how to write a thesis statement for fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury, set in a future society where books are banned, and “firemen” burn any that are found. Essays on “Fahrenheit 451” might explore the themes of censorship, conformity versus individuality, and the transformative power of literature presented in the novel. Discussions could also delve into the character analysis, the social commentary, and the prophetic vision of Bradbury concerning the impact of technology and censorship on human freedom and creativity. Moreover, analyzing the literary techniques used by Bradbury, comparing “Fahrenheit 451” with other dystopian works, and exploring the adaptations and enduring relevance of the novel can provide a comprehensive exploration of this seminal work of science fiction. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Fahrenheit 451 you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Examples of Censorship in Fahrenheit 451

The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is about a firefighter named Guy Montag. Guy Montag does the opposite of what a firefighters does. He starts fires instead of putting them out. Books in Montag's society are banned and if you are caught with a book it will be burned then you have to suffer a consequence. Instead of reading books their society spends most of their time watching television that is as big as the wall called the parlor […]

The Themes of Fahrenheit 451

Throughout Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury develops multiple themes through the main character, Guy Montag. As Montag develops into his own person as the book progresses, he helps add emphasis to several themes including censorship and alienation, real vs fake and life vs death, religious values, technological advancements, and paradoxes. The futuristic society that Bradbury develops shows that people are afraid of criticism, do not think for their own, fail to see what is true and what is fake, depend more […]

Guy Montag Character Analysis

In the Science Fiction novella Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist, Guy Montag, works as a fireman that burns books rather than putting out fires, like a fireman is intended to do. Montag starts out as a loyal citizen to society, burning books without question and participating in the suppression of knowledge. Firemen help to destroy all forms of knowledge, books being the main subject in this novel. This story is filled with countless examples of ignorance and knowledge […]

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What is the Role of Censorship in Fahrenheit 451?

The bombs fell, the city burned, the government has not succeeded. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, introduces many themes that shape reality throughout the book. The author uses events to show the reason why things are happening like they are happening and how society is dying to do to technology due to the people. A society driven by the values of censorship and conformity will fail by the people. Government Censorship in Fahrenheit 451 Censorship is one of the most […]

Montag and Clarisse in the Novel Fahrenheit 451

Individuals can change because of the impact of others. The book, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury was about a firefighter name Guy Montag. Montag does the inverse from what a standard firefighter does. He starts fires as opposed to putting them out. In Fahrenheit 451 books are not normal to see and in the event that somebody is seen reading a book, the firefighters burn their homes. Rather than reading books, their society watches a lot of TV and tunes […]

Fahrenheight 451 Symbolism

In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the theme of knowledge is joy and painful is developed through the use of Symbolism. Montag uses so many symbols throughout the book. He compares himself to fire and earthquakes. Montag uses the symbol fire to show how he is feeling. “It was a pleasure to burn”. (Bradbury 1) This develops the theme of how knowledge is joyful and painful. In this matter it is painful. It was a pleasure to burn symbolizes the […]

Fahrenheit 451 Technology

The evolution of technology has changed tremendously throughout the years. With this evolution comes consequences. Many books and stories speak about the topic of technology and how it could change the way people live and act. One author that explains the impact of technology is Ray Bradbury with the short story “The Pedestrian” and the book Fahrenheit 451. In the short story “Pedestrian” the protagonist Mr. Leonard Mead struggles with fitting in with society’s social norms because of society’s obsession […]

Summary of Fahrenheit 451

The book Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel. A dystopia is an imagined place where everything is terrible and everything is worse than normal. Some of the characters in this book are Guy Montag, which is the protagonist, Mildred Montag who is Guy's wife and is also sometimes called Mille, Clarisse McCLellan who is Guy and Mildred's neighbor who just moved into the neighborhood and is quite weird and you could say is very suspect, and Captain Beatty who is […]

The “Average Man” and Survival Issue

Survival has always necessitated the existence of communities for human beings. Over countless generations, people have evolved to be good at conforming into the societies they live in, since those who couldn’t were often the first to die. There’s safety in numbers, but to belong to a group and be protected there is always a need to sacrifice some of one’s preferences and desires. H.L. Mencken, a social critic during the 20th century, argues human beings take the need to […]

Censorship in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

In a world where speeches, comments, books, and posts are made about everything from illegal to offensive acts, it is difficult for the public to imagine society being censored. The society in Fahrenheit 451 is the opposite of this. The totalitarian government blocked virtually every form of creative and free speech. Ray Bradbury showed the theme of censorship throughout the story by including the government banning books and banning most freedoms. The Government in Fahrenheit 451 The government in Fahrenheit […]

The Problems in the Novel Fahrenheit 451

In the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury, which is a dystopian fiction book, illustrates how the society in which the story is portrayed in turns to chaos. The citizens of the society become afraid of the people who they should trust to keep them safe, which are the firefighters, because they burn any books that they come in contact with. In the ending of Part 1 of the book, Captain Beatty tells Guy Montag about the history and […]

Society Rather be Happy

Why would our society rather be happy then full of knowledge? Fahrenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradbury. This book is about a fireman' who destroys books and houses with such in them because in this society, no one reads anymore. Their happiness is much more important to them then any type of knowledge. This begins to be a problem to him when he meets Clarisse and starts to question this society. People should challenge the rules when society defines […]

Analysis of a Dystopian Novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Introduction Fahrenheit 451 is a book set in the 24th century written by Ray Bradbury which tells the story of Guy Montag who is a fireman. The book explores a dystopian world where firemen work to start fires and burn books. Dystopia is a word that is used to refer to the opposite of Utopia. Hence, it represents a world that is terrible in all ways imaginable. A dystopian novel, therefore, portrays a disastrous future. In this book, the protagonist […]

History of the Fireman in Fahrenheit 451

The book is shown in third-person through Guy Montag, a fireman. But, in the story, firemen do not put out fires, since every house is fireproof. Instead, they cause them, burning books and the houses of the people who own them. Montag is walking home one night when he meets Clarisse, a young girl who is different from everyone else. She talks to him about things that he, or anybody else, never think about, removing him from the monotony of […]

Examples of Foreshadowing in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury, tells the story of Guy Montag, a fireman whose job is to burn forbidden books. Montag never questioned the idea of burning books until he met a young woman named Clarisse who widened his perspectives on life, making him question everything he thought he knew. Author Ray Bradbury uses many examples of foreshadowing in the novel. Foreshadowing is when the author gives clues and/or hints about what will occur later in […]

Fahrenheit 451: Guy Montag

Who is Guy Montag and What Do We Know About Him? At the beginning of the story, Montag starts as the protagonist, with a mind and actions of a child. He has no knowledge of the outside world and is basically mentally stupid. There are current scenes in the book where he is shown retarded by a strange girl Clarisse McClellan that opens his mind to another world of knowledge and books. He realizes something or a feeling he never […]

Art Censorship

A beautiful art "The birth of venus" that was created by William Adolphe Bouguereau in 1879 was censored within all of his hard work. Some people don't understand that art is meant to create a reaction and what is offensive to one person might not be offensive to another. In many country creativity has been very valuable but many people couldn't see it in the same perspective as we did. Many people know creativity came from hard work and try […]

Comparison of Characters between Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury are novels that have similarities through the entire book. From what I can tell they do not take place in the present, is more towards the future. The similarities that I found is reading books was not allowed anymore, media not allowing beauty or happiness, and being an outcast from the rest of society base on their beliefs. Both authors are saying if a society attempts to create […]

Dystopian Novel “Fahrenheit 451”

In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, the government has taken measures to secure their utopian world. Things like having men going from house to house burning books because they think the knowledge in those books is dangerous to their cause. If anyone hears of someone with a book, they turn them in out of fear. The government brainwashed people into thinking books are bad, and nothing good can come out of them, just as Senator McCarthy did with Communists in […]

Literary Analysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel by Ray Bradbury. The novel is set in a American city in the future. In this society people no longer read books, think independently, spend time by themselves, enjoy nature, or even have meaningful conversations. They now watch excessive amounts of television, drive extremely too fast, and listen to the radio on “Seashell Radios” (sets are attached to their ear) at all time. They have become shells of people. Not only are people just shells, […]

Conflict in Fahrenheit 451: the Evolution of Montag’s Character

Introduction Ray Bradbury died on June 5, 2012. He wrote many great books, including Fahrenheit 451. The title of this book holds great significance to the central idea of the story because 451 degrees is the temperature at which paper supposedly burns. Montag is the main character in this book, and he soon realizes there are many corruptions within the world that surround him. As the book progresses, Montag connects with a man named Faber, who tells him three things […]

Conformity Within 20th and 21st Centuries Utopias/Dystopias Idealized by Cold War Era

The Cold War changed the way that many people in the United States and the world in general viewed the vast differences between freedom and control. One of the key factors in the Soviet Union that so frightened outsiders, was the level of conformity that they commanded over their people. In the People’s Republic of China, everything from communication to travel was controlled and people did their jobs in both communities or were left behind in history. Every person was […]

Why does Montag Kill Beatty in “Fahrenheit 451”?

