Fahrenheit 451
Written by Ray Bradbury & Designed by Tristen Hanks
Background Information
Montag is a different kind of fireman in a different kind of world. He's job is simple. He finds a book, he burns it. The people in his world are not allowed to know the information within those pages because it's not acceptable. The government has created rules that their people are unable to think of themselves or even enjoy nature. Montag meets seventeen year old, Clarisse, who opens his eyes to a whole new outlook on life. After she is killed, Montag has is forced to live his life like it was before, but he doesn't want that. Along the way to find himself, Montage deals with an unloving wife, an ignorant fire chief, and an old english professor.
Theme...Censorship
In Fahrenheit 451, people are not allowed to own or even read books. If you are found with a book it is burned by the firemen or in the Old Woman's case, you burn with it. As a reader, you never fully understand why censorship has become so popular, but are given many examples of the threats they impose on the community. Fast cars, loud music, and advertisements create a distraction so people aren't as concerned with literature, self-reflection, or appreciation of nature. The theme censorship is also a bit ironic because society once accepted books, but is also the thing that destroys their world.
The Phoenix
The Phoenix was first introduced at the beginning of the novel with the fire captain's helmet and was later discovered at the end. After the city bombing, Granger compares the mankind population to a phoenix rising out of the ashes. The man has an ability to make mistakes and possess the ability to learn from them so history doesn't repeat its self. The phoenix has a symbol of rebirth is significant to the rebirth of mankind but also Montag's spiritual resurrection.
Montag's Burning Pleasure
Normally firemen are the ones to put out the fires, not start them, but that's not the case for Montag. Montag's job is to burn the books that are found to prevent people knowing the knowledge within the pages. Burning books in this community is the largest for of censorship because the government doesn't what it's people to feel like they can speak for themselves.
Quote
"It was a pleasure to burn. It was a pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed." (Bradbury, 3)
&
"While the books when up in sparkling whirls and blew away on a wind turned dark and burning. Montag grinned the fierce grin of all the men signed and driven back by flame. " (Bradbury, 3-4)
Cited Sources
- Bradbury, Ray. "Fahrenheit 451 Themes | GradeSaver." Study Guides & Essay Editing | GradeSaver. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2013. <http://www.gradesaver.com/fahrenheit-451/study-guide/major-themes/>.
- her., agreeing with. "SparkNotes: Fahrenheit 451: The Sieve and the Sand (continued)." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/451/section