Conflict Between Knowledge And Ignorance In Fahrenheit 451

From Ignorance to Knowledge in Fahrenheit 451

Ignorance and knowledge are in all people, but some individual’s knowledge comes faster than others. In the beginning of the novel, Montag, the fireman, was blinded that he really didn’t like burning books. He never really realized it until something happened one day he had met a girl. In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, it shows major conflict between knowledge and ignorance. The conflict between knowledge and ignorance in the beginning of the story is incredible. Montag, Clarisse, Mildred, etc. were all blinded by ignorance in the beginning. Montag thought he actually enjoyed burning books but in all reality, he really did not. He thought it was mandatory for him to be a fireman. “Was I given a choice?” My grandfather and father were firemen.

Montag and Mildred were just living their lives like they were tired of it, but when Montag came to and realized the importance of life, everything changed. When Mildred found out about the books, she was not happy. She just wanted them out of the house that which she lived in. “Mildred backed away as if she were suddenly confronted by a pack of mice that had come up out of the floor. He could hear her breathing rapidly and he face was paled out and her eyes were fastened wide. She said his name over, twice, three times. Then, moaning, she ran forward, seized a book and ran toward the kitchen incinerator.” (Bradbury 63). She never liked books because society wanted everyone to believe that books were not necessary and were horrible things. Everyone was blinded from thinking for themselves. She never came to know intelligence. She never knew what it was like to think for herself. “Let me alone,” said Mildred. “I didn’t do anything.” Montag was trying to explain how to think and evaluate her life as her own. She never