Montag's Phoenix In Fahrenheit 451

The phoenix is a mythical bird that represents rebirth and renewal as it rises from the ashes of a past life only to die again and come back, more wise. In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, the main character Montag goes through a transformation of thought. Montag grows and changes in response to the people he meets, this is represented through the symbol of fire and how he sees it. Beatty, Montag's boss in the firehouse, has a phoenix on his helmet. In their society they followed the rules and did what they were told, Montag was no different. He was a fireman just like his father and grandfather so burning the books didn't need to be questioned. Because they were bad, he was doing the right thing, “It was a pleasure to burn.” Fire is shown as it was to everyone, he didn't wander, or wonder, from what was expected of

Discovering the balance that exists helped him to understand the world better. He was able to see Beatty words more clearly, “A little learning is a dangerous thing” When he thought he had learned everything and discovered what he needed to do he learned there was more. When the bomb went off and gave them a chance to be reborn the first thing Faber said they were going to do was build a mirror factory and take a long look in them. In order to be like a Phoenix and come back smarter they need to learn from their past. He realizes reflection is the only way to burn right.
Overall, throughout Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 the protagonist, Montag goes through a transformation affecting his thoughts and the way he sees the world. Fire is used to show where he is, finally at the end seeing it, and books, as neither good nor bad but as whatever people do with them. This transformations is contrasted and strengthened with the use of the other characters, especially Beatty. This change is expressed with the use of fire and the symbol of the