Introduction: Fahrenheit 451 is about a guy named Montag in the era after 2021. It takes place in a major city in Chicago and St. Louis. They have strange laws; for example, books are not allowed. If you are caught with them or have them in your house, you'll have your house burnt down by firefighters and will get fined by the officials or jail time. It's ironic that firefighters burn down houses instead of hosing fires down. Montag's Awakening: […]

Exploring Quotes about Ignorance in Fahrenheit 451: Unveiling Ignorance

Interpreting the Meaning of "Only When It Is Dark Enough Can You See the Stars" The line, "...only when it is dark enough can you see the stars." from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech holds a strong message within. Martin Luther King Jr. uses this quote to describe when we face hardships or when we are at the lowest points of our lives. It is the only time that we have the ability to see […]

Fahrenheit 451 Movie Vs. Book Comparison Analysis

Dominant Symbols in Fahrenheit 451 In the movie Fahrenheit 451, one of the most dominant symbols in the novel is fire. It was one of the first principal tools of human civilization: protection from animals, protection from cold, and a tool to cook food. One of the most significant tales of the Western literary tradition centers around the fire as well. The Myth of Prometheus and the Symbolism of Fire The Greek myth of Prometheus is often mentioned in science […]

How does Montag Feel about his Job in Fahrenheit 451?

Fahrenheit 451, a book written by Ray Bradbury, is a dystopian novel. It takes place in a society that is very different from ours. Books and other objects that condone knowledge are prohibited. Not only are they prohibited, they are burned, as well as the houses in which knowledgeable objects are found. In this novel, firefighters do not put out fires but light fires. The firefighter's job is to light any knowledgeable sources on fire. Guy Montag, a firefighter as […]

About the Hazard of Controlling Governments in 1984

Dystopian literature has been around for quite some time, shaping the minds of young readers. However, in the course of recent decades, it has turned out to be increasingly popular, especially after the turn of the century. In a time of fear and anxiety, the dystopian genre has become more popular in pop culture, in that they provide audiences with a different aspect of entertainment, while offering a sense of comfort and control. The world that young adults of today […]

Fahrenheit 451: the Temperature at which Freedom Burns

In a sea of dystopian fiction, Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" stands out as a disturbing meditation on the precariousness of individual liberties and the perils of collective complacency. It's not only about firefighters who burn books in a world where reading is illegal; it's also a profound look at the strength of the human spirit in the face of oppressive uniformity. The universe of "Fahrenheit 451" is a dystopian future where possessing or reading a book is punishable by death. […]

Exploring the Fire-Lit World of Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" is not merely a novel; it is a deeply philosophical exploration of society's potential trajectory, offering readers a bleak glimpse into a future where knowledge is under assault, and conformity is the societal mandate. The title, referring to the temperature at which paper burns, becomes a potent symbol throughout the narrative, reflecting the destructive nature of ignorance. At the heart of this dystopian world is Guy Montag, a fireman. But this profession, typically associated with dousing […]

The Burning Truth: Unpacking the Themes of Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" is not just a book; it's a powerful social commentary that resonates deeply with the contemporary world. Published in 1953, the novel's exploration of themes such as censorship, the role of technology in society, and the pursuit of happiness remains strikingly relevant. Through its vivid narrative and complex characters, "Fahrenheit 451" invites readers to reflect on the crucial issues of freedom and control in a modern context. At its core, "Fahrenheit 451" delves into the perils […]

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How To Write an Essay About Fahrenheit 451

Introduction to ray bradbury's fahrenheit 451.

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury presents a dystopian vision of the future where books are banned, and "firemen" burn any that are found. In your essay's introduction, highlight the novel’s central themes: censorship, the role of technology in society, and the importance of knowledge and literature. Briefly introduce the setting and the protagonist, Guy Montag, whose journey from a conforming fireman to a questioning rebel drives the narrative. This introduction should set the tone for your essay, providing a snapshot of the novel's key elements and the themes you will explore, establishing the groundwork for a critical analysis of this classic work.

Delving into Themes and Symbols

The body of your essay should focus on analyzing the major themes and symbols in "Fahrenheit 451." Explore the theme of censorship and its implications on individual freedom and societal development. Discuss how Bradbury uses the burning of books as a symbol for the suppression of dissenting ideas and how this relates to historical and contemporary contexts. Additionally, consider the portrayal of technology in the novel, particularly the impact of television and mass media on society's intellectual and emotional stagnation. Use specific examples and quotes from the novel to support your analysis, ensuring each paragraph delves into different aspects of these themes and symbols, weaving a rich tapestry of interpretation and insight.

Character Analysis and Narrative Techniques

In this section, analyze the development of key characters like Guy Montag, Captain Beatty, and Clarisse McClellan. Discuss how their interactions and conflicts drive the narrative and illuminate the novel's themes. For instance, you might explore Montag’s transformation and his growing disillusionment with society. Additionally, examine Bradbury's narrative techniques, such as his use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphors, to convey the novel's themes and mood. This analysis should demonstrate how Bradbury's characters and his narrative style work together to create a powerful critique of society.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by tying together your main points and reiterating the significance of the novel. Reflect on "Fahrenheit 451" as a timeless cautionary tale about censorship, the suppression of ideas, and the importance of independent thought. Consider the novel's relevance in today's world, particularly in light of current debates about free speech and the role of technology in our lives. Your conclusion should leave the reader with a deeper appreciation of Bradbury's work and its enduring message about the value of knowledge and the dangers of conformity and complacency. A well-crafted conclusion will not only summarize your essay but also extend its relevance to the reader's contemporary experience.

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“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury Sample Essay

Introduction, fahrenheit 451: book review, analysis of fahrenheit 451’s main themes, works cited.

Part of the most captivating plots ever written fall in the fiction category. Novels have come to represent the very best of man’s imagination. Though most of their content is fictional, books’ storylines closely reflect the life people lead on the Earth. They seek to portray the good and the bad of the human race within various contexts as the setting permits. One of these books is “Fahrenheit 451”, a 1953 novel written by Ray Bradbury. This essay is an analysis of “Fahrenheit 451”, an example of science-fiction masterpiece. The themes, messages, characters, topics, and settings of the novel are explored in the below sections of the paper.

In Fahrenheit 451, a riveting story unfolds through the book’s storyline featuring a fictional future society, probably the American one, where reading is outlawed, and a ban on reading is imposed. Authorities affect the ban through burning books carried out by firemen.

When reading the novel, it is easy to agree that reading culture and freedom of expression of one’s thoughts through reading and writing is under threat of media such as television. Above all, the book reveals that people have become their worst enemies concerning reading and censorship and that the culture of ignorance and carelessness is taking its roots. There is an acute loss of intellectual thought in society.

Reading Fahrenheit 451’s provides a perfect revelation of a confused society at war with itself. Guy Montag comes home to find his wife overdosed and a new neighbor who reminds him of the unfulfilling life he leads. Despite participating in books burning, Montag is still not sure why he burns books, as evidenced by his stealing of one of the suicidal woman’s books.

Montag has a pile of books collected from the victims of book burning carried out by firemen. An argument with his wife about what to do with the stolen books opens Montag’s eyes, and he realizes his disgust for society. Montag realizes society’s pretense of happiness when he reads a poem from one of the stolen books, which makes one of his wife’s friends cry despite maintaining a “happy” life picture throughout her life (Bradbury 23).

The madness of the society’s onslaught on itself reaches the epitome when Beatty, Montag’s chief at work, orders him to burn his house. Probably from all the events, a dispute develops between Montag and the Beatty, the chief fireman. A war situation breaks out, and incineration of cities in the country takes place, a clear reflection of the permeation of confusion in society.

This section of the essay analyzes Fahrenheit 451’s themes. This kind of analysis gives the reader the perfect view of the explicit machinations of the state in promoting censorship and the flow of information. It is easy for a reader to see the blatant indictment of censorship as supported by the state. The firemen are on the government payroll, and their work is to impose a ban on books.

Through the book, the current situation in the world concerning censorship comes out. It is easy for any reader to find the current world situation concerning censorship and media gagging through a subtle and close reflection of what the book causes. But even more impressive is the precise reflection of the effects of television on society, especially concerning reading the literature.

One of the exciting insinuations in the book is the portrayal of people as their enemies. There is a blatant disregard of each other among human beings, the culture of alienation mainly fronted by the media.

In Fahrenheit 451, Mildred, Montag’s wife, is a clear representation of the current world, which is likely to turn into in the future thanks to the media. Mildred and her friends spend most of their time watching television walls in the “parlor,” intentionally ignoring the problems around them till the issues get out of control. There is the only preoccupation for them, which is the program schedule.

Clarisse helps Montag realize that what he is doing is wrong. Within that context, her character represents the voices of the reason that still exist in the chaotic world, the voices that still question the goings-on in the society despite the different obstacles that exist (Bradbury 47).

Fahrenheit 451 is every reader’s book with very infectious quoted and thought-provoking imagery, which explicitly puts the role entertainment, especially television, lack of concern for each other, and the casual attitude which has come to characterize the modern world.

