The Theme Of Death In Fahrenheit 451

The concept of death in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 has a paramount influence on the narrative.
As a counter-productive fireman living under an authoritarian government in the 24th century, Montag has no choice but to accept the status quo and remain obedient, although he takes great pride in his vocation. In the beginning of the novel, he burns a home and rejoices in it. He feels gratified by watching the flames and has a dark humour about it; “he wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace.”
One reader could interpret this as a man rejoicing in the destruction of a man-made creation but another could interpret it as the cruel death of knowledge – since the firemen burn homes that are found with books.
They could argue that death of knowledge seems so important to the authoritarians of this 24th

Initially, Clarisse frustrates Montag with her quaint and unconventional thoughts and ideas but she soon intrigues him. He is defiant when she rubs the dandelion under his chin and it does not reflect, or leave “a yellow powder”. She tells him that it means that he is not in love but he insists that he is. One reader could interpret this as a connotation that he is in love with her because he is very clearly not in love with his wife.
Although one reader could interpret her character as one that serves no purpose but as a vehicle to say something about Montag, thus having a “manic pixie dream girl” type of role in the novel, her death had a profound effect on Montag.
Another reader could interpret her character as one whose death sparks life in Montag and his will to do greater good and got him to question the nature of his job. Some time before her death, she says to him, “sometimes I even forget you’re a fireman” suggesting that he had already started to question his