Ray Bradbury's Dystopian Fahrenheit 451

In Ray Bradbury’s dystopian Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag experiences a paradigm shift as he transforms from a disoriented fireman to a learner who wants to gain knowledge through literature. Montag struggles with his newfound fascination with what was once trivial items because of his inability to ask questions under the bonds of conformity. However, the society prohibits people from reading for fear that they would express individuality and perhaps even rebel once they gain knowledge. Through the use of characterization and diction, the Bradbury demonstrates Montag’s desire for individuality and the society’s command of conformity in order to build a suspenseful mood, which keeps the reader’s interest. First, through the use of characterization,

For instance, when Montag goes to Mrs. Blake’s house and sees books lying on the floor, Bradbury states, “And his eyes were beginning to feel hunger, as if they must look at something, anything, everything.” The author uses the denotation of the word “eyes” and the denotation of the word “hunger.” The denotation of the word “eyes” means “globular organs of sight” and the denotation of the word “hunger” means “a desire for food.” In this case, hunger symbolizes Montag’s desire for books, individuality, and freedom. Montag’s desire for individuality and the society’s conformity relate to a suspenseful mood, because Montag is eager to read and gain knowledge, but the society is against it. Another instance, when Faber and Montag are talking about what books are missing, Faber says to Montag, “This book can go under the microscope. You’d find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion.” The author uses the denotation of the word “microscope” and the denotation of the word “life.” The denotation of the word “microscope” means “a tool for a scientist to examine living things” and the denotation of the word “life” means “a condition that shows differences between a living and nonliving organism.” The author uses this literary device to portray knowledge, because he wants to imply that the book symbolizes