How Did Montag Change In Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 Expository Essay By Vincent Nguyen

Imagine a world where books are prohibited and burned, relationships are distant due to televised distractions, and outcasts are criminals. This world is the dystopian society of Guy Montag. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, tells a story about Guy Montag rebelling against firefighters through reading books and learning that the society he lives in is manipulative, devoid of relationships, and lacks empathy. Furthermore, Dystopian conflicts changed Montag in a variety of ways. Although Guy Montag changes because of multiple dystopian conflict types, the three conflicts that changed him the most were restricted information, his society being an illusion of a perfect utopian world, and citizens

Montag can see through the utopian world by perceiving that he and others fake their happiness. For example, after Montag talks to Clarisse for the first time, Montag reflects on Clarisse’s words and observes that “He felt his smile fade away [.] He was not happy [.] He recognized [.] He wore his happiness like a mask [.]” (Bradbury, 9). To clarify, Montag realizes he is tricking himself into believing he is happy to maintain a social image. Before, Montag used to believe he was content with life because distractions in his society prohibited him from thinking about his emotions. In this quote, Montag begins to regain his true self, which lets him realize that despite all the lies he tells himself, he’s unsatisfied with his life. This cognizance highlights that Montag begins to reclaim his emotions, which are neglected to maintain a perfect image of society and life. Moreover, Montag begins to wonder why people have forgotten about the worrying events every day and choose to ignore them. For instance, as Montag talks to Mildred about the bombers, he says, “How [.] did those bombers get up there [.] Why doesn’t someone want to talk about it [.] Is it because we’re having [.] fun at home we’ve forgotten the world?” (Bradbury, 69). Simply stated, Montag wonders why people in their society ignore distressing events like bombers flying overhead in exchange for their

Montag starts changing when he realizes that the parlors and televised shows control the people and proselytize them into a single way of thinking approved by the government. For example, as Faber talks to Montag about his views on their society’s problems, Faber states, “[...] when you drop a seed in a TV parlor? It grows you any shape it wishes [.] It becomes and is the truth” (Bradbury, 80). Put another way, Faber says the government can sprinkle any belief into TV programs, and the citizens will believe it because the media controls the citizens. Even though Montag used to let others manipulate him using the television or other means, he now realizes he has been manipulated into a false sense of security and happiness. This demonstrates how Montag learns to become cautious of the multiple manipulation tactics he was once blind to. Another instance of Montag going against his conformed society is when he challenges Mrs. Bowles’ and Mrs. Phelp’s parlor-controlled beliefs. Specifically, while Montag talks to Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps about their life, he asks Faber, “Did you hear them [.] the way they jabber about people [.] their [.] children [.] themselves [.] their husbands [.] and [.] war [.] I stand here and I can’t believe it” (Bradbury, 94). In other words, Montag talks to Faber about how the women in his