Destruction In Fahrenheit 451

The novel commences with Montag lighting a fiery inferno in a sinister ritual of burning books. This opening scene is reported by Bradbury, who recounts “With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flames with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red, and yellow, and black” (3). The wild fire in this situation denotes evil because the flames burning in his eyes are representative of the evil motives within Montag for destroying books which are vital to many people. One morning, as Montag examines the other fireman with whom he works, Bradbury articulates that “Montag looked at these men whose faces were sunburnt by a thousand real and ten thousand imaginary fires” (33). Fire here embodies the evils in life that these men endured or witnessed. Instead of describing these men as battered from the detrimental, grievous things that they’d experienced, he describes them as veterans of the burning of ten thousand metaphorical fires. At this point in the story, before Montag opens up his mind, fire represents the turpitudes that overwhelm Montag’s dystopian

Fahrenheit 451 is about a fireman named montag.The firetruck is filled with kerosene instead of water. Instead of putting out fires they start them, they burn book because books represent a better place where they might get some ideas to make a up rising to over through the government.

At the start of the book, Montag loves fire. He sees it as something that can destroy evil and alter reality. He thinks that “It [is] a pleasure to burn” (1). When he burns the books that people illegally hide in

In the start of Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s thoughts are that fire is good for society. He burns books for a living, and never thought twice about doing his job. That is until he meets characters such as Clarisse, Beatty, and the academics. Montag’s understanding of the nature of fire changes as he becomes enlightened through his relationships.

“’Strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames’” (Bradbury 6). In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag is a fireman, someone that burns books for the government to keep a firm control on what knowledge society has. However, through a series of events populated by an attempted suicide, a young girl, and an old man, Montag is shown a life where books are treasured instead of feared and hated. Armed with a vision of what the world has been, and could be like again, Montag ultimately meets up in the aftermath of a war with others that share his vision, and they begin their mission to make fire something other than a source of fear: a healing power.

It is only once in a while a book comes along so great in its message, so frightening in its inferred meaning’s of fire as in Fahrenheit 451. Fire which is used as a symbol of chaos, destruction, and death can also lead to knowledge. Fire has 3 different meanings. Fire represents change which is shown through Montag’s symbolic change from using fire to burn knowledge into using fire to help him find knowledge; fire can represent knowledge as demonstrated through Faber, and fire can represent rebirth of knowledge as shown through the phoenix.

In the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, there are many different characters and each one plays a different role. One of the main characters, Guy Montag, is a fireman who takes pride in his work and enjoys burning books as a part of his job. His outlook about burning books changes after he meets Clarisse McClellan and Professor Faber. It’s very interesting how Montag’s way of thinking transforms overtime. He becomes very courageous about hiding books and is also curious about reading them. Throughout the novel his actions, ideas, and his feelings change as he starts to think for himself.

In Fahrenheit 451 ,written by Ray Bradbury, the motif of fire, sparks an interest in the reader which pulls them into the life of Guy Montag. In the daily life of Montag, Bradbury portrays the importance of fire in the censored society. From Montag's standpoint the reader gains a clear perspective of the symbolism and importance of fire. Throughout the story fire is used to represent a different emotion or characteristic. At the start of the book fire symbolizes destruction; towards the middle of the book fire is used to represent change and discovering ones identity; and finally at the conclusion of the story fire symbolizes renewal and rebirth.

In the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, fire symbolizes destruction and censorship. It symbolizes this by showing how the firemen are starting fires, and not putting them out. It states, “he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red, yellow, and black.” (Bradbury 3). In the quote it explained how he ignited a fire that burned down a house, when firefighters are supposed to be putting out fires, and not starting them. Another symbolism for fire is the censorship, on how the firemen prohibit books and no one is allowed to have or read them. In the book the firemen go out and burn the books to get rid of them, because of their false information. In the book it Montag states “like the old

Montag thought that it was a “pleasure to burn,” because he felt that he was doing the city a favor. The firemen believed that they were cleansing the people when they rid them of their books, so the act of burning became blissful to them. When Beatty made Montag burn his own house, he did say it was different. This time, it was a “pleasure to burn,” because he was able to cleanse his own mind, instead of someone else’s, allowing himself to think clearer.

Fire, the symbol of warmth, destruction, and renewal, is a dominant image in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Guy Montag, the protagonist, lives in a grim, futuristic United States where people have given up books and knowledge in general for entertainment and instant gratification. The standard use of fire to warm and heat has been replaced to be used for destruction and entertainment. Montag’s job as a fireman clearly shows this, as he is required to burn books and houses. Montag’s understanding of fire and burning as destruction is completely reversed by the end of the book when he regards it as a symbol of warmth and renewal.

Bradbury’s symbolic use of fire shifts to echo Montag’s increasing enlightenment. As he talks about his love for his job as a firefighter Montag notes that he loves “to see things blackened and change...to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history” (1). Montag enjoys the immediate satisfaction of destroying something; the change in and of itself exhilarates him. Fire represents a false sense of power because he feels he controls what he burns but in reality there are other consequences. It symbolizes a blind power for destruction and change since Montag never looks to repercussions.

Guy Montag is the protagonist and central character of the book, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury that transforms from a conformist in a totalitarian society to rebuilding a society that reads books. Montag fits the cliché description of a good-looking male with “black hair, black brows…fiery face, and…blue-steel shaved but unshaved look.” (Bradbury, 33)  For the past eight years he has burned books. He is a 3rd generation firefighter, who in the beginning of the story, loves his job, which consists of burning the homes of people who perform criminal acts of reading and keeping books in their homes. By understanding Montag’s relationships, discontentment, and future, one can begin to understand the complexities of Guy Montag.

Throughout the whole story fire plays a huge role in the novel fahrenheit 451. Montag believes in the beginning of that book that fire exist to burn books, but he never really grasp why. Montag opinion changes drastically about fire when he encounters Mrs. Hudson, Clarisse, Faber, and books. In chapter three is says Montag “knows why he must never burn again in his life”, because the sun “burns time.” With time everything will start to fade away anyway so there's no need to get rid of books.

In Fahrenheit 451’s dystopian society, the possession of books is considered criminal. A once proud fireman who regularly burned books turned a new leaf and began to understand and value the importance of literature. Multiple characters in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 impact the ex-firemans, Montag, life in a way that changed him forever. Throughout the novel Montag discovers a different outlook and perspective on the society in which he lives and how he perceives books. From a fireman to an outlaw, a few specific characters greatly impact Montag. Montag meets a young woman who perceives the world in a different way which affects Montag’s outlook on society. Also, a retired English professor gave Montag confidence and the comprehension of books. A character close to Montag, his wife, shows him how the loss of importance of books would affect his life . When Montag goes outside, he comes across a young woman who does not seem like the others in the city. Montag begins to talk to her and his life changes in a major way.