Born into a futuristic, technologically based society, Guy Montag had never thought to question anything. By blindly accepting the policies of his society Montag had lived his life in a state of serenity. He was a fireman, which in Montag’s world, was considered a highly respected profession. The role of firemen in this society was to destroy the existence of knowledge by igniting books and houses that contain them. Throughout the book, Montag began to change after he met Clarisse McClellan. Before their encounter Montag had worn his happiness “like a mask” and had claimed that he was happy, even though he wasn’t. He also began questioning his occupation. In the past Montag had been proud of his work and had felt it was a pleasure to burn.
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He saw her body reduced to embers as flames engulfed her and her belongings. If citizens were caught owning books, their house was burned and they were arrested. “‘You know the law,’ said Beatty. ‘Where's your common sense? None of those books agree with each other. You've been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel.’” (Bradbury 38). Books are banished from the society because they allow people to think on their own, form opinions and make inquiries. The people who own them face many consequences, including arrest and the burning of their possessions. Witnessing the woman destroy herself Montag is curious as to why anyone would be so loyal to books. At this point, Montag had not read anything and wondered what was so important about books. However, after experiencing this incident he had a longing to figure out why books were a vital part of some people’s lives. Perhaps the happiness that he was lacking could be fulfilled by the knowledge within books. He started to think consciously and ask why? In the novel, Bradbury writes “There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing” (51). He is having these thoughts when Captain Beatty comes to question him after he misses a shift at work. Montag feels dismal and …show more content…
Before he met Clarisse, he did not think much about his wife and their lack of connection. His relationship with Clarisse made him actually reflect on how he and his wife interacted. He realized that all she did was sit all day and listen to her “family” on the wall-Tvs. She participated in the virtual programs on the wall-TVs more than her actual life. Mildred always had her seashell headphones in, ignoring Montag even when he was not at work. She even wore them as Montag slept in a different bed than her. Clarisse made Montag wonder about his marriage to Mildred. Neither Montag nor Mildred remembered where they had met and when. “‘When did we meet? And where?’ When did we meet for what?’ she asked’” (Bradbury 42-43). He finally realizes that his relationship with his wife is not as good as he had thought. Montag seems to care about Mildred, but she does not care too much about him. People in Montag’s society do not have personal relationships because they are taught not to feel any emotions. Even his relationship with the closest person in his life was almost
He saw her body reduced to embers as flames engulfed her and her belongings. If citizens were caught owning books, their house was burned and they were arrested. “‘You know the law,’ said Beatty. ‘Where's your common sense? None of those books agree with each other. You've been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel.’” (Bradbury 38). Books are banished from the society because they allow people to think on their own, form opinions and make inquiries. The people who own them face many consequences, including arrest and the burning of their possessions. Witnessing the woman destroy herself Montag is curious as to why anyone would be so loyal to books. At this point, Montag had not read anything and wondered what was so important about books. However, after experiencing this incident he had a longing to figure out why books were a vital part of some people’s lives. Perhaps the happiness that he was lacking could be fulfilled by the knowledge within books. He started to think consciously and ask why? In the novel, Bradbury writes “There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing” (51). He is having these thoughts when Captain Beatty comes to question him after he misses a shift at work. Montag feels dismal and …show more content…
Before he met Clarisse, he did not think much about his wife and their lack of connection. His relationship with Clarisse made him actually reflect on how he and his wife interacted. He realized that all she did was sit all day and listen to her “family” on the wall-Tvs. She participated in the virtual programs on the wall-TVs more than her actual life. Mildred always had her seashell headphones in, ignoring Montag even when he was not at work. She even wore them as Montag slept in a different bed than her. Clarisse made Montag wonder about his marriage to Mildred. Neither Montag nor Mildred remembered where they had met and when. “‘When did we meet? And where?’ When did we meet for what?’ she asked’” (Bradbury 42-43). He finally realizes that his relationship with his wife is not as good as he had thought. Montag seems to care about Mildred, but she does not care too much about him. People in Montag’s society do not have personal relationships because they are taught not to feel any emotions. Even his relationship with the closest person in his life was almost