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How Does Montag Change In Fahrenheit 451

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Born into a futuristic, technologically based society, Guy Montag never thinks to question anything. By blindly accepting the policies of his society, Montag lives his life in a state of serenity. He was a fireman, which in Montag’s world, is considered a highly respected profession. The role of firemen in this society was to destroy the existence of knowledge by igniting books and houses that contain them. Throughout the book, Montag begins to change after he meets Clarisse McClellan. Before their encounter Montag wears his happiness “like a mask” and claims that he is happy, even though he isn't. He also begins questioning his occupation. In the past, Montag had been proud of his work and had felt it was a pleasure to burn. He does not want …show more content…

Montag begins to discern that there are people and ideas behind every document that is written. He develops an awareness that the books may provide answers to missing elements in his life. He also begins to doubt his relationship with his wife. Montag and his wife lack communication and he sometimes refers to her as “the wife” instead of by her name. Mildred also seems equally disconnected, paying more attention to her virtual family on the wall-TV instead of her husband. Ultimately, after several life changing experiences, Guy Montag’s desire to uncover the hidden truth in books makes him take risks that he never would have considered in the past. Montag had been curious in the past about books and had hidden a stockpile of them in his house, but had never wanted to pursue the knowledge …show more content…

Clarisse McClellan was the person who ultimately changes Montag’s world view. He finds many flaws in the society after he starts to think differently. He no longer respects his career after he witnesses a woman sacrifice herself for knowledge by setting herself and her possessions on fire. After Montag starts to pay more attention to his life, he realizes that the very things that were forbidden in his society were what was needed for personal relationships. Realizing that the content in books was the result of real men with thought and emotion, made him see how disconnected individuals are from one another in his society. Families and relationships seems automated. Even married couples have imperceptible relationships with no apparent beginning or purpose. Montag, himself, becomes melancholy after realizing that his relationship with his own wife is not as it seems. He becomes disillusioned with his job when he realizes that he is part of the government plan to withhold truth and knowledge. Eventually his desire to uncover the hidden truths of society changes Montag. As he joins the resistance group known as “book covers,” Montag transforms from a compliant, proper citizen to a truth seeker on the

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