In Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag lives in a dystopian society. The author displays this theme by showing how Guy’s society is focused on entertainment. His society pushes away knowledge in order to prevent corruption. It is illegal to think individual thoughts, and this is why some activities are restricted. Guy Montag starts a symbolic fire in society that never stops burning due to his personal experiences, major events and influential characters who encourage him along the way.
In the novel, the main character Guy Montag loves his job until he meets Clarisse. Before he meets her,”It was a pleasure to burn”(Bradbury 1). He meets Clarisse walking home from the fire station. When he talks to her, she asks him a probing question:”Are
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This foreshadows that Montag will change into a completely different person.
Originally, Montag never considers stealing a book. He knows the severe consequences that come with it. As a fireman, he is supposed to burn them. Montag says,”His hand had done it all, his hand, with a brain of its own, with a conscience and a curiosity in each trembling finger, had now turned thief”(35). By stealing the book, he is rebelling against his society and his previous habits. This is a big step for him; he transforms from a devoted fireman to what his society considers, a criminal. He takes a book, but he does not know what to do with it. He calls an older man, Faber, for help and tells Faber,”I want you to teach me to understand what I read”(78). Montag wants to read the book, but more importantly, he wants to fully comprehend it. Together, Gus and Faber plan to have a secret book system. This desire to obtain knowledge changes their lives forever.
Montag no longer wants to be in or take any part of the illiterate, ignorant society. His society has a mentality that nothing can ever happen to them,”This is happening to me”(108).They understand everything that can happen, but they never imagine it happening