The Symbolism of Fire
The understanding of Montag about fire
The symbolism of fire in the novel
- Fire is the main chain of this novel. In my opinion, fire represents the deep-inside feeling of Montag, which is changing gradually all the time.
- At first, the fire reflects the passion for burning and his job, of course ,Montag loves his job as a fireman and even being proud of that. He loves fire, and enjoying burning. Fire is seems like the living, gorgeous vita jogging in Montag's brain.
- However, he soon realizes how merciless he is done about burning the books. What he clearly feels is that how dreadful that the society is losing the ability to thinking and wondering. The gorgeous vita of fire has deadly disappeared in Montag's mind. At the end of the novel, he considers the fire as the destruction as well as the other people who want to escape from the blazing fire.
- This kind of mental conveying reveals Montag is pursing the civilized and knowledgeable system stage by stage. He and the learned professors are ready to alternate the absurd civilization to rebuild the brand-new society.
Quotation
- "It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hand were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal " (Bradbury 1).
How does Montag change his mind about his job
- Montag's changing has started because of a girl named Clarisse. They meet on the way when they go home, or Clarisse speaks to Montag on her own initiative. It is this 17-year-old girl that inspires Montag beginning thinking and wondering. Paying attention to everything around him has taken up Montag's time. There is a "horrible" thought hovering in Montag's brain, how about reading a book? Or stop burning books and save them as much as he can. After he experiences the suicide of his wife and a merciless murdering caused by "burning the book", he can not stand this savage behaviour any longer.
- Then he determines to violate the law and tries to read "Bible" at the first time. As the consequence, he feels unprecedented satisfaction and happiness. He worries that what if this is the last "Bible" in the world? What if people in the future will never get a chance to read a book? What if the society will become more and more unconcerned? What if ... ... Montag feels scared gradually, as well as his wife. She chooses to turn in his husband and call the police, Montag kills his Captain---Beatty for escaping ,running and running until he gets away from the town.
- In the rural area , Montag meets a group of former professors, he seems to find his affiliation among them while their city is ruining by bomb. The "intelligent" group keep going to find another city, Montag realizes the truth at this moment.
How does Montag think about fire finally
- He realizes that the fire which he is addictive about represents destruction of human's wisdom when they burn the books cruelly. A man or woman is not complete without intelligence.
- In another side, fire also represents renewal because of the war. Bomb and fire has ruined everything and they need to start over at the beginning, that is a good chance to change the stupid law and encourage people to read again. Not only Montag but also his society, they are like a phoenix flying from the ash. They are attempting to fly to the higher sky and enjoying the happiness of renewal. I hope that they can achieve the grand goals .
The "phoenix"
According to Granger, the phoenix is a silly damn bird back before Christ, every years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again.
It is exactly represented Montag ,the ruined city and the whole society. They all start over from the fire ,even they are under so much pressure and pain, but they are struggling. As the results of that, Montag and the other people will get renewal again, their new and elegant soul will bright again to illuminate the whole world. Montag is a phoenix, he will fly, to the higher sky!
Works Cited
- video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6g5rnpTR1w
- 5 images
- 1 secondary source http://www.litcharts.com/lit/fahrenheit-451/symbols