Curiosity keeps the world functioning to this day. It leads to inventions, leads to the correction of what is wrong, and leads to the betterment of all of humanity. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag is challenged with a society that cannot change for the better and will continue to be stuck in an endless loop of banality. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, we can see how the culture of his society chooses to ignore the blatant flaws of the world, and only through curiosity and self-thought, is one able to move on for the better. Throughout his journey, Guy Montag starts devoid of curiosity, but after being challenged about his beliefs, he begins to open his eyes. Montag realizes this once he meets a young girl known as Clarrise McClellan. He meets …show more content…
They start to walk together to his house, and before she leaves, she asks “are you happy?” (Bradbury 7) and leaves. This causes Montag to think deeply until he finally concludes that “he [has] wore his happiness like a mask” (Bradbury 9) for all his years. Clarisse's questioning nature challenges Montag's beliefs and opens his eyes to the flaws in himself and society. It causes Montag to realize that society, including himself, is incomplete, and has put on a fake facade that everything was fine. Consequently, Montag decides to steals a book, marking a pivotal moment in his journey toward enlightenment and rebellion against the oppressive society. He and his fellow firemen are sent to burn a woman's house, where he decides to steal a book, as if “his hand had done it all, his hand, with a brain of its own, with a conscience and a curiosity” (Bradbury 35). The woman who lives there chooses to die with her books even though “the whole house is going up” (Bradbury 36) rather than live in a society without them, deeply affecting Montag. The act of Montag stealing a book out of mere curiosity displays the change Montag goes through. Additionally, it showcases the rebellious nature against his society once he starts to