Fahrenheit 451 Fire

Alex Yang English 8 Mrs. Cussler 17 April 2024 Burning Bright: The Evolving Symbolism of Fire and Light When we think of fire, we often envision flickering flames dancing in the fireplace, giving a comforting glow and emanating warmth. Yet, for most of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, fire is presented as a destructive and suppressive force and used to describe victims of a society blinded by censorship and control. However, as Montag progressively realizes the problems with society, fire starts to take on a dual meaning of destruction and renewal, joining forces with light’s persistent symbol of enlightenment and hope. Through the initially contrasting but eventually converging images of fire and light, Bradbury highlights the transformative …show more content…
This is made apparent at the beginning of the book, describing a burning being performed by Montag, an “amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame” (1). At first, Bradbury describes Montag in harmony with the fiery burning, the conductor of a glorious ritual. WIth the “tatters and charcoal ruins of history”, the author suggests that the government has already brainwashed members of this society into thinking that history is useless and unclear, and deserves to be brought down into a pile of ash. Bradbury describes Montag as stolid and having eyes “all orange flame”, further suggesting that he lacks real emotion and is simply following along with the system. When Clarisse first makes Montag question the way things are, Montag gets a flashback to his childhood: “His mother had found and lit a last candle and there had been a brief hour of rediscovery, of such illumination” (5). Without electricity, Montag as a child was forced to explore the natural world guided by the light from the