How Has Fahrenheit 451 Changed

451 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which paper burns. But what if the order was switched? What if it was Fahrenheit 451? Now everything is changed. With those words you get a story which has good reason to be deemed a "classic". This story set in a dystopian future will hit close to home as it is read and the protagonist Guy Montag can be surprisingly similar to yourself. Maybe it was the heroic quest which drew so many to its pages or the sense of empowerment and rebellion it leaves you with, but no matter the reason you turn the thin fragile pages, you cannot help but read in amazement as Guy Montag goes through a transformation of a lifetime. A transformation of both body and soul which not only changes Mr. Montag forever leaving

This is a quintessential aspect of life, for mankind at least. Yet many times what is being said isn’t what is really meant or thought. Many times it is repeating what others have said or what you have read in a book. So is it really possible to become independent in your words? Aren’t you simply repeating something has said before you? No, it is independence in speech which allows the world to move forward to progress to bring about change, see when you become independent in speech you are no longer saying what is being said, you are going against what is being preached you are going beyond what people are comfortable with and it is with this in mind that Montag said this “I thought about all the kerosene I used in the past ten years. And I thought about the books. And for the first time I realized there was a man behind those books and a man had to think them up...it took a man years to write that and I come and destroy it in two minutes.” (Bradbury 51-52) Montag lives in a time where books are forbidden, where even possessing a book can have you thrown into jail yet, here Montag is talking to his wife, and he is talking about the value of books, where for the first time he is realizing that his job as a fireman to show up and burn the books might be wrong and that these books might have an actual significance. He is openly saying this in a time where people are even afraid to think such things. Yet it is this knowing about punishment and

The protagonist Guy Montag is a perfect example of this age old saying. Guy is a fireman taught to burn books and that his job is one which is honorable and pure. His dialogue with other characters in the beginning of the book show a man proud to wear a badge and perform a job which he says is respected and pure, and his words can be directly seen in his actions. He uses the kerosene which he uses to burn books as almost a perfume to show his honor. He walks body, strongly and instructs others on how to lead a more normal life or a life which society deems appropriate and these actions are of a person proud of what they so which is exactly what is visible about the character of Guy Montag in the beginning of the book. Yet as we see the book progress we see Guy Montag become independent first in his thoughts, then his words. Now if this age old saying holds true then shouldn’t Montag become independent in his actions? To find this answer all that must be done is read and it should become very clear. “And there was a shrieking blaze, a jumping, sprawling, gibbering mannequin, no longer human or known, all writhing flame on the lawn as Montag shot one continues pulse of liquid fine over him” (Bradbury 119). This quote is taken from perhaps the larges twist and turning point. A point in the book where Guy Montag burns his fire captain alive to save the life of himself and his book loving friend. Montag is killing a person of his