In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the character who influences Guy Montag the most is Granger. This influence is demonstrated by his confidence, his story about the “thumbprint”, and his perspective of the Phoenix. Firstly, Granger teaches Montag how to be confident and do things the right way to protect what is important to him. Granger teaches Montag how to keep books safe by saying, “ʻAll we want to do is keep the knowledge we think we will need intact and safe . . . For if we are destroyed, the knowledge is dead, perhaps for goodʼ” (Bradbury 145). Granger explains to Montag that the haggard men are basically walking books, and that they are only important because of the knowledge they have memorized. He wants Montag to know that, to keep the knowledge safe, he can’ t act cowardly, anger people, or use underhanded tricks.
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First, Granger says, “ʻ. . . I suddenly realized I wasn’t crying for him at all, but for all the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again’” (149). Then he goes on to say, “ʻGrandfather’s been dead all these years, but if you lifted my skull . . . you’d find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me’” (150). Granger makes Montag realize the importance of a memory left behind by each person, and that you are affected by anyone no matter how small or unpleasant it may be. He made Montag want to be “touched” by Mildred. Thirdly, Granger uses the Phoenix as an example to give Montag the hope to believe that his society will change for the better. He says, “ʻ. . . [The Phoenix] built a pyre and burned himself up . . . But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing over and over, but .
First, Granger says, “ʻ. . . I suddenly realized I wasn’t crying for him at all, but for all the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again’” (149). Then he goes on to say, “ʻGrandfather’s been dead all these years, but if you lifted my skull . . . you’d find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me’” (150). Granger makes Montag realize the importance of a memory left behind by each person, and that you are affected by anyone no matter how small or unpleasant it may be. He made Montag want to be “touched” by Mildred. Thirdly, Granger uses the Phoenix as an example to give Montag the hope to believe that his society will change for the better. He says, “ʻ. . . [The Phoenix] built a pyre and burned himself up . . . But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing over and over, but .