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Fahrenheit 451 Essay

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is an American dystopia that takes place in the 1950s where freedom is suppressed. Books in this dystopian world are not allowed to be owned by citizens nor can they read them. The story focuses on Montag, a book-burning fireman who burns books of literature and poetry to prevent citizens from acquiring them. But as the story progresses, Montag meets allies and enemies that change his view towards reading books. The round protagonist of “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, is Guy Montag whose job was to prevent American citizens from finding literature books by burning them to ashes. But, he discovers books when he was talking with his wife, Mildred, after burning the woman and her library full of books. Montag …show more content…

Earlier in the story, Montag was coming home from work and he stumbled upon Clarisse who happened to be enjoying nature as she “bent to watch her shoes stir the circling leaves” (Bradbury 3). Montag then asks if she would like to walk with him toward their houses and she agrees. As they walked, Clarisse said, "You laugh when I haven't been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think about what I've asked you." She pointed this out because as they converse, Montag has been laughing at what Clarisse has said such as “I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames." and "Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" (Bradbury 5) This shows that Montag is not known because he doesn’t read books but Clarisse knew which means that she is knowledgeable. After Montag walked her to her house and a few days had passed, he began to wonder where she could be. As he lies down with his wife, Montag asks about Clarisse's whereabouts and she breaks the news that she died in a car accident. This news acted as a catalyst to further his involvement with …show more content…

He is manipulative and despite showing signs that he knows about literature, he still firmly believes that books will only bring mayhem and disorder to society. Captain Beatty says “not everyone is born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone is made equal. Each man is the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against” (Bradbury 47). Captain Beatty wants a world where everyone is the same which means that being intelligent is frowned upon. As Captain Beatty talks to Montag he says, "You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can't have our minorities upset and stirred. Ask yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right? Haven't you heard it all your life? I want to be happy, people say. Well, aren't they? Don't we keep them moving, don't we give them fun? That's all we live for, isn't it? For pleasure, for titillation? And you must admit our culture provides plenty of these” (Bradbury 47). By telling Montag these words, he tries to reassure and remind him what kind of world Montag lives in and if he were to disagree, then Montag would be seen as someone who wants to change society. In the end, Beatty reminds Montag that they are the protectors who will not let others have conflicts that lead to

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Montag is a fireman, he has been for ten years. Clarisse didn’t expect Montag to be a fireman. The burning of the books put Montag in jail, even though he was a fireman. In the story Montag was looking at Clarisse’s house, with Beatty thinking that Montag was under her influence and berated him for it.

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She is the first person who challenges Montag and gets him to truly think. She triggers Montag’s questioning of life, what he is doing, and his relationship with his wife Mildred. Upon their first encounter Clarisse begins asking Montag questions, questions about a time when firefighters put out flames not started them, a time when life was a bit slower. She asks, “Are you happy?” once Clarisse is home Montag responds, “Of course I’m happy.

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