The fact that the events occur in America, though fictional, is a stark reminder that repression is through book burning and is a serious event that can take place even in the most advanced society. Any reader will find it very interesting, primarily through the discovery that most of the hatred in the book comes from people themselves.

How does Fahrenheit 451 end? In summary, the novel’s finale is hopeful. The city has been destroyed by bombs, but the books continue to live in in the “book people”.

As shown in this essay, Fahrenheit 451 is an example of masterpiece in its genre. The novel is analyzed by the scholars in numerous research papers and book reviews. Fahrenheit 451 gives any reader an opportunity to experience firsthand a 1950’s prediction of the world in the 21st century.

People have become slaves to their television sets and the Internet, people don’t bother to ask the root cause of all the crises and armed conflicts that have become characteristic of the 21st century, there is an avid promotion of violence which children access through video games; the drug problems are spiraling out of control.

Reading the book provides a deeper understanding of Montag, the main character, and how he represents the average person in the world today. Books burning and city incineration is a symbolic representation of the problems that bedevil the world mainly through entertainment enslavement.

In a nutshell, the book acts as an eye-opener and helps in comparing the current society to the Montag’s society, where TV reigns as a supreme authority. Additionally, life is fast, and all people tend to think they are happy, while in the real sense, they are not. The real picture of what people are going through comes out through the suicide attempts. It is, therefore, easy to recommend Fahrenheit 451 as the book with the true reflection of the society people live in nowadays.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451 . New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. Print.

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Fahrenheit 451

Introduction to fahrenheit 451.

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel , written by an American author, Ray Bradbury . It was published in the United States in 1953 and instantly became a textbook across the globe. Interestingly this novel declared to be a textbook presents the American future society where books have been banned and firemen have been deputed to ensure their burning. The novel presents the story of Guy Montag, a fireman, who becomes disenchanted by his work of burning books and censoring them before starting his task. Eventually, he gives up this job, thinking preservation of knowledge a moral option for him. The storyline of the novel won various awards for its uniqueness, bringing recognition to the author and awards such as the American Academy Award and Prometheus Hall of Fame Award with several others. The novel also became a film adaptation under the same name in 1966 and 2018.

Summary of Fahrenheit 451

The story opens with Guy Montag engaged in his work of burning books. Society now does not need books as people have stopped reading them because the Government has banned the books to control the public opinions and the offense they were creating among the people for the content written by the writers. They rather enjoy nature and spend time in enjoyments and conversation. They also take time for long drives in high speed and watch televisions or listen to Seashell radio sets attached to them. Also, the state was under the threat of atomic bombings and war.

During his work of burning books, Montag comes across a young girl, his neighbor Clarisse McClellan. She has a very powerful impact on him due to her innocent questions and love for nature. She shows him the other side of life and love. In the next few days, he goes through several disturbing experiences in that his wife tries to take her life by taking pills but fortunately paramedics save her by using the modern technology who arrive at the scene, showing no empathy because that was their everyday job, and then he finds another old woman having a literary treasure hidden in her building and still another wanting to burn with her with the books when he reaches to eliminate them. However, before burning the books he steals a book from the old woman’s library. When he contacts Clarisse, he comes to know about her accident in which she had died. It further dissatisfies him with his work as well as life and he starts thinking about the solution of books he has stolen and hidden in the vent to read them in leisure.

Montag refuses to go to work the next day. Soon Montag starts to play truant and his captain, Beatty, sensing something fishy, reaches him. He advises him about his thoughts regarding books and tells him that it is normal to think out of routine but his monologue rather further disturbs Montag’s confused mind. His argument that the first ban was slapped after some groups objected to some books does not go down well with Montag. It also does not seem appropriate to him when Beatty said that an overall ban was imposed on books after some time. Finally, society started banning books and the final order came in the shape of the burning of all of the books having conflicting arguments in them. He also permits Montag to keep books for a day and then return after having a glance at their pages and Montag takes a night to see what those books have in them. Overwhelmed by reading, he sees that his wife is engaged in watching television and thinks about a retired English professor, Faber, and decides to meet him to help him understand the reading. Faber, then, briefs him about the value of books and the enjoyment that provide during leisure. With his help, Montag starts thinking about changing the status quo and making a plan to proliferate such books to the firemen in its first phase. They also have a radio set for two-way communication to hide their plan.

When Montag reaches the professor, he sees friends of his wife watching television and having a chitchat about families and war. He becomes furious over their casual manner and starts reading Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach even though when Faber calls him not to do so. Meanwhile, Mildred tells him that the firemen read poetry to discredit books, while women flee seeing his interest in books. Thinking about books, he reaches office and hands over books to his chief, Beatty, who bombards him with contradictory ideas from literature to discredit books. Suddenly, they find the alarm bells calling them to Montag’s house at which he feels the treachery of his wife about informing the office regarding the presence of books. After Montag completes this task of burning his own house, Beatty still does not stop berating him, incensing him to the point that he turns the flamethrower at him. Meanwhile, the Mechanical Hound injects an anesthetic on his leg, yet Montag destroys it with the flamethrower and manages to flee with some of his books. A fireman’s ranch becomes his hideout from where he calls his friend Faber.

When finally, they meet, Faber informs him about the hunting expedition launched to track him down. As Faber is going to St. Louis in search of a printer, Montag requests him to eliminate his smell from the house to mislead the sniffers. Meanwhile, he learns from the news that another man has been killed in his name by the hound just to create fear in the hearts of the people to let them know how drastic measures the State would take if anyone went against it. Taking Faber’s clothes, he leaves the ranch toward the river from where he goes downstream and finds a group led by Granger. The book lovers welcome his addition to the group as a memorizer of books in the event of the war just going to be declared. He was assigned to memorize the book of Ecclesiastes. They soon find jets zooming on their heads and themselves finding more friends to lay the foundation of a new civilization with the help of memorized books. The story ends with the reference to the poem by William Blake’s ‘ The Tyger : Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night…Could frame thy fearful symmetry?’ explaining the evolution of Montag’s fire as a symbol of both creation and destruction.

Major Themes in Fahrenheit 451

• Censorship: Censorship is the major theme of the novel with the impending issue of knowledge gained by people and the role of books in the transformation of an individual as well as a society. Guy Montag’s role of burning the books through a complete setup exposes the role of the books. The burning of the house of the Old Woman for keeping books shows that the new government does not tolerate books that play a disruptive role in society. This ruthless censorship goes on until Montag meets Clarisse who changes his outlook toward books. Finally, when Millie and her friends show their gratification through television programs and absurd conversations, it becomes urgent that censorship be eliminated. However, the meeting of Faber with Montag and their final plan with Granger’s group shows hope that books may bring change in the future civilization.
• Ignorance and Knowledge: The novel shows the significance of knowledge through the character of Guy Montag and Clarisse. Although Montag is engaged in the work of destroying knowledge. It is clear that destroying books is like destroying knowledge, it also shows that once he becomes confused through Clarisse about his task, he immediately withdraws himself until his boss, Beatty, becomes suspicious and tries to place him under house arrest. In the anti-book, Montag soon runs for his life after his wife seems to have betrayed him. When he finally escapes with the assistance of Faber, he is fighting to save knowledge until he meets Granger whose memorizing task for him is an act, they think, can save the civilization from extinction or that they can rebuild it from scratch.
• Life and Death: Fahrenheit 451 shows the theme of life and death through Mildred, Guy’s wife. She tries to take her own life by committing suicide which makes Montag think deeply about these metaphysical issues due to the impacts of Clarisse. He soon realizes that though Beatty is his supervisor, most of the work is being done by the mechanical machines that can kill or spare anybody without any conscience. When a Mechanical Hound chases him, he runs for his life despite having been injected with anesthesia. It shows that when machines take the life of their own, human beings need to be watchful about their lives as it happens that the same machines run by Guy Montag are after him and he is trying to escape from them. Several other deaths in the novel such as of Clarisse and the Old Woman show that life is in constant transformation as the final world war soon takes the life of its own and ends a few of them to rebuild the world.
• Role of Technology: The novel shows that technology, once breaks the grip of human control, can become catastrophic in that it could end civilization. Although starting from simple dissidence, it soon transpires in the new government that the poison is being spread by books and the elimination of books is possible only through technology. Then Mechanical Hounds are set upon human beings. Guy Montag runs for his life and uses the same technology to stage a coup, though, without any success. His final meeting with Granger and his gang shows that when technology has brought catastrophe , it is the human mind that can save the world through memorization.
• Alienation: The novel shows that when machines take lead, human beings become alienated like Mildred Montag who feels that her life is not only useless but also purposeless. So, she tries to end it by taking pills. Montag also suffers from depression because of the work of burning books that he thinks are taking a toll on his household as the women are only discussing this and nothing in particular. This alienation annoys him more when the Old Woman dies while her house is burning. Soon he finds himself on the run after Mildred betrays him, completing the alienation of human beings.
• Dehumanization: The dehumanization has been shown in the novel through the character of Beatty, Mildred, and other ladies that sit with her to discuss different things. Montag is dehumanized in the beginning but stays skeptical until Clarisse meets him and raises suspicions on his work. It happens that when he sees the Old Woman dying with her books in her own house; Guy’s wife betraying him as he runs for his life after trying to kill Beatty. It appears that Professor Faber has tried to humanize him through books, and it has worked. That is why he finally comes to the point that civilization could be saved through books.
• Power of Books: The power that the books wield is clear from the way Guy Montag shows the transformation in his thinking and subsequent actions after he meets Clarisse. He knows inwardly that the action of keeping books to be declared a crime is not small thinking. His duty of burning the books means that he is depriving others of knowledge. So, it is not just the power of books, but the power of knowledge that he keeping away from others. That is why he joins hands with Professor Faber to save the last remnants of knowledge by memorizing some of them left with the gang.
• Role of Media: The novel shows that media plays a critical role in shaping public thinking. When Guy Montag reaches home, he sees that Millie and all her friends are enjoying life, watching programs and advertisements on their televisions. The access of radio broadcast directed into the ears of the listeners also point to this role of media about feeding the public and showing them what the government wants. This means media is used to make the people think what the elite class at the helm of the affairs wants them to see and think.
• Loss of Individuality: The theme of the loss of one’s identity and individuality is significant in the novel in that Montag feels that he has become a machine while working with machines and that the characters like ‘Character’ are blessed with independent thinking while they are not. On the other hand, his wife, Mildred, and her friends show that they have lost their individuality.
• Passivity: The novel also shows the theme of passivity through Montag, Millie, and her friends. Montag acts quickly to get rid of the role he is playing under this government. However, it seems that all other people are satisfied with their fortune and lack of knowledge.

