In literature, similarities between characters and themes in separate works can commonly be seen. People refer to these commonalities as archetypes. Joseph Campbell created a step by step path that mapped the path of nearly all hero archetypes. Guy Montag’s experience, in Fahrenheit 451, corresponds with the stages of the hero’s journey. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses these classic character progressions in order to further the plot and depict how censorship can destroy a society. In Guy Montag’s society, he works as a firefighter, burning down buildings that contain books and other written material. One day, Montag runs into an inquisitive young girl, named Clarisse, who forces him to rethink his opinions on society 's mandates
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By using the monomyth, protagonists from different cultures can be equated to one another. The characters’ journeys are nearly indistinguishable except for the messages conveyed through the hero 's actions and beliefs. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag’s story corresponds to the steps of the monomyth and ultimately show how restricting the public’s knowledge can ruin a society. The hero 's journey begins with the Ordinary World. In this stage, “the hero uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma” (Vogler). The Ordinary World is presented in Fahrenheit 451 when Guy Montag is presented as a typical fireman performing his job (Bradbury 1-3). Guy Montag appears to enjoy his job, smiling as he incinerates books. There is no concern showed by him as he incinerates the books. To emphasize the appearance of him as an ordinary man, Bradbury even assigned him a dull name in “Guy.” Bradbury uses the ordinary world stage in order to communicate, that in the futuristic society, books and other materials are highly censored by the government/firemen. To illustrate the censorship, the firefighters were destroying books, one form of written expression. By doing so, Bradbury …show more content…
In this phase “something shakes up the situation, either external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change” (Vogler). In other words, something or someone new causes a change in the hero 's thoughts and actions and forces him to accept a new reality. The second stage of the monomyth is exceedingly important because The Call to Adventure is the beginning of the conflict. In Fahrenheit 451, The Call to Adventure occurs when Montag meets his neighbor, Clarisse, who proceeds to interrogate Guy. She questions why books frowned upon in the society and introduces Guy to social interaction and other joys of life (Bradbury 3-7). In this case, Clarisse is the someone who triggers Guy’s change of heart. He begins to realize there is more to life than the mind-numbing screens Mildred and others waste their time watching. Like, Clarisse. he becomes curious about the other aspects of life, such as books. With this in mind, the reader must think of what Bradbury is trying to do at this stage, he is using the newfound joys Montag found to slyly imply reading is another pleasant activity considering it is viewed to be wrong in the society, and many of the things the government has deemed issues (social interaction) have been appealing to Montag. Bradbury introduces the
By using the monomyth, protagonists from different cultures can be equated to one another. The characters’ journeys are nearly indistinguishable except for the messages conveyed through the hero 's actions and beliefs. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag’s story corresponds to the steps of the monomyth and ultimately show how restricting the public’s knowledge can ruin a society. The hero 's journey begins with the Ordinary World. In this stage, “the hero uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma” (Vogler). The Ordinary World is presented in Fahrenheit 451 when Guy Montag is presented as a typical fireman performing his job (Bradbury 1-3). Guy Montag appears to enjoy his job, smiling as he incinerates books. There is no concern showed by him as he incinerates the books. To emphasize the appearance of him as an ordinary man, Bradbury even assigned him a dull name in “Guy.” Bradbury uses the ordinary world stage in order to communicate, that in the futuristic society, books and other materials are highly censored by the government/firemen. To illustrate the censorship, the firefighters were destroying books, one form of written expression. By doing so, Bradbury …show more content…
In this phase “something shakes up the situation, either external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change” (Vogler). In other words, something or someone new causes a change in the hero 's thoughts and actions and forces him to accept a new reality. The second stage of the monomyth is exceedingly important because The Call to Adventure is the beginning of the conflict. In Fahrenheit 451, The Call to Adventure occurs when Montag meets his neighbor, Clarisse, who proceeds to interrogate Guy. She questions why books frowned upon in the society and introduces Guy to social interaction and other joys of life (Bradbury 3-7). In this case, Clarisse is the someone who triggers Guy’s change of heart. He begins to realize there is more to life than the mind-numbing screens Mildred and others waste their time watching. Like, Clarisse. he becomes curious about the other aspects of life, such as books. With this in mind, the reader must think of what Bradbury is trying to do at this stage, he is using the newfound joys Montag found to slyly imply reading is another pleasant activity considering it is viewed to be wrong in the society, and many of the things the government has deemed issues (social interaction) have been appealing to Montag. Bradbury introduces the