Leina Nguyen Kalra Period 2 April 3, 2023 Values, Morals, and Other Trivial Matters Many dystopian novels show the ugly side of society and government by creating a world ruled by dictatorship and censorship. Fahrenheit 451 shows just this, a book modernized and set in a society ruled by technology, a realistic fiction that shows the effects of oppression and propaganda. The protagonist in the novel is a middle-aged man named Montag, a fireman who works for the government to burn books, as they are considered a threat to their peaceful lifestyle. Throughout the novel, Montag, the main character, changes and grows as he meets new people and learns to form his own ideologies. He rebels against an authoritarian mindset through a series of …show more content…
His curiosity blooms into a full-blown obsession with literature and the meaning behind complex works. The passage reads, ‘“You weren't there, you didn't see,’ he said. ‘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. You don't stay for nothing.’” (Bradbury 48) The quote shows how watching the woman die changed Montag’s perspective and haunted his conscience. Montag defends his books, bibles, and other works with everything he has to offer. Faber helps him and the two of them decide to work together to rebuild society from the inside out. Though infatuated with the written words, Montag is wary of his captain, as it seems he knows about the illicit activities Montag has engaged in. In a fit of passion and impulsivity, Montag angers his captain, who decides to arrest Montag and burn his house. Montag ends up murdering his captain, caught in the moment, and manages to escape safely with his books. Searching for the freedom to read to his heart’s desire, Montag gives up everything he has and braves the wilderness, hoping he can finally be free from the shackles of the authoritarian
The Shift After interpreting the motif technology, Bradbury starts to shift the spotlight to nature and expose technology as destructive. This shift is most precedent in fictional character Guy Montag. He had started his journey overwhelmed with technology, to the point where he couldn't even see the side of nature. Mildred starts his journey off and shows Guy just how unhappy he is and what technology has done to this society. Beatty then furthers his mentality with his constant interference and ironic knowledge about books.
happy and free Clarisse, and during one of their conversation, he, in an almost threatening way, says, “"Well, doesn't this mean anything to you?" while tapping the numerals 451 stitched on his char-coloured sleeve (Bradbury, page 4). As soon as he mentions the numbers and shows them to Clarisse, she becomes extremely uncomfortable and changes the subject of the conversation like those numbers are alive and deadly. In fact, they are.
By studying the principles of Montag in Fahrenheit 451 we learn that principals can change as quickly as you start to see clearly. In part one of Fahrenheit 451 Montag’s principle have been fogged up by the way his society is. He had no doubt that he was doing the justifiable thing when he says “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things blackened and changed.” (4).
In the dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist is a 30 year old fireman named Guy Montag. Instead of putting out fires like firefighters today, Montag’s task is to burn books, which are illegal in this society of the future. The introduction of the story portrays the idea that Guy takes great pride in his work. This attitude is evident when Guy meets his young neighbor Clarisse McClellan on his way home from the firehouse. On page six, Montag remarks, “It’s fine work.
Anjalee Chahal Mrs. Brown ENG3UE-04 24 July 2023 Three ways the Society in Fahrenheit 451 effects Mildred and Guy’s relationship In the book Fahrenheit 451, Mildred and Guy Montag are married, and the reasons as to why the relationship suffers is because of Mildred and Guy having different perspectives on the laws of the society, Mildred’s poor character traits, and Mildred’s use with substances. Mildred and Guy having different perspective on the dystopian laws causes suffering in the relationship when Mildred will say things like, ““I’m tired of listening to this junk” to shut Guy down about the laws (Bradbury 65). Communicating is key for a healthy relationship, and Guy receives no opportunity to.
This is due to his desire to educate himself on the subjects of books and the knowledge found within them (Bradbury 78). By digging into
In the text it states, “‘There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house…’” (Bradbury 48). This quote is from the beginning of Montag's un-indoctrination of the ordeals he had been taught his entire life, but it can be seen that he almost understands the value that can come from books and their teachings. This is able to once again show how dangerous censorship and propaganda can be when consumed in mass. In the novel it states, “Nobody listens anymore.
(Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451). The significance of this quote is to tell the reader the true essence of books and what it represents and how important it is. Ray Bradbury predicts the future with this book by showing what will happen if everyone forgets about books and becomes illiterate and he shows
In the following by Carson McCullers, “All men are lonely. But sometimes it seems to me that we Americans are the loneliest of all. Our hunger for foreign places and new ways has been with us almost like a national disease. Our literature is stamped with a quality of longing and unrest, and our writers have been great wanderers. ”(McCullers)
Fahrenheit 451 Censorship in the society in Fahrenheit 451 reflect Bradbury’s concern for the value of knowledge in the current world. Guy Montag is a creative fireman who reflects on burning books in a American city his anti-intellectualism which stems from fear of conflict brings on unhappiness, which is resolved using censorship. “While a broad consensus exists on the importance of Bradbury’s novel in term of its stylistic qualities and its critical commentary on censorship, book burning, and american culture, critical scholar shows a range of interpretations” (Reid). “There are a few rare exceptions,such as three-dimensional comic books, trade journals and, of course, rule books, those mainstays of any oppressive society”(Bloom). “Bradbury’s description of all fireman as
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
After the incident, Montag thought about the suicidal woman and he is confused as to why she would sacrifices her own life for some mere books. Since he’ve been told that books are evil, a spark of curiosity blooms within him. In part two, Montag is desperate for help. After his boss, Beatty, talks to him about the history of firemen and books, Montag is afraid that Beatty knows that he stole a book.
At the end of the novel, Montag is not in the best place in his life. He was talking to Faber and he said, “this is happening to me” (108).
Sophia Callahan 4/5th “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid,” Benjamin Franklin. In the book Fahrenheit 451 Montag is just your average fire firefighter, no need to learn more about life. Then he met Clarisse, though just a teenager, she knew so many things about life, and was so eager to expand her knowledge of the world.
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, is a classic novel that challenges authority through self-discovery and growth. The main character Guy Montag is a dedicated fireman. He enjoys his job, watching pages of books become nothing more than burnt ash. He has never questioned anything before, nor has he had a reason to. That is, until he encounters three important individuals that seem to influence a change in Montag and ultimately change his world.