Ray Bradbury reveals the theme (the importance of books) through the protagonist’s dynamic character, which comes as a result from his conflicts with society. To begin, the rising action of Fahrenheit 451 includes Montag’s internal conflict. This internal conflict initiates doubt in Montag. When Clarisse asks Montag “‘Are you happy?’”, he initially responds “Of course I’m happy” (Bradbury 7-8). However, it is evident that doubt has been planted in his mind, “What does she think?
After meeting Clarisse, Montag’s perspective about his society changes from blind acceptance to one of reckless ambition and skepticism. After Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy, Montag realizes that he is not. The narrator describes that “He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin [...] Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy” (Bradbury 12).
Bradbury states, ¨He carried the books into the backyard and hid them in the bushes near the alley fence¨ (Bradbury 2.364). Firemen were storming into Montag 's house because they found out he had books. Montag is censoring what he has from the rest of the world by hiding the books. Bradbury also states, ¨We’re book
I won’t say anything. I just want to listen. What is it you’re saying?’” (Bradbury, P. 17) Montag eventually reaches a point where he can’t stand his normal life anymore. Clarisse, intentionally or not, has shocked Montag back into his childlike curiosity. All he wants to do is learn, something he’s never felt so attached to before.
As Montag sees it, his dilemma is that he’s not happy. As the reader sees it, Montag’s dilemma is that he’s realizing that something is not right with his society. 3. The significance of Montag seeing himself in Clarisse’s eyes is that he sees himself in detail and really looks at her, and he begins to feel comfortable with Clarisse. It also causes him to recall a memory of his mother.
In this quote, we see Montag struggling to cope with how life in his world works. It shows him on
The first line of dialogue that Montag says is “it was a pleasure to burn”(pg. 1), which elucidates that he is just like the rest of the society. Bradbury introduces both of these characters as ignorant so the reader is able to draw a similarity between the way Montag is illustrated in the first page and how Mildred is characterized throughout the novel. This aids in tracing Montag’s coming of age journey because as he gets enlightened, the reader is able to distinguish how his mindset starts to diverge further away from Mildred’s. At the very end of the second chapter leading into the beginning of the third chapter, Beatty orders Montag to burn his own house, and as Beatty is speaking to Montag, Mildred runs past them “with her body stiff”(pg.
Although there are many definitions to explain what knowledge specifically is, it never fails to contradict ignorance. The dystopian society that Ray Bradbury creates in Fahrenheit 451 is ignorant to the vast amount of knowledge that is present in the world. This is partially the fault of the government which enforces the burning of books, but the people are also to blame. They choose to believe that “ignorance is bliss”. In contrast, “If ignorance is bliss, there should be more happy people,” (Victor Cousin).
However, Mildred which is Montag’s wife told her to snap out of it and that poems are unpleasant. This shows how Montag tried showing Mrs. Phelps how how having emotions feel. However, Mrs. Phelps was too brainwashed and controlled by the government and decided to ignore her
This jealousy affects Margot and the children. Therefore, when you let jealousy get to you, it will make you act as you wouldn’t have done otherwise. First, Margot is impacted by jealousy because she is getting bullied by the children. When Bradbury in this story emphasizes her personality, he wants to show us how she is different from them and how she “stood apart from them”(Bradbury). This illustrates how she was different and how the children did not seem to like her.