Is there a pleasure to burn? Guy Montag has lived a quiet life as a fireman, burning books alongside the rest of the fire squad, and has always found his work to be pleasurable (Bradbury 3). Montag takes pride in his work, and finds it empowering, saying, “his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning;” (Bradbury 3). A chance meeting a young girl named Clarisse, and the actions of a martyr willing to die for her books, light a spark in Montag that definitely wasn’t there before. Montag tells Clarisse that he has been a fireman for ten years, and never put much thought into his job. Starting fires appeared to be his passion. However, as he considers Clarisse’s question, “Are you happy?” (Bradbury 10), his views being to change and Montag wonder if he truly is. From this point on, Montag’s life tears at the seams. Guy begins to doubt his actions as a fireman, he begins to doubt his marriage, and even who he can trust. …show more content…
Mildred cares more about her television than Montag, and even refers to the parlour characters as her “family” (Bradbury 77). He becomes fully aware of this when she tries throwing his stash of books into the incinerator, and secretly burns several of Montag’s books to feel as if she is doing the right thing and following the law. In contrast to Mildred’s actions, which make Montag feel guilty for having books, Faber makes Montag feel like he cannot be stopped from reaching his goal; that he can achieve anything. Faber wants to make change, but he doesn’t want to be the man responsible. Multiple times he calls himself a coward; but when he is motivating Montag how to go about sneaking books, he’s the bravest man of them