“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it” (58). Quotes like these are what this novel is filled with, quotes that get you thinking. Symbols are very important in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 follows the story of Guy Montag, a Fireman. In Montag’s world, firemen start fires instead of putting them out. The civilians where Montag live do not read books or talk to each other. They drive too fast and watch television all day, everyday. One day Montag meets a young woman named Clarisse and she opens his eyes to a world he never knew existed. Fire is used to symbolize destruction but also can symbolize warmth and survival, birds represent rebirth and mankind like the phoenix but they also represent freedom, and fahrenheit 451 symbolizes the collapse of Montag's society. Bradbury's use of symbolism throughout the novel makes the book both devastating and powerful by using symbols such as fire, birds and heat.
Fritz 2
Fire is used as both a destroyer and creator in the novel. It is used to symbolize destruction, “it is a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed’ (3). Fire is first used as only a destructive force, burning was a pleasure. As the fireman burned homes the civilians would come out of their houses to …show more content…
By the use of symbolism we were able to follow Montag in his life changing experience. Fire for Montag turned into life, the Phoenix was not brave for burning himself up but a coward for not learning from his mistakes and Fahrenheit 451 was not about heat but really about life being burned and lost. The government can try to control everyone by blinding them from the truth but they can never succeed. It only takes one match to start a fire, and they cannot suppress man’s thirst for knowledge
Fritz 2
Fire is used as both a destroyer and creator in the novel. It is used to symbolize destruction, “it is a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed’ (3). Fire is first used as only a destructive force, burning was a pleasure. As the fireman burned homes the civilians would come out of their houses to …show more content…
By the use of symbolism we were able to follow Montag in his life changing experience. Fire for Montag turned into life, the Phoenix was not brave for burning himself up but a coward for not learning from his mistakes and Fahrenheit 451 was not about heat but really about life being burned and lost. The government can try to control everyone by blinding them from the truth but they can never succeed. It only takes one match to start a fire, and they cannot suppress man’s thirst for knowledge