In this paper I argue that in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury is able to allow the reader to see into Montag’s emotions through his analogy of the darkness that literally surrounds Montag to the darkness that Montag feels, which is made by his creation of the atmosphere, usage of syntax, and his use of tropes. Atmosphere is the first thing most notice in the selected passage from Fahrenheit 451 because of the way it mirrors Montag’s emotions. Bradbury also varies his syntax in way that enables him to make certain ideas stand out more to the reader and thus better represent what is going through Montag’s head. The final way that Bradbury compares the literal darkness to the figurative darkness that Montag is in, is with his use tropes. Atmosphere
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A trope is a figurative of speech, such as a simile or metaphor. Through different tropes Bradbury can better show the reader what he is trying to convey. In this excerpt he is conveying how Montag feels like he is in a dark, depressing place. One of the most memorable similes Bradbury uses is, “He wore his happiness like a mask,” (Bradbury 9). This shows how Montag wasn’t really happy, he faked being happy like an actor fakes being another person. This trope comes right after Bradbury mentions the darkness so it connects the literal darkness to Montag’s depression. A different example where Bradbury describes Montag’s happiness with a trope is when he compares Montag’s happiness to a candle flame. Bradbury describes it as a, “candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out,” (Bradbury 9). This comparison shows how Montag is no longer happy. For so long his happiness continuously burned like a candle flame, but it burned for so long that it extinguished itself. The darkness left by the candle being extinguished represents the darkness and depression that Montag feels. Another important trope to the darkness is, “His wife stretched on the bed, uncovered and cold, like a body displayed on the lid of a tomb,” (Bradbury 10). By comparing the bed the tomb he continues to build the darkness
A trope is a figurative of speech, such as a simile or metaphor. Through different tropes Bradbury can better show the reader what he is trying to convey. In this excerpt he is conveying how Montag feels like he is in a dark, depressing place. One of the most memorable similes Bradbury uses is, “He wore his happiness like a mask,” (Bradbury 9). This shows how Montag wasn’t really happy, he faked being happy like an actor fakes being another person. This trope comes right after Bradbury mentions the darkness so it connects the literal darkness to Montag’s depression. A different example where Bradbury describes Montag’s happiness with a trope is when he compares Montag’s happiness to a candle flame. Bradbury describes it as a, “candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out,” (Bradbury 9). This comparison shows how Montag is no longer happy. For so long his happiness continuously burned like a candle flame, but it burned for so long that it extinguished itself. The darkness left by the candle being extinguished represents the darkness and depression that Montag feels. Another important trope to the darkness is, “His wife stretched on the bed, uncovered and cold, like a body displayed on the lid of a tomb,” (Bradbury 10). By comparing the bed the tomb he continues to build the darkness