Major Characters Fahrenheit 451

• Guy Montag: Guy Montag is the protagonist of the novel. He is engaged in burning books, which are considered subversive in the state. As the firefighter, his role involves burning books and not considering emotions as he shows when burning the house of the Old Woman. Despite his initial satisfaction with his duties, he soon comes to a realization about the harmful impacts on society as a whole when he meets Clarisse McClellan. His mental conflict caused by this girl soon leads him to be skeptical of his role, leading him to conspire with Professor Faber and save books. Finally, he has a chance to flee and join a group when the war erupts and starts memorizing books to save civilization from eternal elimination.
• Mildred Montag: Mildred or Millie is Guy Montag’s wife. She plays an important role in showing the world how a regime ignores its own house. The ignorance shown by her and her friends when watching television shows that the main task of Guy Montag is to keep people oblivious to their real situation, though, it turns the table on him when he comes to know about his wife’s aborted suicide. Then his conversation transpires that the regime has become too heavy for such frail souls, as she leads a passive and receptive life, engaged only in sightseeing or getting bored.
• Captain Beatty: As the instrument of the regime, his duty is to captain the firefighters and ensure that they do not rebel against the state. Despite his education and knowledge, he stays loyal and becomes the victim of his loyalty when Montag turns against him. However, his obsession that knowledge causes people to be skeptical stays the same despite this accidental incident. His life takes a turn for the worse as he becomes too dangerous for Guy Montag as he struggles to make Guy accept his orders or send mechanical hounds after him.
• Clarisse McClellan: Clarisse, a young girl, brings a sea change in the behavior of Guy Montag, causing suspicion in his mind about his duty assigned to him by the regime. She bumps into him when going on his duty and impacts his thinking about the collective social oppression through his work of burning books. Her character shows a questioning mind, though, she is ignorant of the real impact of Guy Montag’s work. Her character shows unique individuals who quiz mob following and refuse to go along with the tide.
• Professor Faber: Professor Faber represents knowledge through his support of saving the books. His love for books leads him to form a resistance movement and its success lies in attracting the important state pillar, Guy Montag, who joins him after killing Beatty. Due to his independent thinking and his passion for the increase of knowledge, he soon hooks away Montag and joins a group led by Granger to save the knowledge from extinction.
• Granger: Granger is involved in saving books, a crime considered dangerous for society at this stage. When the Hound chases Montag, he runs away to the drifters where he is assigned a new job by Granger to memorize the books. Granger represents the people who know that the construction of society depends on the rise and continuance of knowledge.
• Old Woman: The Old Woman represents the old generation who loves books and also represents the state oppression against such people who want the continuation of civilization through knowledge and books. Guy Montag burns her house and the lady with it after coming to know that she keeps books, though, he himself steals the Bible when fleeing from the chasing Hound.
• Black and Stoneman: These characters serve as a model of the workers who work sans thinking. They are companions of Montag who flee when Montag threatens them after burning Beatty to death.
• Mrs. Bowels: As Millie’s friend, Mrs. Bowles represents people who only enjoy and leave other things to take care of themselves despite having been widowed twice. She is visiting Millie just to pass her time.
• Mrs. Phelps : Though a minor character in the novel, Mrs. Phelps is engaged in killing her time after losing her third husband. She, however, shows emotional outpouring after listening to poetry from Guy Montag.

Writing Style of Fahrenheit 451

The writing style of Fahrenheit 451 is descriptive, though, it becomes lyrical at some places in the novel. The first few chapters describe the characters of Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellan, including the outlines of their physical features. That is why highly figurative language has been used to make their features prominent. However, when it comes to conversation, the author employs the same technique of presenting the middle-class characters, speaking the chaste language. Overall sentence style and phrases are quite simple and direct, showing the futuristic outlook in simple diction .

Analysis of the Literary Devices in Fahrenheit 451

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises the life of Guy Montag, his responsibilities, his sense of betrayal, and his final efforts to preserve knowledge. The falling action occurs when he kills Beatty for suspecting him, while the rising action occurs when Beatty tries to arrest him but faces the flamethrower and dies.
• Anaphora : The novel shows examples of anaphora such as, i. “No, I don’t want to, this time. I want to hold on to this funny thing. God, it’s gotten big on me. I don’t know what it is. I’m so damned unhappy, I’m so mad, and I don’t know why I feel like I’m putting on weight. I feel fat. I feel like I’ve been saving up a lot of things, and don’t know what. I might even start reading books.” (Part-I) ii. The beetle was rushing. The beetle was roaring. The beetle raised its speed. The beetle was whining. The beetle was in high thunder. The beetle came skimming . The beetle came in a single whistling trajectory, fired from an invisible rifle. (Part-III) iii. It was up to 120 m.p.h. It was up to 130 at least. (Part-III) The examples show the repetitious use of “I don’t want”, “The beetle” and “It was up to.”
• Allusion : The novel shows good use of different allusions as given in the examples below, i. None of those books agree with each other. You’ve been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel. Snap out of it! The people in those books never lived. Come on now! (Part-I) ii. The parlour was exploding with sound. “We burned copies of Dante and Swift and Marcus Aurelius.” (Part-I) iii. “Professor Faber, I have a rather odd question to ask . How many copies of the Bible are left in this country?” (Part-II) The first example shows a reference to a historical place, the second to authors, and the third to the Bible.
• Antagonist : Captain Beatty and the regime are the antagonists of the novel as they appear to have tried their best to obstruct all avenues for Guy Montag and Professor Faber to preserve books.
• Conflict : The novel shows both external and internal conflicts. The external conflict is going on between Guy Montag and Beatty as well the regime, while the internal conflict is going on in the mind of Guy Montag about his responsibility and his thinking about the books.
• Characters: The novel shows both static as well as dynamic characters . The young girl, Clarisse and Guy Montag are dynamic characters as they show a considerable transformation in their behavior and conduct by the end of the novel. However, all other characters are static as they do not show or witness any transformation such as Millie, Beatty, Mrs. Phelps, and Faber.
• Climax : The climax in the novel occurs when Beatty tries to burn down the house of Montag. However, he turns the flamethrower on him, turning him into ashes.
• Foreshadowing : The novel shows many instances of foreshadows as given in the below examples, i. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. (Part-1) ii. I wasn’t shouting.” He was up in bed, suddenly, enraged and flushed, shaking. The parlour roared in the hot air. “I can’t call him. I can’t tell him I’m sick. (Part-I) The mention of ruin, shouting, and hot air shows that something is bad going to happen with Montag.
• Hyperbole : The novel shows various examples of hyperboles such as, i. “Classics cut to fit fifteen-minute radio shows, then cut again to fill a two-minute book column, winding up at last as a ten- or twelve-line dictionary resume. I exaggerate, of course. The dictionaries were for reference. (Part-I) ii. Montag stood there and waited for the next thing to happen. His hands, by themselves, like two men working together, began to rip the pages from the book. The hands tore the flyleaf and then the first and then the second page. (Part-II) These examples exaggerate things as classics could not be fitted into such short shows and that hands could not have done everything automatically.
• Imagery : Fahrenheit 451 shows excellent use of imagery . A few examples are given below, i. Her face, turned to him now, was fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it. It was not the hysterical light of electricity but-what? But the strangely comfortable and rare and gently flattering light of the candle. (Part-I) ii. Montag stood looking in now at this queer house, made strange by the hour of the night, by murmuring neighbour voices , by littered glass, and there on the floor, their covers torn off and spilled out like swan-feathers, the incredible books that looked so silly and really not worth bothering with, for these were nothing but black type and yellowed paper, and ravelled binding. (Part-III) These two examples show images of color, sound, and feelings.
• Metaphor : A few examples of various metaphors from the novel are given below, i. Her face was slender and milk-white, and in it was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything with tireless curiosity. (Part-I) ii. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. (Part-II) iii. “It’s flat,” he said, a long time later. “City looks like a heap of baking-powder. It’s gone.” (Part-III) These examples show that several things have been compared directly in the novel such as the first shows her face compared to milk, the second shows the person compared to a robot, and the third shows a city compared to powder.
• Mood : The novel shows various moods; it starts with an intense and gloomy mood but turns somber and serious when the apocalypse seems to engulf the world and becomes optimistic when Guy Montag flees for the preservation of knowledge.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel are religion, nature, and paradoxes in life.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated from the third person point of you, who happens to Ray Bradbury, the author himself.
• Personification : The novel shows examples of personifications such as, i. He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over, and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out. (Part-I) ii. Two moonstones looked up at him in the light of his small hand-held fire; two pale moonstones buried in a creek of clear water over which the life of the world ran, not touching them. (Part-I) iii. Across the street and down the way the other houses stood with their flat fronts. (Part-II). These examples show as if his smile, moonstones, and houses have life and emotions of their own.
• Protagonist : Guy Montag is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with his entry into the world and moves forward as he rebels against the regime and flees to save his life as well as knowledge.
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as, i. It drank up the green matter that flowed to the top in a slow boil. Did it drink of the darkness ? Did it suck out all the poisons accumulated with the years? It fed in silence with an occasional sound of inner suffocation and blind searching. It had an Eye. The impersonal operator of the machine could, by wearing a special optical helmet, gaze into the soul of the person whom he was pumping out. What did the Eye see? He did not say. (Part-I) ii. Breach man’s mind. Who knows who might be the target of the well? Read man? Me? I won’t stomach them for a minute. And so when houses were finally fireproofed completely, all over the world (you were correct in your assumption the other night) there was no longer need of firemen for the old purposes. (Part-II) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the novel is somewhere in an unspecified city in the Midwest in the United States.
• Simile : The novel shows excellent use of various similes as given in the examples below, i. There was only the girl walking with him now, her face bright as snow in the moonlight, and he knew she was working his questions around, seeking the best answers she could possibly give. (Part-I) ii. She was beginning to shriek now, sitting there like a wax doll melting in its own heat. (Part-II) iii. The three empty walls of the room were like the pale brows of sleeping giants now, empty of dreams . (Part-III) These similes show that girl’s face has been compared to snow in the first, like a wax doll in the second and the walls have been compared to pale brows in the third as the use of the word “like” suggests.

