Fahrenheit 451 Criticism Essay

Terry Heller’s criticism essay analyzes Ray Bradbury’s book, Fahrenheit 451. Some of Heller’s points are valid, but many of his points are not agreeable. His main discussion is about the culture of the future society that Montag, the protagonist, lives in. He discusses and examines how happiness was defined in Montag’s world, why he was hiding the books inside his house, what Montag believed was in the books and his complicated relationship with Faber. Heller’s first topic was about how happiness was defined in Montag’s futuristic society. He described it as “sitting in front of a television with a six-pack of beer, free of hard work, of complex human relationships, and of the disturbing stimulation of the ideas and images of the great artists and thinkers.” (Heller, 2) It is understandable how Heller …show more content…
Heller says, “He contacts Faber, an unemployed professor in whom he once confided...”(Heller, 3) Montag never confided in Faber before Montag’s awakening, therefore Heller’s argument is invalid. Both of them seemed to have had knowledge of each other, but there is no evidence to show that they had ever talked. “‘Who is it?’ ‘Montag out here.’ ‘What do you want?’” (Bradbury, 76) This excerpt is from when Montag began talking to Faber about his new found love of books. Faber had to make sure Montag was not with other firemen because he did not trust him. Faber’s attitude toward him proves that he and Montag were not friends and Montag had never confided in him. However, Faber and Montag became close soon after this conversation because Faber realized the Montag has become obsessed with books and rebellion. Keller’s literary analysis was more against the main idea of the novel. Montag, being a dynamic character in the novel, changed his way of perceiving books into accepting them, and Keller’s discussion focuses on Montag’s community, his life, and his relationship with his