He is the main character and the protagonist of the novel. He is a fireman, their job is burning the books and he enjoys it firstly but lately he feels a little bit of emptiness. When he meets with Clarisse McClellan who lives next door to Montag's makes Guy understands the cruelness of the society which they live in it. With that, he understands that he doesn't really love his wife and his marriage. He starts to think deeply about everything.
The quote by Captain Beatty in the movie explains much of the motivation and accepted ideology of the community in Fahrenheit 451. The only way to establish total equality is to level the playing fields, and to level the playing fields one must get rid of objects that promote differences and individuality, i.e. books. Many Utopian novels attempt to establish possibilities of total equality, however as we’ve studied there is not “true” utopia for all. The perceived social, racial, and economic fairness always seem ingrained and there will always be those who oppress others through its use of infringement of human rights, lack of free will, and charged language concerning reinforcing the idea of equality, this is often utilized in Fahrenheit
In Fahrenheit 451, Beatty makes makes an allusion to the New Testament of the Bible. It refers to the story of when Christ walked on water. In the Book of Matthew 14:22-33 Christ sends his disciples in a boat to sail across the Sea of Galilee after feeding the 5000. However, later on the disciplines face a storm. Christ then walks on water to help them.
Beatty (montag’s boss) is a complicated character With of all educated works concerning dystopian societies, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451is perhaps one of the most bluntly horrible, thoughtful, and relatable to them. Set in the United States of the prospective; this novel includes an authority that has banned books and a society that always watches television. However, Guy Montag, a fireman (one who burns books whereas literally putting out fires) detect books and a flash of whish for wisdom lighted within him. A evil-minded, ruinous phoenix fire chief, Beatty is an learned, intuitive manipulator who enclose himself with a nest of literary snippets. From this ragbag of aphorisms, he choose proper weapons with which to needle and vex Montag,
We let the fireman keep the book twentyfour hours. If he hasn’t burned it by then, we simply come burn it for him’”(Bradbury 59). This shows how Beatty acts as if he is unaware despite the fact that he is aware that Montag has taken a book and is battling an inner conflict. This is crucial because it highlights how significant it is that Montag is starting to read books differently than before
The novel's main characters are victims of the violent nature of society. Although he has read many books, Chief Beatty remains a true believe in the benefits of controlled society. Montag is confused, attempting to do the right thing as a firefighter, but soon discovers the benefits of books and knowledge and danger of censorship and an oppressive, violent society. When Montag discovers that his wife, Millie, has turned him in as a criminal, and he is ordered to burn down his own house, the critical, violent confrontation between Montag and Beatty, in which Beatty is killed and his body burned. This is followed by a violent confrontation with the mechanical hound, in which Montag fights for his life and with a leg that feels like "a chunk
The final set of characters which expose the protagonists to their dystopian society are the antagonists. Fire Chief Beatty, throughout the novel, intimidates and frightens Montag with the threat that comes with owning books and possessing knowledge in general. However, in spite of Betty’s claims his love for books and knowledge cannot be ignored. When Beatty and Montag prepare to burn a woman’s library, the woman chooses to be burned with her books. Afterwards Beatty flaunts his literary expertise and quotes Latimer, saying,“We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out”(37).
On page 57 he says, “More sports for everyone, group spirit, fun, and you don’t have to think, eh?” Captain Beatty goes on to more evidence that is shown in their society. His purpose is to tell Montag that books are useless and stir up trouble. He basically is telling Montag the story why they burn books. The Author uses good imagery and great structure.
“...for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against.” as said by Captain Beatty in Fahrenheit 451. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, Captain Beatty is sought out to be the antagonist in the dystopian society in which he lives in. His views on happiness in the society being everyone is made equal, not given equal opportunities as shown in the quote cited above.
Imagine a society designed to stop people from thinking and being unique. A place where people constantly have little music playing devices in their ears and watch television. A tightly controlled society so determined to stay as it is that media is controlled and books are burned. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury imagined all these things and created a story with them. He creates many different characters with very diverse stories, one of them named Beatty.
Captain Beatty wants to keep everyone the same and make sure that no one changes the way they were taught to think. I think Beatty is the antagonist because he takes knowledge away from the people, he does not trust Montag, seems to be against Montag’s decisions, and keeps secrets. One of the reasons Captain Beatty gave for books being banned was that they make people unequal. In his mind, books are
Also, Bradbury examines and interprets the way of obtaining a way of pure happiness throughout the novel. At the beginning of the book, Guy struggles to find a stable peace of mind when he returns home from work and begins to wonder why he is unhappy when Clarisse questions his behavior. Later in the book, Captain Beatty reveals to Guy that people find true joy in doing activities that revolve around pleasure because it keeps society at a contentious status. Captain Beatty goes through immense detail to describe this process by listing prolific examples: “Bring on your clubs and parties, your acrobats and magicians, your daredevils, jet cars, more of everything to do with automatic reflex with solid entertainment” (Bradbury 61). Clearly, Captain
Beatty, the firehouse captain, had been suspicious of Montag being in possession of literature. His dubious thoughts are found to be correct when Mildred turned Montag in. Montag is forced to go on the run, leaving the city for the countryside, where he finds other outcasted intellectuals. The city is bombed, leaving it completely destroyed and the society in ruins. The society Ray Bradbury creates in Fahrenheit 451 showcases how censorship is a threat to free thinking, society’s humanity, and human relationships through the use of imagery, symbolism and motifs.
Moreover the fire also resembles the purging of Montag. Montag’ burning of his house and the TV signifies his rebellion and rejection of the vales of his society. Through burning his own house Montag like a phoenix destroys his old self by fire to be reborn from the ashes as a new person once again. Killing captain Beatty symbolizes the destruction of the system, because by doing so he frees himself from the influence of his society which give him the chance to think and choose freely for first time in his life. Also, another side of fire is also revealed to Montag ay the end of the novel when he meets the rebel group.
Captain Beatty is a fireman. Firemen used to put out fires, but after every house became fireproof, they act as the government’s official censor to prohibit literary works. This transition is known because of Beatty’s lecture to Montag, including the quote, “They (firemen) were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread to be inferior.” (Bradbury 56) This also explains the need for firemen.