Related posts:

• Fahrenheit 451 Quotes
• Fahrenheit 451 Characters
• Fahrenheit 451 Themes
• Ray Bradbury
• Literary Writing Style of Ray Bradbury

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Themes, Motifs, and Symbols in Fahrenheit 451

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Those who are familiar with Ray Bradbury’s short stories will quickly recognize the prominent themes of the novel. Bradbury was never shy about his disdain for society’s reliance on technology, and many of his stories focus either directly or indirectly on the consequences of this reliance. Issues related to identity, knowledge, and government control are often explored alongside technology, and these are the primary thematic topics in  Fahrenheit 451 .

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Major Themes in Fahrenheit 451

Knowledge and individuality vs. ignorance and conformity.

The overarching theme of  Fahrenheit 451  explores the struggle between man’s desire for knowledge and individuality in a society that expects ignorance and conformity. Supporting themes centered around censorship as a means to control society and the destructive nature of technology are used to amplify the overarching theme.

The story’s protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman in a society where firemen no longer put out fires but rather start them in homes known to be hiding books. Though the story opens with an image of Montag appearing to relish the feeling of burning things, it’s not long before he meets Clarisse and is struck by how different she is from everyone else he knows.

Set in a future vision of America, society has become an empty shell of humanity. Having disregarded books and the knowledge contained in them, people have become ignorant, addicted to mass media and the constant barrage of sights and sounds that never stop to allow one to process and think. There is no room for the development of individual identity and ideas. Ideas lead to differences, and differences lead to conflict, which is avoided at all costs. To be different is to be an outcast; society has chosen conformity because life is simpler when everyone is the same.

As Montag’s eyes are opened to the emptiness of his life, he is driven to find greater meaning. Believing that books must contain the knowledge he seeks, Montag allows his life to spiral out of control as he defies the laws he was meant to uphold. His desperation to bring meaning to his life, to rid himself of the ignorance his society accepted, leads him on a tumultuous journey. He must accept that the only way to save himself and humanity is by destroying the world of ignorance and conformity he has been a part of for so long. Bradbury uses one of the most extreme forms of destruction to emphasize the grim reality and fate of a world that allows itself to fall to ignorance and conformity.

Censorship as a Means to Control Society

Though they are long past realizing it, the ignorance of the people in  Fahrenheit 451  allows them to be controlled through censorship. Without books to turn to for knowledge, society has given the government and mass media the power to control all information. Having lost the ability to think for themselves, the people stay electronically connected to media at all times, either through the Seashell Radios in their ears or their immersive parlors with wall-size screens.

The importance of this theme lies within the  how . Bradbury is not only trying to express the danger that comes with censorship and control. He shows how people themselves choose to either retain the right of individuality and knowledge or choose to succumb to the simplicity of a life without thought or the need to make decisions. By choosing knowledge, one can see the difference between manipulation and entertainment. By choosing individuality, one has the power to control their own future.

The Destructive Nature of Technology

As with many of Bradbury’s works,  Fahrenheit 451  contains a not-so-subtle message about the danger that technology poses for humanity. Writing during a time of rapid acceleration in technological capabilities, Bradbury saw how people became captivated by the excitement and entertainment that came with the increased capacity for mass media. In the setting of  Fahrenheit 451 , ignorance, conformity, censorship, and control are all the result of the destructive nature of technology. Captain Beatty explains to Montag how the current role of the fireman started: “The fact is we didn’t get along well until photography came into its own. Then – motion pictures in the early twentieth century. Radio. Television. Things began to have  mass ” (Bradbury 54). The increase in mass media technologies created a desire for quick and easy consumption of entertainment. 

While this entertainment lacks any depth, it stimulates the senses, and society has become addicted to the immediate satisfaction provided by these forms of entertainment. Reading takes time, thought, and consideration. For a society that has come to desire instant gratification, books have no appeal. When society lost interest in books, it lost its ability to think critically, process ideas, and develop unique ideas, creating an ignorant population with no sense of individual identity. In this way, technology destroyed the capacity to be human.

While technology has destroyed humanity through mass media, Bradbury also includes physically destructive forms of technology. The highly advanced Mechanical Hound is used for hunting down and killing or anesthetizing people. Cars have become tools for reckless danger, as their high-speed capabilities encourage quick thrills that often result in deadly accidents. Advanced weaponry creates the most physically destructive force in the novel, as an atomic bomb wipes out the entire city at the end of the novel. By fleeing the city and ridding himself of his society’s technological tools, Montag can begin his journey to find meaning and purpose in his life.

Motifs and Symbols in Fahrenheit 451

Motifs and symbols are used throughout literature to represent ideas and concepts that help develop the story’s themes. Bradbury weaves many motifs and symbols throughout  Fahrenheit 451  to help bring attention to and emphasize the critical messages he conveys. Motifs related to religion and paradoxes are found throughout the text, and they are often designed to make the reader question various aspects of the society in  Fahrenheit 451 . In contrast, nature imagery helps to illustrate the distinction between Montag’s society and a world untouched by the destructive nature of technology. Symbols are often used to represent the dual purposes of fire, the threat posed by technology, and the importance of self-awareness and identity.

Religion plays a recurring role throughout the text of  Fahrenheit 451 . When the reader first sees Montag stealing a book during a burning, he later discovers that it is a copy of the Bible. The significance of religion, or lack thereof, is discussed when Montag meets with Faber and shows him the Bible. While Faber explains that he is not a religious man, he describes how far removed religion is from the days when the Bible was allowed to exist: 

“Lord, how they’ve changed it in our ‘parlors’ these days. Christ is one of the ‘family’ now. I often wonder if God recognizes his own son the way we’ve dressed him up, or is it dressed him down? He’s a regular peppermint stick now, all sugar-crystal and saccharine when he isn’t making veiled references to certain commercial products that every worshiper absolutely needs.” (Bradbury 81)

When Montag is with Mildred’s friends Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps, he is reminded of a time in his childhood where he had entered a church and looked at the faces of saints that meant nothing to him. Though he tried to find a way to be a part of the religion, to feel something, he found nothing he could connect to. His frustration with finding someone to help him learn what is in the books leads him to start ripping pages out of the Bible in front of Faber, who finally agrees to help him.

