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Fahrenheit 451 Symbolism & Themes
Imagery and symbol in fahrenheit 451
The use of symbolism in the novel
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Fahrenheit 451 Symbolism & Themes
Imagery and symbol in fahrenheit 451
The use of symbolism in the novel
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The first example of Montag’s understanding of fire is when Montag is burning a house of books on the job. Montag is shown to like fire very early in the book. He thought “it was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (1). He is shown to like his job again when
Untold Stories of The Future As I read this fascinating book, I realize how dangerous books are to humans, and how much struggle these people have with the encounter of books. We know that books are illegal and we know that Montag is taking them for himself. This is very illegal and funny because he is the one who is trying to burn these books, kind of contradicting himself.
The symbol of fire, has changing meanings throughout the novel. At first, the symbol of fire is used as destruction. For example “The fumes of kerosene bloomed up about her.” “The women on the porch where she had contempt to them all, and struck the kitchen match against the railing. ”(Bradbury 39)
In the beginning of the book, Montag says, “It was a pleasure to burn.” As though
Later, Montag comes to a realization that he is hurting so much more than book every time he turns on the flamethrower and burns a book. On page 49 montag says
Vocabulary Enricher Book- In the novel, books are more than we know them as, but are a powerful symbol for freedom of knowledge and freedom of speech. They are used and coveted in such a way that they are supposed to be seen as a way for the characters to be free of their oppressive government. The way the government treats the books and the people who own them is similar to the people who hid banded books in Nazis Germany, and were persecuted like the books inhabitants.
Some people struggle in the outside world, while others struggle in the inside world, or with themselves. In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, the main character Guy Montag is conflicting with himself. Initially, Montag thinks that he is happy and content with his life as a fireman burning books, but after meeting a peculiar neighbor, he realizes that he is struggling internally with his happiness in his life. In the beginning of the book, Montag’s thoughts to himself illustrates himself as a satisfied man.
Bradbury portrays how Montag’s perception of fire and burning books with his personal development changes by the different choices he makes throughout the novel. In the beginning of the book, Montag has a great passion and
Montags first awakening to realizing how influential books can be is when he is burning a house and the woman inside stays with the books while the house is being burnt. This peaks Montag's curiosity making him wonder why someone would ever do that. "There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing" (Bradbury 48). This is where Montag begins to realize that books can hold significance and knowledge, as well as inspiring people to act on their beliefs.
"It was a pleasure to burn. "(p. g. 1) The book start off by Montag burning books and then not wanting to burn them because he gain an interest. If you read books you were "accidentally" killed because they are illegal.
In the beginning of the book Montag stated that he loved burning books and he
In the beginning of the novel, Montag is a content member of society who follows the rules without question. On a day when Montag is burning books, he thinks to himself, "It's a pleasure to burn" (1). This shows that Montag is content with his job and sees burning books as a normal part of his routine, not questioning the government's reason for doing so.
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.
He thinks to himself that he is happy and content with his life but, continuing on in the novel reveals this to be false. It is proven that he does not enjoy burning books, but rather he thinks that it is his duty to burn all of them. Later, on a routine call to burn books, the lady who was trying to defend the books did not let the firemen start the fire. Rather the old lady lit her match and set fire to the kerosene killing herself with her books. This event will forever change Montag.
“A strange fire because it meant something to him… [fire] could give as much as it could take” (145-146). Away from the corrupt civilization of censorship and conflagration, Montag sees even more in fire than he had seen before. Before, fire had been a way to shut down life and shadow the natural mind and rational world. But now, Montag sees fire in the light of starting a new life. Fire becomes a way to get rid of the past and look toward the future.