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Fahrenheit 451 Captain Beatty Comparison

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In order to stand up for their beliefs, characters Guy Montag and Captain Beatty, despite their similarities, follow extremely different paths, leading them to opposing resulting situations. In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses book-hating, manipulative Beatty as a foil to the soul-searching, curious protagonist, Montag, to highlight the power struggle between them, and the internal struggles and consequences one faces when intrigued by books in a dystopian, technology-based society like theirs. The issue of dominance between Montag and Beatty existed throughout almost the entirety of the novel. Lacking in power, Montag was expected to obey his boss, Beatty, which presented itself as a significant issue as the plot progressed. …show more content…

Throughout Montag’s self-realization journey, he began to recognize the flaws of his technology-driven society, and felt the need to repair the shattered ideals of a ethically stable civilization. As he burrowed himself deeper into his craving for knowledge, he not only realized the brokenness of the world around him, but even the brokenness of his relationship with his own wife. The more extroverted he became, the more he saw how devastating both Mildred’s mental and social states are. When Montag confronted her with his concerns, asking “does your ‘family’ love you...love you with all their heart and soul[?]” she disregards him completely and shifts to a different subject (73). Through books, even with his newly acquired trauma, Montag finally discovers himself and continues his journey as foreshadowed and shown at the end of the novel. Beatty, on the other hand, had a drastically different experience with books. As Montag’s story was told, Beatty’s past was revealed alongside. With context clues, the reader could decipher Beatty’s troubled story. It’s obvious that Beatty had read books by his tendency to quote literature, especially when he had been angry at Montag. Beatty could also identify that Montag possessed and had been reading books, and even warned Montag about the negative effects, hinting at complications with his own personal experience with books. Beatty’s negative life experiences led him to a depressing life dedicated to destroying books, and eventually led him to his willing demise. Although their situations are extremely contradictory, both characters were subjected to strong life changes because of their interest in

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In the book, Fahrenheit 451, Captain Beatty who is the head Fireman of the city, says that books are not allowed in society because its cancerous if someone reads the other person wants to read and it can create conflict and that becomes inequality. Captain Beatty starts by saying that the job they do in their city involves fire but they don’t take out the fire. In addition, they start the fire by burning the whole house down because a citizen is not allowed to have a book which causes conflict. He describes it by saying that the books are like a loaded gun, it can be contagious just like a virus. For example, Captain Beatty explains “a book is like a loaded gun next door we have to burn it take the shot from the weapon”(Page 58)

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For example Beatty was trying to help Montag by giving him the option to destroy his problems but instead he had different plans. Unlike allowing Beatty to help him Montag choose a completely different route that most humans would not even think of doing. All of these actions occurred because Montag was an owner of over twenty books. Books in our society (Fahrenheit 451) are illegal to own because they corrupt ones mind with fake and damaging knowledge. Montag was found with over twenty books in his house which means that he does no think like a normal person.

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In page 62 he admits “I’m not happy”, he knows there is something missing but he doesn’t know what. On the other hand, Captain Beatty is seen as the antagonist his beliefs contrast from

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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.

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309 Words | 2 Pages

In Fahrenheit 451, the comparison and contrast with Guy Montag and Captain Beatty is that both of them had a passion for reading at one point as well as them both working for the Fire Department. However, Beatty then feels like all books have turned on him. As stated in the beginning of the novel, Montag and Beatty are both firemen with Beatty being the captain (Bradbury 10). From this, both of these men have many things to relate to. In addition, they have to know the standards/requirements for being a fireman and are both aware that a fireman can only keep a book in their possession for no more than 24 hours.

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508 Words | 3 Pages

Beatty and Montag have many similarities and differences shown throughout the novel Fahrenheit 451. One similarity they have is their profession. They are both firemen that start fires to burn books. On difference they have is feelings towards things. Montag’s feelings seem to be determined to find what he seeks.

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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

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Montag and Beatty have many similarities and differences. One similarity is their job, they are both firemen, but they are weird firemen they didn’t put out fires they started them at peoples houses if they had books. A difference is their attitude, at the beginning Montag was a “normal” firemen because Montag states, “It was a pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 1). This shows his lack of feelings towards anything. But when Montag met Clarisse he started to get curious about books and what the society is like at a different point of view.

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547 Words | 3 Pages

Guy Montag and Captain Beatty used to have similar beliefs and opinions on society, but Montag’s views change, and his and Beatty’s beliefs come into conflict. Thus, Captain Beatty is the antagonist in the story, opposed to Montag. Even so, while there are many differences between Beatty and Montag, Beatty is just as wise as Montag in his own respect. For example, Beatty is able to tell that when Montag does not come into work, he is hiding something. Although he never says it, Beatty suspects Montag for stealing a book, and he warns him that he should return it or burn it himself.

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1115 Words | 5 Pages

We all have the right to back out of situations even if it could be life or death. Guy montag is justified in burning his and Mildred's house. Montag had been caught breaking the law by owning books, he made the mistake of reading the books to Millies friends and also was not forced to burn down the house. He had control of what he wanted to do and made the mistake of doing all these actions. Of course some people get away with breaking the law, but Montag should not.

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544 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the story, Clarisse makes Montag question his surroundings; she makes Montag rethink his marriage, society and job. Clarisse’s claims eventually cause Montag to read books and rebel. Clarisse causes Montag to question his marriage when she claims, “You’re not in love with anyone.” (19). This realization allows Montag not to be dragged in Mildred’s world of drugs and

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951 Words | 4 Pages

Captain Beatty is Montag's boss at the firehouse and has been a fireman for more than 10 years. When Beatty was young he loved to read and read all the time, but as he grew older he decided that books gave people advantages and decided that people should be equal and equality should be enforced by burning the books. After Montag had stolen the book from the old woman's house, he decided to turn himself in to captain Beatty who threw the book away and began to quote many complicated literary texts. The reason for Beatty’s quotes were to confuse Montag and convince him that books were better burned than read and understood, because they were confusing and hard to understand. "When did it all start, you ask, this job of ours, how did it come about, where, when?

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1118 Words | 5 Pages

In the book Fahrenheit 451 Beatty is killed by Montag. To understand this event we need to understand what 's happened. Beatty addresses Montag on the dangers of books. Beatty makes Montag feel intimidated. In his hand is a flamethrower at this time.

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1498 Words | 6 Pages

Beatty even explains to Montag, a fireman with growing inquiry, about “what traitors books can be” in attempts to deter him from reading. By traitors, Beatty means to express his coming away lost due to authors “all of them running about, putting out the stars and extinguishing the sun.” He argues that rather than challenging people with discovering truth themselves, it is in their best interest to not “give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.” Rather, “Any man who can take a TV wall apart and put it back together again, and most men can nowadays, is happier than any man who tries to slide rule,

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535 Words | 3 Pages

Captain Beatty visits Montag, Beatty realizes the signs of Montag stealing a book. Beatty gives Montag a lecture on why books are not good for society, but Montag doesn't listen to Beatty.

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