As Montag joins Granger and his group, it is determined that he will be keeper of the Book of Ecclesiastes, as Montag can remember part of this Book, in addition to a small amount of the Book of Revelations. The novel ends with Montag recalling lines from both Books as the group begins their walk back towards the city.

Paradoxes can be complicated ideas to understand. At its core, a paradox is something self-contradictory. Bradbury makes a number of paradoxical statements throughout the text, primarily when describing Mildred or the Mechanical Hound.

At the beginning of the novel, when Montag first arrives home, he hears the hum of the Seashell radio and states that the room is not empty; however, after imagining how his wife lays in bed, lost in the sounds of the Seashell, he changes his description of the room to empty. Calling the room empty, yet knowing his wife is there, is a contradiction to logic. The emptiness is based on the reality that while Mildred might be  physically  in the room, her mind is elsewhere. 

When Montag is arguing about books with Mildred, he says, “I saw the damnedest snake in the world the other night. It was dead but it was alive. It could see but it couldn’t see” (Bradbury 73), recalling the mechanical snake that had pumped the poison from Mildred’s stomach and blood when she overdosed on sleeping pills. These statements help to portray Mildred as an empty shell of a person, a machine appearing to have more life than her.

When first describing the Hound, Montag states, “The Mechanical Hound slept but did not sleep, lived but did not live” (Bradbury 24). When he destroys the Hound that joined the firemen at his home, he refers to it as “the dead-alive thing” (Bradbury 120). Watching a different Hound being televised as it hunted for him, he says, “Out of a helicopter glided something that was not machine, not animal, not dead, not alive, glowing with a pale luminosity” Bradbury 135). In comparing the paradoxical statements made about Mildred, the mechanical snake, and the Mechanical Hound, the reader can see that Bradbury pushes the reader to question what it truly means to be alive.

On a much larger scale, one of the greatest paradoxes in the novel appears in the character of Captain Beatty. Beatty’s character, as a whole, can be seen as a paradox. He seems to relish the knowledge he has gained through his illegal consumption of books, yet he calls a book a loaded gun that he wouldn’t stomach for a minute. His recounting of how books came to be illegal is overwhelmingly patronizing, yet he speaks of his firm commitment to keep society free of books. His tirades  against  books are filled with lines he has snatched from those very same books. He is a contradiction to himself.

Nature imagery is often used in literature to represent both innocence and enlightenment. Nature is a natural counterpart to technology, which permeates the society in  Fahrenheit 451 . Bradbury uses nature imagery to emphasize things that represent a change from the norms that Montag has become so used to and to highlight the destructive force of society as he knows it. When nature is perverted with creations such as the Mechanical Hound, or the electronic-eyed snake used to pump Mildred’s stomach, they become images of darkness and death.

Montag’s interactions with Clarisse occur throughout the first thirty pages of the novel, broken apart by events that are part of his normal, everyday life. These interactions are riddled with references to nature, creating shifting moods each time Clarisse enters and exits Montag’s days. The first time he sees her, she nearly appears to be a part of nature:

“The autumn leaves blew over the moonlit pavement in such a way as to make the girl who was moving there seem fixed to a sliding walk, letting the motion of the wind and the leaves carry her forward. Her head was half bent to watch her shoes stir the circling leaves.” (Bradbury 5)

Clarisse often talks about her joy with the natural world as a contrast to her unsettling descriptions of other kids her age. She is considered antisocial for being so different from her peers and forced to see a psychiatrist, who “wants to know why [she goes] out and hike[s] around in the forests and watch[es] the birds and collect[s] butterflies” (Bradbury 23). Her love of the natural world sets her apart from most others, and Montag grows increasingly fascinated by her. In the short amount of time he knows her, she fills his world with images of the natural world. When she is gone, Montag feels the emptiness of his world:

“And then, Clarisse was gone. He didn’t know what there was about the afternoon, but it was not seeing her somewhere in the world. The lawn was empty, the trees empty, the street empty.” (Bradbury 32)

It fits, then, that Montag’s transformation occurs when he is immersed in nature after fleeing the city. He becomes enlightened by the sights and smells of nature, feeling as though the natural world can truly see him.

Fire serves as one of the most visible symbols in the text. The title of the novel itself,  Fahrenheit 451 , is itself a reference to fire, as it is the temperature at which paper will burn on its own. Bradbury uses fire to symbolize destruction, rebirth, as well as knowledge. The decision to be reborn into a world of knowledge or be destroyed by a self-destructing society is the critical choice that Montag must make.

Fire is most readily seen as a symbol of destruction from the opening line where Montag expresses his pleasure in burning. Books are burned in an attempt to keep society “free” of the harmful knowledge contained in them. The firemen are meant to appear as though they are protecting society through their use of fire, but the reality is that they are using fire to destroy individual identity, ideas, and thoughts. Captain Beatty represents fire as a destructive symbol through his life as a fireman and his death by fire.

The bombing of the city shows how fire serves simultaneously as a symbol of destruction and rebirth. The fire rids the city of all that is wrong with society while cleansing it to be reborn into a new and enlightened place. As knowledge is a form of enlightenment, fire is often placed in areas of the text where knowledge and enlightenment are present, such as at the campfire where Granger brings Montag. References to candlelight are used when Montag thinks about Clarisse and the “snuffing” of a candle when the firemen burn a home with books.

Salamander & Phoenix

The salamander is directly used as the symbol for the firemen in  Fahrenheit 451 . The firemen wear a patch with a salamander; the image of a salamander is etched onto the firehose used to blast kerosene and fire; the firetruck is called the Salamander. Likewise, the image of a phoenix is printed on the front of the firemen’s suits, and Captain Beatty has a phoenix on his hat and drives a Phoenix car.

The symbol of the salamander and the phoenix have been associated with fire since ancient times. Salamanders were believed to be born in fire and could shoot fire from its mouth. Ancient mythology includes stories of the phoenix, devoured by flames only to be reborn in its ashes. As the phoenix also holds a symbolic meaning of rebirth, it is vital to notice the duality of its use with Captain Beatty. He is killed by fire, allowing Montag to be reborn in his ashes. At the end of the novel, Granger looks into the fire and recalls the image of the phoenix, comparing it to humankind.

Seashell Radio

Throughout the text, Montag regularly refers to the Seashells, most often seen in Mildred’s ears. The Seashells are small radio devices nearly everyone in Montag’s society wears to receive constant broadcasts of information. The Seashell Radios symbolize the overt government control of society. While screens provide a regular barrage of media, the Seashell Radios are seen to be worn nearly 24/7 by Mildred and likely most of society. Even in sleep, the Seashells are broadcasting a constant stream of media. This continuous stimulation works to distract people from thinking or clearly notice the reality around them. When Faber gives Montag a Seashell that he had modified for two-way communication, it symbolizes a break from the conformity that the government tries to maintain in society.

Mirrors, in the literal sense, reflect oneself. Symbolically, mirrors are used to represent self-awareness and seeing one’s true self. The reference to a mirror is first used immediately following Montag’s introduction to Clarisse. He describes her face as being like a mirror, surprised to find someone that “refracted your own light to you” (Bradbury 11), indicating that Clarisse had recognized a part of his true self.

When the bombs fall on the city at the end of the novel, Montag imagines he hears Mildred screaming after seeing her true self in a mirror in a fraction of the moment just before the bombs consumed her. He imagines that “it was such a wildly empty face, all by itself in the room, touching nothing, starved and eating itself, that at last she recognized it as her own” (Bradbury 159-160). As the novel closes, Granger states, “Come on now, we’re going to build a mirror factory first and put out nothing but mirrors for the next year and take a long look in them” (Bradbury 164), suggesting that part of being reborn requires one to truly see oneself.

Wrapping U p

Authors always have a purpose for their writing. The messages embedded in a story often provide an important lesson or insight about life. Bradbury felt an urgent need to send a message about the fears he saw manifested in the world around him.  Fahrenheit 451  is his message to humanity about the importance of knowledge and identity in a society that can so easily be corrupted by ignorance, censorship, and the tools designed to distract from the realities of our world.

Works Cited

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451 . Simon and Schuster, 1950.

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Fahrenheit 451 Themes and Literary Devices

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 addresses complex themes of censorship, freedom, and technology. Unlike most science fiction, Fahrenheit 451 does not view technology as a universal good. Rather, the novel explores the potential for technological advancement to make humans less free. Bradbury investigates these concepts with a straightforward writing style, employing several literary devices that add layers of meaning to the story.

Freedom of Thought vs. Censorship

The central theme of Fahrenheit 451 is the conflict between freedom of thought and censorship. The society that Bradbury depicts has voluntarily given up books and reading, and by and large the people do not feel oppressed or censored. The character of Captain Beatty provides a concise explanation for this phenomenon: the more people learn from books, Beatty tells Montag, the more confusion, uncertainty, and distress arises. Thus, the society decided that it would be safer to destroy the books—thus restricting their access to ideas—and occupy themselves with mindless entertainment.

