences, he is a big help to Montag as he evolves. Montag is forced to burn his own house down and it seems as if all is coming to an end. At
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.
The novel Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury is a fascinating story which talks about a dystopian world which is always evolutionizing, specially the characters which never “alight”. Guy Montag, the main character of this story is in a constant dilemma. “Be or not to be?” Montag, living in his point of view a normal life, till one day when he met this girl Clarisse. The one that changed his life by making him think in a different way. He feels the necessity to make changes, he can't live like he use to after Clarisse. Since his real eyes, realize the real lies his world hide. He goes through several changes while the development of this story. Bradbury develops the theme of change and transformation by the way Montag discovers each time more and more about his situation which makes him change his thoughts and transform as a person as well.
Clarisse says, “I tell them that sometimes I just sit and think”(21). Finally, Montag is made aware of this simplicity. When he is trying to find happiness himself, he remembers that Clarisse finds contenment through siting, observing and thinking. Montag begins to notice that his wife is a foil as she had never done either one of those things. Bradbury supports Jameson’s quote of happiness by showing how Mildred is suicidal and has no connection with people and her only connection is with her “Family” in the walls on Television. Montag begins to find himself and starts to realize that he really doesn’t care about Mildred, that she is an empty vessel. Later in the book Montage feels a stronger connection to a girl that he has only spoken to a handful of times versus his own wife whom he is suppose to have a strong connection. When Montage almost died by getting run over he says, “I wonder if they were the ones who killed Clarisse! He wanted to run after them yelling. His eyes watered.” (114). Montag knew Mildred for years yet he realizes that when she leaves him she will never miss him or mourn him; Montag feels closer with Clarisse as marvels at her idea of happiness. Montag starts to develop deeper feelings about thoughtful people like Clarisse. He would cry for this girl he barely knew more than he would for his own wife whom he felt no connection to.
Another incident that stayed in Montag 's mind is the old women who set her self and her books on fire. However, Montag tried stopping her by telling her that the books were not worth her life. Before she burned herself, Montag took one of her books and kept it. At that time Montag did not think about what did the old lady burned herself with the books, he did not think about it might be the value and morals that books hold to teach is. The old lady knew the importance of these books and what do they have, so she preferred to burn herself with them, and not watch the firemen burn them, who do not even know the importance of books. But they do know that books are unreal and there is so importance of them, plus they are against the law!
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
Clarisse tells Montag this, and it makes him wonder if anyone really does care. Montag realizes that he lives in a world of conceited people. He realizes that he does not really care about anyone, including his wife Mildred. People in his society don't think about others feelings when acting. From this, Montag learns the meaning of caring. He learns what a terrible place it is to live in, where no one cares about anyone but themselves. This only changes Montag for the better. At one point, Montag and the other firemen go to a house because a lady has books concealed in her home. The lady, not concerned about being burned to death, is determined to stay with her books. Montag is stunned by her decision, and cares very much about her safety. “Montag placed his hand on the woman's elbow. 'You can come with me'” (Bradbury 39) This is a turning point for Montag, in which he starts to care about everyone and their feelings.