In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, owning and reading books is illegal and if a citizen is caught, the book is then burned. Throughout the story, Ray Bradbury uses the literary device of symbolism; symbols ranging from certain aspects in the firefighter's uniforms to the actual fire itself, and the Phoenix at the end of the story. Guy Montag is first introduced in the beginning of the story as the protagonist. Firemen were common in his family; his grandfather and father were firemen themselves. Firemen's uniform was described as having the number 451 on their helmet and stitched on their sleeves. The number 451 is very symbolic in the story, the author states that Montage wears "his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head…"
