Imagine a world where books are forbidden and thinking is prohibited. Imagine a world where television is our only form of having a “family,” and conversing with others is deemed foolish. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 science-fiction novel explicitly illustrates this imaginative dystopian life. In the novel, Bradbury develops an atmosphere where a government enforces strict laws in an effort to create a highly technologically based community. Set in the twenty-first century, the setting brings an overall foreboding tone. Although the story is written in third-person, Bradbury utilizes a limited omniscient narration that follows the point of view of the protagonist, Guy Montag, closely. In the course of Montag’s character development, he becomes
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Out of curiosity, she asks if Montag is happy. Montag is disturbed by the word happy:
He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back (Bradbury 9).
Montag realizes that he is unhappy. He tells himself that he is happy only because he is forced to believe so, just as the rest of society is. Montag is boxed up each day, shielded by words and ideas the government wants its people to be convinced. This isolation psychologically confuses Montag when he is asked about happiness—his whole life has been based on a structured routine that he never made time to think about his happiness. His life has been disconsolate. In fact, Montag’s relationship with his wife, Mildred, is based on pure image. Mildred only cares for her televisions, seeing them as her “family,” illustrating the loss in connection between the couple. Although Clarisse does not crave technology as much as the rest of society does, Montag sees that she is actually more than content with her life. Clarisse is much more mature than Mildred, which interests him. Montag is in fond of Clarisse’s maturity—he feels happy when being with her because she allows him to think. Montag is uneducated about books; he …show more content…
Faber becomes a mentor to Montag in the sense that he educates him about books and gives him advice on how to deal with Beatty’s discouragement of forcing the negativity behind books on Montag. Faber becomes Montag’s only hope towards understanding the true meanings behind books. Faber answers Montag’s questions. He explains to Montag that “Books are feared because they illuminate the sometimes ugly truths about life: chiefly, the depraved nature of mankind and its propensity for evil” (Thorson, “Fahrenheit 451”). Montag becomes inspired to savor books rather than burn them. Faber gives Montag a radio earpiece to help guide him through talking to Beatty. Although the earpiece connects Faber and Montag together mentally, it brought immense to Montag when conflicting with Beatty one evening. When an alarm is sent to the fire station about books in a home, Beatty brings Montag to his house. Montag would not allow himself to go to jail, nor could he let Beatty trace the ear piece to Faber. Ignoring Faber aggressively through the earpiece, Montag frustratingly burns Beatty. Montag becomes a murderer at this point of the novel. He blames himself for the “destruction” he has brought to the city, but Faber assures him that “At least [he was] a fool about the right things” (Bradbury 124). The only real
Out of curiosity, she asks if Montag is happy. Montag is disturbed by the word happy:
He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back (Bradbury 9).
Montag realizes that he is unhappy. He tells himself that he is happy only because he is forced to believe so, just as the rest of society is. Montag is boxed up each day, shielded by words and ideas the government wants its people to be convinced. This isolation psychologically confuses Montag when he is asked about happiness—his whole life has been based on a structured routine that he never made time to think about his happiness. His life has been disconsolate. In fact, Montag’s relationship with his wife, Mildred, is based on pure image. Mildred only cares for her televisions, seeing them as her “family,” illustrating the loss in connection between the couple. Although Clarisse does not crave technology as much as the rest of society does, Montag sees that she is actually more than content with her life. Clarisse is much more mature than Mildred, which interests him. Montag is in fond of Clarisse’s maturity—he feels happy when being with her because she allows him to think. Montag is uneducated about books; he …show more content…
Faber becomes a mentor to Montag in the sense that he educates him about books and gives him advice on how to deal with Beatty’s discouragement of forcing the negativity behind books on Montag. Faber becomes Montag’s only hope towards understanding the true meanings behind books. Faber answers Montag’s questions. He explains to Montag that “Books are feared because they illuminate the sometimes ugly truths about life: chiefly, the depraved nature of mankind and its propensity for evil” (Thorson, “Fahrenheit 451”). Montag becomes inspired to savor books rather than burn them. Faber gives Montag a radio earpiece to help guide him through talking to Beatty. Although the earpiece connects Faber and Montag together mentally, it brought immense to Montag when conflicting with Beatty one evening. When an alarm is sent to the fire station about books in a home, Beatty brings Montag to his house. Montag would not allow himself to go to jail, nor could he let Beatty trace the ear piece to Faber. Ignoring Faber aggressively through the earpiece, Montag frustratingly burns Beatty. Montag becomes a murderer at this point of the novel. He blames himself for the “destruction” he has brought to the city, but Faber assures him that “At least [he was] a fool about the right things” (Bradbury 124). The only real