Bradbury shows a society that is clearly in decline despite its technological advances. Montag’s wife Mildred , who serves as a stand-in for society at large, is obsessed with television, numbed by drugs, and suicidal. She is also frightened by new, unfamiliar ideas of any kind. The mindless entertainment has dulled her ability to think critically, and she lives in a state of fear and emotional distress.

Clarisse McClellan, the teenager who inspires Montag to question society, stands in direct opposition to Mildred and the other members of society. Clarisse questions the status quo and pursues knowledge for its own sake, and she is exuberant and full of life. The character of Clarisse offers hope for humanity explicitly because she demonstrates that it is still possible to have freedom of thought.

The Dark Side of Technology

Unlike many other works of science fiction, the society in Fahrenheit 451 is made worse by technology. In fact, all the technology described in the story is ultimately harmful to the people who interact with it. Montag’s flamethrower destroys knowledge and causes him to witness terrible things. The huge televisions hypnotize their viewers, resulting in parents with no emotional connection to their children and a population that cannot think for itself. Robotics are used to chase down and murder dissenters, and nuclear power ultimately destroys civilization itself.

In Fahrenheit 451 , the only hope for the survival of the human race is a world without technology. The drifters that Montag meets with in the wilderness have memorized books, and they plan to use their memorized knowledge to rebuild society. Their plan involves only human brains and human bodies, which represent ideas and our physical ability to implement them, respectively.

The 1950s saw the initial rise of television as a mass medium for entertainment, and Bradbury was very suspicious of it. He saw television as a passive medium that required no critical thinking the way reading did, even light reading done just for amusement. His depiction of a society that has given up reading in favor of the easier, more mindless engagement with television is nightmarish: People have lost their connection to one another, spend their time in a drugged dreamland, and actively conspire to destroy great works of literature—all because they are constantly under the influence of television, which is designed to never disturb or challenge, only to entertain.

Obedience vs. Rebellion

In Fahrenheit 451 , the society at large represents blind obedience and conformity. In fact, the characters of the novel even assist their own oppression by voluntarily banning books. Mildred, for example, actively avoids listening to or engaging with new ideas. Captain Beatty is a former book lover, but he, too, has concluded that books are dangerous and must be burned. Faber agrees with Montag's beliefs, but he is fearful of the repercussions of taking action (though he ultimately does so).

Montag represents rebellion. Despite the resistance and danger he faces, Montag questions societal norms and steals books. However, it's important to note that Montag's rebellion is not necessarily pure of heart. Many of his actions can be read as resulting from personal dissatisfaction, such as angrily lashing out at his wife and attempting to make others see his point of view. He does not share the knowledge he gains from the books he hoards, nor does he seem to consider how he might help others. When he flees the city, he saves himself not because he foresaw the nuclear war, but because his instinctive and self-destructive actions have forced him to run. This parallels his wife’s suicide attempts, which he holds in such contempt: Montag’s actions are not thoughtful and purposeful. They are emotional and shallow, showing that Montag is a much a part of society as anyone else.

The only people shown to be truly independent are the drifters led by Granger, who live outside of society. Away from the damaging influence of television and the watching eyes of their neighbors, they are able to live in true freedom—the freedom to think as they like.

Literary Devices

Bradbury’s writing style is florid and energetic, giving a sense of urgency and desperation with lengthy sentences containing sub-clauses that crash into each other:

“Her face was slender and milk-white , and it was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything with a tireless curiosity . It was a look of almost pale surprise ; the dark eyes were so fixed to the world that no move escaped them.”

Additionally, Bradbury uses two main devices to convey an emotional urgency to the reader.

Animal Imagery

Bradbury uses animal imagery when describing technology and actions in order to show the perverse lack of the natural in his fictional world—this is a society dominated by, and harmed by, a total reliance on technology over the natural, a perversion of the ‛natural order.’

For example, the opening paragraph describes his flamethrower as a ‛great python’:

“It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history.”

Other imagery also compares technology to animals: the stomach pump is a snake and the helicopters in the sky are insects. Additionally, the weapon of death is the eight-legged Mechanical Hound. (Notably, there are no living animals in the novel.)

Repetition and Patterns

Fahrenheit 451 also deals in cycles and repeated patterns. The Firemen’s symbol is the Phoenix, which Granger eventually explains in this way:

“There was a silly damn bird called a Phoenix back before Christ: every few hundred years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did.”

The ending of the novel makes it clear that Bradbury views this process as a cycle. Humanity progresses and advances technology, then is destroyed by it, then recovers and repeats the pattern without retaining the knowledge of the previous failure. This cyclical imagery pops up elsewhere, most notably with Mildred’s repeated suicide attempts and inability to remember them as well as Montag’s revelation that he has repeatedly stolen books without doing anything with them.

• 'Fahrenheit 451' Overview
• 'Fahrenheit 451' Quotes Explained
• Fahrenheit 451 Characters: Descriptions and Significance
• Fahrenheit 451 Summary
• Why Fahrenheit 451 Will Always Be Terrifying
• Fahrenheit 451 Vocabulary
• Biography of Ray Bradbury, American Author
• '1984' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• 'Pride and Prejudice' Themes and Literary Devices
• Frankenstein Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• Banned Books: History and Quotes
• 'Things Fall Apart' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• 'Lord of the Flies' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
• Censorship and Book Banning in America
• 'Hamlet' Themes and Literary Devices

• Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

• Literature Notes
• Dystopian Fiction and Fahrenheit 451
• Book Summary
• About Fahrenheit 451
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Character Analysis
• Captain Beatty
• Clarisse McClellan
• Professor Faber
• Mildred Montag
• The Mechanical Hound
• Character Map
• Ray Bradbury Biography
• Critical Essays
• The Issue of Censorship and Fahrenheit 451
• Comparison of the Book and Film Versions of Fahrenheit 451
• Ray Bradbury's Fiction
• Full Glossary for Fahrenheit 451
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Critical Essays Dystopian Fiction and Fahrenheit 451

When examining  Fahrenheit 451  as a piece of dystopian fiction, a definition for the term "dystopia" is required.  Dystopia  is often used as an antonym of "utopia," a perfect world often imagined existing in the future. A dystopia, therefore, is a terrible place. You may find it more helpful (and also more accurate) to conceive a dystopian literary tradition, a literary tradition that's created worlds containing reactions against certain ominous social trends and therefore imagines a disastrous future if these trends are not reversed. Most commonly cited as the model of a twentieth-century dystopian novel is Yevgeny Zamiatin's  We  (1924), which envisions an oppressive but stable social order accomplished only through the complete effacement of the individual.  We , which may more properly be called an anti-utopian work rather than a dystopian work, is often cited as the precursor of George Orwell's  1984  (1948), a nightmarish vision of a totalitarian world of the future, similar to one portrayed in  We , in which terrorist force maintains order.

We and 1984 are often cited as classic dystopian fictions, along with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932), which, contrary to popular belief, has a somewhat different purpose and object of attack than the previously mentioned novels. Huxley's Brave New World has as its target representations of a blind faith in the idea of social and technological progress.

In contrast to dystopian novels like Huxley's and Orwell's, however, Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 does not picture villainous dictators (like Orwell's O'Brien) or corrupt philosopher-kings (like Huxley's Mustapha Mond), although Bradbury's Captain Beatty shares a slight similarity to Mustapha Mond. The crucial difference is that Bradbury's novel does not focus on a ruling elite nor does it portray a higher society, but rather, it portrays the means of oppression and regimentation through the life of an uneducated and complacent, though an ultimately honest and virtuous, working-class hero (Montag). In contrast, Orwell and Huxley choose to portray the lives of petty bureaucrats (Winston Smith and Bernard Marx, respectively), whose alienated lives share similarities to the literary characters of author Franz Kafka (1883-1924).

Nonetheless, points of similarity exist between these works. All three imagine a technocratic social order maintained through oppression and regimentation and by the complete effacement of the individual. All these authors envision a populace distracted by the pursuit of explicit images, which has the effect of creating politically enervated individuals.

Huxley envisions a World State in which war has been eradicated in order to achieve social stability; Bradbury and Orwell imagine that war itself achieves the same end — by keeping the populace cowering in fear of an enemy attack, whether the enemy is real or not. The war maintains the status quo because any change in leaders may topple the defense structure. Orwell and Bradbury imagine the political usefulness of the anesthetization of experience: All experiences become form without substance. The populace is not able to comprehend that all they do is significant and has meaning Likewise, Bradbury and Huxley imagine the use of chemical sedatives and tranquilizers as a means of compensating for an individual's alienated existence. More importantly, all three authors imagine a technocratic social order accomplished through the suppression of books — that is, through censorship.

However, despite their similarities, you can also draw a crucial distinction between these books. If the failure of the proles (citizens of the lowest class; workers) reveals Orwell's despair at the British working-class political consciousness, and if Mustapha Mond reveals Huxley's cynical view of the intellectual, Guy Montag's personal victory over the government system represents American optimism. This train of thought leads back to Henry David Thoreau, whose Civil Disobedience Bradbury must hold in high esteem. Recall the remark by Juan Ramon Jimenez that serves as an epigraph to Fahrenheit 451 : "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way." This epigraph could have easily served as Thoreau's motto and is proof of Bradbury's interest in individual freedom. Bradbury's trust in the virtue of the individual and his belief in the inherently corrupt nature of government is a central concept of Fahrenheit 451 .

