16. Montag feels horrible for what he did, it made him very uncomfortable. He wanted to be able to read, think and to find the hidden truth. He didn’t want to be a fireman who starts fires anymore; he doesn’t want to continue killing the authors.
In the beginning of the novel, Guy Montag believes fully in the reasoning behind his job, and does not seem to question it at all, as he is characterized as someone who stands up for what he believes in. That is until he meets Clarisse McClellan who makes him stop and ponder on his ways of going about life. He begins to think doubtfully about the burning of books and looks to his conscience to find that maybe burning all of those books was the wrong thing to do. “Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us from making the same damn insane mistakes!” (Bradbury 71). Guy Montag comes to realize that his life is not what it seems, and becomes brave enough to stand up for what he believes in; even though in the novel, others have died, or been “rehabilitated” for defending the same
The novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury is an outstanding book that demonstrates a lot of irony. Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect, according to Oxford Dictionaries. There are three types of irony. which are verbal, situational, and dramatic irony. In most cases, verbal irony is referred more to when words express something contrary to what someone says. Situational irony is irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. dramatic irony is used a lot within books, plays, and movies. It is when the audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not aware of. Within this paper, I will demonstrate on how Ray Bradbury utilizes irony within the novel Fahrenheit 451.
Guy Montag and Captain Beatty used to have similar beliefs and opinions on society, but Montag’s views change, and his and Beatty’s beliefs come into conflict. Thus, Captain Beatty is the antagonist in the story, opposed to Montag. Even so, while there are many differences between Beatty and Montag, Beatty is just as wise as Montag in his own respect. For example, Beatty is able to tell that when Montag does not come into work, he is hiding something. Although he never says it, Beatty suspects Montag for stealing a book, and he warns him that he should return it or burn it himself. In addition, Beatty expresses knowledge that could only come from books. For instance, he mentions books such as Little Black Sambo and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as well
Montag and Beatty have many similarities and differences. One similarity is their job, they are both firemen, but they are weird firemen they didn’t put out fires they started them at peoples houses if they had books. A difference is their attitude, at the beginning Montag was a “normal” firemen because Montag states, “It was a pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 1). This shows his lack of feelings towards anything. But when Montag met Clarisse he started to get curious about books and what the society is like at a different point of view.
Books are an essential way to gain knowledge whether they are controversial or not. Thousands of books have been banned from public libraries and schools due to being deemed ‘inappropriate’ by parents, administrators, or religious leaders. Whether Americans should ban books in public libraries and schools is an often debated topic. This censorship of books is dangerous, as it restricts the American people's’ ability to access information, leaving Americans ignorant.
Beatty liked to get inside Montag’s head and mess with him. Although Beatty was once like Montag, he is now the worse cop of them all. The hound at the firehouse never liked Montag and always barked at him, so that could be a sign that it knew that Montag was different from everyone else. Beatty always knew what Montag was up to. When Montag took the book from the burning lady’s house, Beatty came to his house and had a talk with him. Mildred says, “Look who’s here. Captain Beatty,” (Bradbury 52). Montag realized what Beatty was doing and what role he played in his little plan to turn Montag and Montag did not want anything to do with Beatty and the firehouse and rebelled against it. Beatty, finally towards the end of the book, pushed montag over the edge. Montag burned Beatty and killed him making him a criminal and having to go into hiding. “And then he was a shrieking blaze, a jumping, sprawling gibbering mannikin, no longer human or known, all writhing flame on the lawn as Montag shot one continuous pulse of liquid fire.” (Bradbury 119). Montag didn't want to deal with Beatty’s torture anymore so he put an end to
Can books and people change a person’s way of thinking? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is about Guy Montag who is a fireman who burns books and houses. Throughout the book he realizes he’s not happy so he has to transform his mindset by using books and people. Guy Montag changes in the story through his increasing problems in his relationship and his perceptions in books.
