Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

Words: 733
Pages: 3
Open Document
The novel, Fahrenheit 451, presents a future society where books are prohibited and the firemen burn any that are. The title is the temperature at which books burn. It was written by Ray Bradbury and first published in October 1953. In this novel, protagonist Montag changes his understanding in various aspects such as love or his human relationship throughout the book. However, among all of these, fire – the main theme of this novel – has the most significance as it also changes his understanding of knowledge from books. Bradbury portrays how Montag’s perception of fire and burning books with his personal development changes by the different choices he makes throughout the novel.
In the beginning of the book, Montag has a great passion and …show more content…
In this part of the book, all of the firemen including Montag received a call to burn a house with the books in there. Here became the turning point for Montag as he saw the woman, who already had made her decision to die rather than live in a world of oppression and restricted freedom of thought which books symbolize in this part, burns with the illegal books in the burning house, refusing to go out without the assurance of the safety of the books. We can suppose that his perception is gradually changing through the phrase showing that Montag felt a huge guilt over this, unlike the other firemen or Beatty. Furthermore, during the conversation with his wife, Mildred, Montag says, “We burn a thousand books. We burnt a woman."(page. 50) and continue to talk to Mildred “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.” (page. 51) without consciously noticing his different perspective towards fire from the first encounter with Faber before the novel. These quotes represent that he rejected the idea of being a fireman by questioning himself and the cause of the incidents occurred on that day. Clearly, the quote “he pressed at
Show More

Related Documents: Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

The Fire In Fahrenheit 451

The fire throughout Fahrenheit 451 was shown to be both a destructive and a beneficial figure. Fire was first shown to be destructive through the examples of the houses being burnt and the city being bombed. Fire was also shown as being good to the city by bringing it heat and light as well as giving the city a clean restart. The fire in Fahrenheit 451 was shown to be a destructive force, turning the books in the city into ashes. This is first shown in the novel when Montag is first burning…

Words 532 - Pages 3

Fire In Fahrenheit 451

“Do not play with the fire” is something that all are taught, but most children- and even adults- still are succumbed to being burned. There is something that causes humans to gravitate towards it. It captures people with its glow, warmth, and mystification. In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, the main character Guy Montag rebels against the dystopian society and everything that he once thought as right. Montag is a fireman that burns books and the houses where books are found while the people…

Words 1248 - Pages 5

Significance Of Fire In Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a profound novel that deals with shocking potential of technology and man’s use of it. The author wanted to warn future generations of the dangers of technological advancement; what is currently viewed as positive could one day be our very downfall. One day nature may be exploited as a means to burn our humanity, with the only survivor being the very thing that caused it. Bradbury employs many symbols throughout Fahrenheit 451 to convey all of these ideas in a deeper…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Symbol Of Fire In Fahrenheit 451

In the book Fahrenheit 451 there is a recurring symbol all throughout the book and that is the fire. Fire can mean many different things, but its meaning can change because of the context of the sentence. In the book fire can mean destruction, but it can also mean life. The main character’s understanding on fire changed throughout the book, Montag had a very straight view on fire, but towards the end that view changed. In the beginning Montag sees fire as the vehicle of a restrictive society, but…

Words 426 - Pages 2

Fire Symbolism In Fahrenheit 451

In Fahrenheit 451, a “fireman” tries to find truth in a dystopian future where books are banned from the U.S.A. The man’s job is to burn books. Fire is important to him, for a time, until his whole world get’s turned upside down and toppled over. Guy Montag, fireman, married, “happy”, has his life changed because of fire and truth. Fire. One of the few things that makes Guy Montag smile. There is a sort of pleasure that comes from watching something be destroyed. A sort of pleasure that a sour…

Words 784 - Pages 4

Fahrenheit 451 Fire Analysis

the Hearth, the sand that would never fill the sieve and the fire that always burns bright, These three chapters are milestones to the reader and the protagonist as they both set on a journey through the near feature of reality created by Ray Bradbury and named Fahrenheit 451. A reality where books are contraband, thinking was odd and not heard off and you were only taught to do your job in life. The Salamander has been thrown in the fire with the rest of the books and all of the ideas of everyone…

Words 1029 - Pages 5

Meaning Of Fire In Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury utilizes the same technique in the novel Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury tells the story of a fireman named Guy Montag who lives in a defective society during the twenty-first century. Montag starts to question his job and life itself as he goes through various obstacles trying to find a true meaning in life after encountering two characters, Clarisse and Faber. As the protagonist progresses through the story, we see the motif of fire transition from meaning destruction to meaning warmth and…

Words 1476 - Pages 6

Fahrenheit 451 Fire Symbolism Essay

Fire is what sets humanity apart. We would be fending for survival alongside lions, and apes had we not discovered this most dangerous too. Though it is not the tool we thought it would turn out to be.The motif of fire in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, is a contradictory symbol. It is used to both create and destroy. It is also used to represent two basic instincts of humanity, its ambition for power and knowledge, and the constant need to ask “why?”. In the novel Montag is a fireman burning books…

Words 672 - Pages 3

What Does Fire Symbolize In Fahrenheit 451

In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, fire is constantly depicted as a destructive force, both physically and mentally. Fire, being depicted as a physical destructive force, constantly burns and destroys books, houses, and even people. Fire, being depicted as a mental destructive force, constantly commands fear and insanity to those who oppose it. Fire symbolically represents destruction. More specifically to Fahrenheit 451, fire represents the destruction of independence in the society in which Montag…

Words 695 - Pages 3

Fire And Water In Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'

Understanding how Montag views fire and water in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 are essential to analyzing Montag’s progression through his hero’s journey throughout the novel. Montag begins the novel as a devout firefighter, making a living by burning books with fire and kerosene. When he was a firefighter, Montag never stopped to question the reasoning behind his job, or why he was so infatuated with fire. This is Montag’s comfort zone in his hero’s journey, where he is satisfied with his life…

Words 521 - Pages 3