Continuing Bradbury's inspection of personal freedom in Fahrenheit 451 , you must first examine the freedoms that the author gives to the characters. As mentioned previously, you know that all sense of past was obliterated by the entrance of technology (the TV characters give citizens the opportunity to create a past and present through their story lines). Likewise, through the use of TV, individuals do not understand the importance of the past in their own lives. They have been repeatedly given propaganda about the past, so they have no reason to question its authenticity or value.

Also, because of the technology the characters are given, no one (of course, except for Faber, Granger, Clarisse, and eventually Montag) understands the value of books in direct relation to their own personal development. Television, for the majority of individuals in Fahrenheit 451 , does not create conflicting sentiments or cause people to think, so why would they welcome challenge? As Millie points out to Montag, "Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody ! . . . My 'family' is people. They tell me things: I laugh, they laugh. . . ."

Because the majority of this dystopian society is not able to express personal freedom, it is interesting that Clarisse and the unidentified old woman die early in the novel in order to display what has happened so far in this society to the people who exercise their personal freedom. It's also important to see that even Millie, who serves as the model of this society's conformity, almost dies as a result of her one act of personal rebellion when she attempts suicide. Likewise, perhaps even Captain Beatty's demise is an act of personal freedom because Beatty goads Montag into killing him instead of protecting himself and remaining alive.

The battle of having personal freedom is essential in this book because Bradbury demonstrates what happens when man is not given the opportunity to express his thoughts or remember his past. Through Clarisse, the unidentified woman, Millie, and Beatty, you are shown the consequences of what happens when humans aren't allowed to fully express their individuality and choice (they die). Through the characters of Montag, Faber, and Granger, you can see how one individual can make a difference in society if that one individual can fully realize the importance of his or her past, as well as be willing to fight for the opportunity to express himself or herself.

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Fahrenheit 451 Themes – Themes and Examples

Home » Literature Explained – Literary Synopses and Book Summaries » Fahrenheit 451 » Fahrenheit 451 Themes – Themes and Examples

Fahrenheit 451 Themes Overview

This novel takes place in an American city during the 24th century. The specifics of the setting are intentionally left out by author Ray Bradbury to enhance the overall themes and messages of the story.

The obscurity also hints that a dystopian scenario such as the one illustrated in the novel could happen anywhere in the country. Furthermore, it could happen in other countries similar to the United States, such as England. The only specifics that the author gives about the setting of the novel indicate that this city is likely somewhere in the heartland of America—perhaps the Midwest.

This shows that a dystopian society could happen in even the most unassuming locations rather than the typical scenes of fictional disasters such as New York, NY. The ambiguity about the time in which the novel takes place achieves a similar effect—a disastrous future may not be as far off as we might like to believe.

Fahrenheit 451 Themes

Here’s a list of major themes in Fahrenheit 451 .

• Censorship.
• Knowledge vs. Ignorance.
• Dissatisfaction.

Censorship as a Tool of Oppression

Most people, even given the opportunity, do not feel comfortable with literature. Instead, they prefer the stimulating and colorful world given to them from the televisions and the stories crafted for them in their radio headsets. Whereas reading symbolizes choice—the choice to put down and pick up a story at one’s leisure, the radios and TVs symbolize control—people are bombarded with messages from these mediums at all times.

Knowledge vs. Ignorance

Knowledge vs. Ignorance – The struggle that all people essentially face in this dystopian society is that of knowledge vs. ignorance. Knowledge, naturally, brings problems to those who seek it in a society that wants people to simply remain ignorant and to just comply with what is proposed for them.

Those who maintain ignorance are able to find that life is, in a real sense, easier. However, they sacrifice their creativity and individuality just for simplicity’s sake. For example, Mildred, Montag’s wife, keeps taking too many sleeping pills, and these instances are interpreted as suicidal acts, however passive. At the end of the day, however, Mildred is happy to turn in her husband and move on with her life in front of a television set rather than to upset the status quo and deal with the challenges of that.

The Dangers of Dissatisfaction and Ennui

He realizes that he is actually incredibly unhappy and is just living in a state of numb acceptance, ennui. He becomes increasingly more dissatisfied after this. The more personal clarity he experiences, the more he realizes that he has been dissatisfied the whole time. The constant stimulation of fast cars, noisy transportation, ever-running radios and televisions, etc., have all caused him a sort of long-term sensory overload that had him feeling unhappy. However, this was presented as normal to him, so he assumed nothing was wrong.

Dissatisfaction turns to rage for Montag during several occasions, causing him to commit violent acts. He dedicates his life to finding truth and escaping this society-bred unhappiness no matter the costs.

Motifs and Symbols in Fahrenheit 451

One striking motif is paradoxes. Bradbury will often describe something as being one way and then describe it later in a completely contradictory manner. The creation of paradoxes like this serve to warn the reader that things aren’t always as they seem. There may be hidden truths all around.

Religion is another motif that serves a similar purpose. The novel references several different religious items—most frequently, the Bible. In general, Christian values are discussed or used for comparisons quite frequently as the story unfolds. These religious references are complex and serve to create contradictions between reality and what could be.

Another important motif is elements of nature. Nature imagery is used to symbolize innocence, truth, and opportunity. For example, when Montag is inspired by Clarisse, he tilts his head back and opens his mouth to taste the raindrops. This symbolizes that he has gotten a taste of something new and unique—and then he decides he wants to learn more. This transformative experience coincides with nature because nature brings truth. At the end of the novel, Montag flees the city to live out in the country with other individuals who seek truth through art, beauty, philosophy, and literature. Finally, television and radio are another motif that function as an opposite to what elements of nature do. The radios and TV used to brainwash and pacify people are tools of oppression forced upon people. It is impossible to escape their influence, with their messages constantly being broadcast to individuals in their homes, on the subway, etc. They serve to blind people to the truth.

See also Symbolism in Fahrenheit 451 .

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Ray Bradbury

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Fahrenheit 451 thesis statements

The novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury makes use of archetypes, specifically the light vs. dark archetype and the archetypical death and rebirth, to strengthen the story. The light vs. dark archetype is used to depict Montage’s struggle to free himself from the ignorance of society’s beliefs. The author also uses this archetype to show that Clavicle’s house is different from the others as it’s lit up, signifying a family that is not blinded by society’s ignorance. Bradbury also employs the archetypical death and rebirth when Montage explains the meaning of books to Mildred, trying to tear down her old way of thinking and rebuild her with a new and more cognitive way of thinking. The text states that humans are like a phoenix

During when the various times the “light vs. dark” archetypes are utilized and when the archetypical death and rebirth occurs to convey the extent of which the novel is strengthened by archetypes. In Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 the light vs. dark archetype helps show to what extent archetypes are used to strengthen the novel when Montage is conversing with Claries after Mildred began reading her script.

The author states “He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon another. “{Bradbury 21 y. In this passage Bradbury is showing that inside Montage the light and dark are warring against each other. As light vs. dark are opposites the author uses opposites to show the relationship between the two, for example the comparison between cold and hot, the cold represents the dark as darkness is inherently cold as light provides heat. The two parts ringing against each other show to the light and dark at war, as they at odds at one other.

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Since they cannot coexist the light and dark in this situation refer to the Montage, in that they are his struggle to free himself from the ignorance that is his societal beliefs. The author also states when Claries and Montage walk to her house, “When they reached her house all its lights were blazing” (Bradbury 7}. As this may come across as insignificant, in actuality it shows that as Montage only known the other houses to be darker: Clavicle’s house signified a family that were not blind to the ignorance of the society while all the other houses and families are in the dark, figuratively and literally.

Using the “light vs. dark” archetype Bradbury is TABLE to enhance his work; the archetypes convey meaning to the story and add more to the story for the reader to comprehend. Furthermore, Bradbury novel utilizes an archetype, death and rebirth, to strengthen the story within Fahrenheit 451 , this situation occurs after the bombs drop and at the end of part one. The author writes mere now,’ said Montage ‘We’ll start over again at the beginning. ‘” {Bradbury 65}. During this oration the story Montage is explaining the meanings of books to Mildred of who does not see their significance.

When Montage says let’s start over , it is not meant mean lets reread the passage but as lets reinvent ourselves and become more self-aware. As opposed to the rest of society, who is ignorant to the fact that books are not something that should be outlawed but something that should be treasured. Books can carry many meaning and here we see Montage trying to tear down, death, Milliard’s Old way Of thinking and rebuild, rebirth, her with a new and more cognitive way of thinking.

Also the text states “But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself burnt all over again. “{Bradbury 156}. Here, after the bombs drop, Montage and the hobos are talking and saying that humans are like a phoenix; they will persevere and come back from hardships, but without the knowledge of the past they are bound to do the same things over again. Montage and the men are saying that if the knowledge in the books is not passed along the world is bound to repeat itself, so they are going to try to bring back the books in hope that tragedy doesn’t happen again.

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