Theme Of Control In Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is a spectacular dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury. The book follows Guy Montag, a fireman, in a world where books are forbidden. However, after meeting his free-spirited new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan, he begins to see things in a different light. Later on, while burning a woman’s house to the ground with her inside, his self-control fractures when he steals, and reads, one of her books. This drives him to seek out an old acquaintance, Professor Faber, who encourages him to try and subtly push the others towards the truth. This fails when Montag burns Beatty and runs off with a group of others like him to rebuild the world after the drop of a bomb. One of the themes developed throughout Fahrenheit 451 is that control

He has no interest in what is being hidden from them, and it is possible he is not aware the truth was being hidden at all. Montag says, “It was a pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 1). Guy Montag seems to enjoy what he does, destroying knowledge and vessels of truth and discovery. He is not at all bothered by the death and destruction they cause. Just like everyone else in their society, he is ignorant of the truth and, in turn, easy to take control of. Further along, he meets young, free-spirited Clarisse McClellan. She offers some bit of truth, tempting Montag to resist their control in what little ways he can. In the text, Montag states, “How rarely did other people’s faces take of you and throw you back to your own expression, your innermost trembling thoughts,” (Bradbury 8) and “I don’t know anything anymore,” (Bradbury 54). Clarisse’s words shake him, and sow the seeds of discontent that push him to search for more of the truth. At the end of Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s last push for enlightenment and freedom from control occurs when he burns Beatty and escapes the city. He says, “Now there was only the cold river and Montag floating in a sudden peacefulness, away from the city and the lights and the chase, away from everything,” (Bradbury