Commentary On Fahrenheit 451

The novel “Fahrenheit 451” is an extended version of a much shorter piece of fiction written by Ray Bradbury called “The fireman.” This novel is written in third-person limited omniscient, and the narrator focuses on the perspective of the protagonist, Guy Montag. “Fahrenheit 451” is written in 1953 but is set sometime after 1990. Guy Montag lives in an era where firemen, like himself, set fires to books rather than extinguishing them. The novel begins with Montag expressing great pleasure and pride with his fireman position, but that all changes as the plot progresses.

“Fahrenheit 451” is a novel that was given a perspective of a futuristic America. In this futuristic America, literacy is outlawed, and it is the job of the firemen to burn

This call, however, was unlike the rest. Upon reaching the woman’s house, the firemen began gathering the books and dousing them in kerosene. After muttering quotes of literature, the woman refused to be arrested, and set herself up in flames alongside her books. In the midst of drowning the books in kerosene, Montag manages to take one of the woman’s books for himself. This book, however, was not the only book Montag took into his possession. Montag had several other books that he had taken from homes previous to this one, and kept them hidden beneath the grill off his ventilator. It is then that the rising action occurs where Montag becomes curious of the books’ contents, and decides to break away from the molds of society where people are heavily influenced by the media, and do not question the censorship of literacy.

The morning following the response to the alarm of the suicidal woman’s house, Montag decides to take the night off work to explore the books. Before Millie was able to notify Beatty of Montag’s absence, Beatty shows up to their house. Beatty acknowledges that Montag is beginning to question the roles of firemen, and explains why the books are banned. In an attempt to cease Montag’s curiosity, Beatty insists that the books serve no purpose. Montag reveals to Beatty that he has a book in his possession, and in return is ordered to turn the book in within 24