Montag's Influence On Fahrenheit 451

In stories, a character can be influenced by many things. In Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, Montag meets new people, and finds out new things about people whom he already knows. Along the way, the people he interacts with influences his choices and actions; including Clarisse, Mildred, and Faber. Frequently, Clarisse influences Montag’s choices and actions. In the beginning of the book, she influences Montag by making him realize that he is not happy with his life, by asking him the simple question, “Are you happy?” (pg. 8). Montag does not respond, but it does make him think. After hearing this question Montag goes home, greeted by his cold, sterile home, questioning his life and whether he is happy or not. Later, Montag is influenced

After Mildred had been distracted, and accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills, he keeps realizing more things; like that he does not know where him and Mildred met. Consequently, after learning this he wants people to express their feelings deep down inside. Additionally, Faber influences Montag’s actions and choices. At the very end of the book Faber gives Montag advice, “You’d better head for the river if you can, follow along it, and if you can hit the old railroad lines going out into the country, follow them. Even though practically everything’s air-borne these days and most of the tracks are abandoned, the rails are still there, rusting. I’ve heard there are still hobo camps all across the country, here and there; walking camps they call them, and if you keep walking far enough and keep an eye peeled, they say there’s lots of old Harvard degrees on the tracks between here and Los Angeles.” (pg. 130). Montag is putting his trust into Faber, and his words. Montag seeks these people, and without Faber’s influence, who knows what Montag may have done. All things considered, Montag’s actions and choices are influenced by many characters in the book; such as, Clarisse, Mildred, and Faber. However, Montag is influenced by a variety of things as well; for example the zeitgeist, the author