Fahrenheit 451 Montag Significance

What is the true importance of literature in a society? In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the author creates a futuristic society where he portrays the importance of literature and how it can change one's perspective on life. Bradbury uses the growth of his protagonist, Montag, to show the significance of literature in a society that values technology above anything. Initially, Montag embodies this ignorant community, but when he meets Clarisse, a curious thinker, it leads to his character development. Clarisse serves as an important figure in the story as her deep thinking sparks Motag’s curiosity. Bradbury uses the development of Montag and his curiosity to display the transformative power of literature and the negative effects

As Montag begins to analyze the meanings behind books and why they were created, he discovers the importance of literature. After burning down the house with the lady inside, Montag begins to ponder what could have been so important in the books that the woman chose to die rather than to live in a world without books. This experience got him to start reading some books and “for the first time [he] realized that a man was behind each one of the books”(49). Montag's realization reveals his character development and displays the knowledge he has gained. Montag develops a sense of empathy for others which is illustrated when Montag questions if it is true that “ the world works hard and we play?” and as he argues with Mildred he expresses how books “just might stop [them] from making the same damn mistakes!” (70). Montag grows frustrated as he can not understand how people are able to know the bad in the world and simply ignore it. His frustration embodies the dependence he now has on books and the effort puts into getting others to see the same, shows the impact literature has on

This sudden shift in the novel elevates Bradbury's purpose to illustrate the power of literature. When Montag tries to read a piece of poetry to his wife, Mildred, and her friends Faber says to Montag “pity, Montag, pity. Don’t haggle and nag them; you were so recently of them yourself” (99). Faber depicts montags judgment and gets him to hold back as he knows how these people can be and he should not even bother to try to change their minds. His comment reveals how Montag went from being just like these ignorant women to someone who wishes to spread literature. Faber compares these innocent women to Montag, before he discovered books, as they do not see the reality, “they see only the blaze, the pretty fire, as [he] saw it”(100). Faber's analysis of how Montag now sees fire as destructive and dangerous rather than the way the women see it, shows how Montag has grown to become more thoughtful. ….add in another quote and analysis, montag running for his life… As a way to promote literature, Bradbury uses Montags step