In this part of the book, all of the firemen including Montag received a call to burn a house with the books in there. Here became the turning point for Montag as he saw the woman, who already had made her decision to die rather than live in a world of oppression and restricted freedom of thought which books symbolize in this part, burns with the illegal books in the burning house, refusing to go out without the assurance of the safety of the books. We can suppose that his perception is gradually changing through the phrase showing that Montag felt a huge guilt over this, unlike the other firemen or Beatty. Furthermore, during the conversation with his wife, Mildred, Montag says, “We burn a thousand books. We burnt a woman."(page. 50) and continue to talk to Mildred “There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there.” (page. 51) without consciously noticing his different perspective towards fire from the first encounter with Faber before the novel. These quotes represent that he rejected the idea of being a fireman by questioning himself and the cause of the incidents occurred on that day. Clearly, the quote “he pressed at
Guy Montag is a loyal man to his wife, Mildred, and his job working as a fireman. He is very happy with his work as he is doing the duty of his town. This made Montag feel like a part of society. The society in this novel has a censorship on everything. Limiting free thought and the ability to connect with other people. Also censoring the importance of knowledge, reading and thinking. It has been like this for many years and Montag has always thought by doing his job he could prevent that. Especially with books, he has always been doing what his job entails, burning books, doing the kind deed for the city.
Montag realized the situation he was in and does something unthinkable… and he kills Beatty. He goes on the run from the law and is now a criminal for the rest of his life. Montag started off as an ignorant fireman who blindly followed society like everyone else. Because of his internal and external conflicts throughout the story, he begins to be more knowledgeable about what is really going on in society and his
Life is tough, but being determined leads to success. Determination is firmness of purpose, or having courage. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Montag in particular exemplifies determination. Montag goes through many difficult situations, but his determination allowed him to survive and have success. Montag displays his determination in his conversation and brawl with Beatty, when escaping the murder of Beatty, and when reaching the river.
For example, when an old woman, whose house was being incinerated for keeping books, stays inside, she shouts out “Play the man, Master Ridley!” (pp. 40), originally said by a man condemned to being burned at the stake for heresy in 1555. Beatty understood this quote to the extent that he knew who and when it was said. The numerous books Beatty read had been written by a variety of authors with different and sometimes opposing thoughts and opinions. Considering the society in Fahrenheit 451 is centered about conformation, Beatty is violently averse to the thought of having conflicting vantage points. Beatty even explains to Montag, a fireman with growing inquiry, about “what traitors books can be” in attempts to deter him from reading. By traitors, Beatty means to express his coming away lost due to authors “all of them running about, putting out the stars and extinguishing the sun.” He argues that rather than challenging people with discovering truth themselves, it is in their best interest to not “give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.” Rather, “Any man who can take a TV wall apart and put it back together again, and most men can nowadays, is happier than any man who tries to slide rule,
“Did you know that once billboards were only twenty feet long? But cars started rushing by so quickly they had to stretch the advertising out so it would last” (pg.7, ch.1 The Hearth And The Salamander). I find this quote significant because it perfectly explains the lives of the people in this novel. Moving fast, not paying attention and for what? To die in a car crash at only 17? Maybe be in the news until five minutes later the parlor walls begin to engross everyone with the newest gossip? Everyone wants to be happy, but although ignorance and moving quickly can shadow the bad, questions, patience and caring offer much more fulfillment, which those like Clarisse are more likely to find. For example, Montag seems happy and content burning books, until Clarisse actually makes him question it. True happiness could not deteriorate so easily. In the quote cars represent people, the billboards moments and experiences. This world focuses on filling life to the brim with fun and no time to think or question. Before cars could move slowly and
Consequently, Arthur Dimmesdale is the cause of Hester Prynne's shame for he is the man whom Hester loves. No one knows he is the father of Pearl, Hester won't say and he isn't strong enough to speak up. He struggles with this knowledge that Hester is being punished and not him. The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect, (Hawthorne 142). Being a minister of God the citizens look up to him, and he feels guilty about his hidden sin. So guilty, he physically harms himself and makes himself sick. Numerous times he tries to tell the truth but can't. Arthur whips himself as punishment. In Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet, under lock and key, there was a bloody scourge, (Hawthorne 141).