Fahrenheit 451: Montag's Antihero Journey

(MIP-1): At the beginning of Montag’s antihero journey, he starts as a normal person in society. (SIP-A): Montag has an important role in his community and agrees with society and its rules. (STEWE-1): Montag has always worked as a fireman because his “...grandfather and father…” (49) were also firemen. He naturally felt the need to run after them on the road they were taking. In the end, Montag became a fireman himself. Montag always believed that he and society were doing the right thing due to Beatty constantly sugarcoating the job of being a fireman. Therefore, Montag took lots of pride in his job and violent actions. He proudly exclaimed to Clareise saying "It’s fine work. Monday bum Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn 'em

It got to the point that Montag's hands were so mindlessly obedient that they “...closed like a mouth, crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest” (34). In addition to that, Montag also obediently follows the rules. During his first encounter with Clarrise, he answers her questions without hesitation. When Clarrise asks Montag “Do you ever read any of the books you burn?” (5) Montag laughs it off, replying with “That’s against the law!” (5). During a conversation with Beatty, Beatty describes firemen as “...custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors” (56). He’s describing it in the way society wants to describe it. Montag enforces rules as a job, therefore it’s only natural that he also follows them. (STEWE-2): Montag is very naive and practically believes everything he’s told. Throughout chapter one, Montag is always seen agreeing to whatever Beatty says. For example, during their conversation on pages 51-59, Montag is seen replying to Beatty’s statements with “I think so” (51), “Fine games, all of them” (54), “Yes” (56), and at last, “Of course”

(SIP-A): Montag’s first short relationship with Clarrise causes him to ask questions and think a bit for once. (STEWE-1): Montag encounters his very first teacher near the beginning of the story, Clarrise. During their first conversation, Montag immediately felt that she was “…strangely comfortable…” (5) and described her as the “... rare and gently flattering light of the candle” (5). But even so, he still felt a bit uncomfy at first since she was completely different from the others. Instead of talking about themselves and materials, Clarrise casually asks Montag questions about him such as “How long’ve you worked at being a fireman?” (5) and “Are you happy?” (7). The question “Are you happy?” was an unusual question in Montag’s society due to everyone’s selfishness. Confused, Montag quickly answers saying “Happy! Of all the nonsense” (8). But only a few moments later after pausing and thinking about that question, he realizes the truth. ”…He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs” (9). Clarrise was different from the others, her “…favourite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me. She was the first person in a good many years I've really liked. She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted" (68). She causes Montag to think about himself for once, letting him find