Theme Of Symbolism In Fahrenheit 451

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Pages: 3

Plenty of authors use symbols in their stories to create a deeper meaning, Ray Bradbury is one of those authors. Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, is an example of a symbol-filled book. The novel focuses on a fireman named Guy Montag who lives in a world where books are banned and burned while technology is thriving. Most people in this world rarely communicate with each other due to the fact that they are so into their electronics. Although Montag’s job is to destroy the books, he develops a burning desire to read the books. When Montag’s secret of keeping the books comes out, he has to overcome plenty of obstacles to escape the consequences. Montag then joins a group of homeless outlaws like him in hopes that they will revive the books and society. With the symbols of fire, water and the phoenix, the author creates the theme that after all the hardships there is a chance for one to start new. The main symbol in the novel is the fire. The fire first gets introduced in the disposition of the story. The audience is told that the fire is used to destroy the books. That alone can symbolize the destruction of knowledge. This is what fire is mainly used for throughout the novel until the war is started. When the …show more content…
The symbol of fire serves the role of destruction, not only for the worse but also for the better. Although the fire burned the books, it also burned the city and cleaned it so it can be rebuilt. The water represents the washing away of the past for Montag and the city. Montag fled to the river and away from the city to start a new life and escape the problems of his last “life”. Lastly, we have the Phoenix symbolizing rebirth itself through the city and Montag. The Phoenix is a bird that burns itself, but then it rises from the ashes and is reborn. These simple symbols mean much more than what they seem to