A hero is not someone who goes against the law and society. Guy Montag does just that in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. He goes against what being a hero means. Montag cannot be considered a heroic figure because of his past as a fireman and his criminal acts even though some might say they were justified. Montag’s past as a fireman and his way of thinking is why he can not be a hero. As a fireman Montag used to burn books just like all the other firemen. He didn’t just do it because it was his job he enjoyed doing it. When Montag was burning books he “grinned the fierce grin of all men signed and driven back by flame” (Bradbury 2). If Montag really thought burning books was so bad then why would he continue the family tradition and become
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He broke the law by hiding books in his home but even worse he murdered Beatty for standing up for what he believed in. Montag burned him with a flamethrower and Beatty “flopped over and over and twisted in on himself like a charred wax doll” (113). Then instead of standing up and taking the consequences he “ran steadily for six blocks in the alley” fleeing from the law (117). If that wasn’t bad enough he let an innocent man die when the “Mechanical Hound rushed forward” and “it’s needle shot out” and killed the poor man (142). A hero doesn't kill innocent people, a criminal does. Some might say that the murder of Beatty was justified because Montag was standing up for what he believed in but that does not make murder acceptable. Beatty was upholding the law and he also was standing up for what he believed was right. He believes that “a little learning is a dangerous thing” (102). People can’t kill someone because they don’t have the same view. Murdering an innocent person certainly is not a heroic act. In almost all societies today murder is not acceptable so why should it be in this case? Montag cannot be considered a heroic figure simply because of his actions and characteristics. He turned against the very people he worked for, broke countless laws including murdering a man, and ran away instead of facing his consequences. Montag should not be compared to a hero. If Montag is a hero then all of the movies and comic books got it
He broke the law by hiding books in his home but even worse he murdered Beatty for standing up for what he believed in. Montag burned him with a flamethrower and Beatty “flopped over and over and twisted in on himself like a charred wax doll” (113). Then instead of standing up and taking the consequences he “ran steadily for six blocks in the alley” fleeing from the law (117). If that wasn’t bad enough he let an innocent man die when the “Mechanical Hound rushed forward” and “it’s needle shot out” and killed the poor man (142). A hero doesn't kill innocent people, a criminal does. Some might say that the murder of Beatty was justified because Montag was standing up for what he believed in but that does not make murder acceptable. Beatty was upholding the law and he also was standing up for what he believed was right. He believes that “a little learning is a dangerous thing” (102). People can’t kill someone because they don’t have the same view. Murdering an innocent person certainly is not a heroic act. In almost all societies today murder is not acceptable so why should it be in this case? Montag cannot be considered a heroic figure simply because of his actions and characteristics. He turned against the very people he worked for, broke countless laws including murdering a man, and ran away instead of facing his consequences. Montag should not be compared to a hero. If Montag is a hero then all of the movies and comic books got it