Preview

Fahrenheit 451-Symbolism

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
632 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fahrenheit 451-Symbolism
Throughout English literature there are a number of authors who use symbolism to get a point across to the reader. Symbolism is a chance for the author to show the reader instead of tell. The futuristic book Fahrenheit 451 is a novel based around symbolism and ulterior meanings. Water and fire are symbols commonly used in all types of literature. These elements are especially apparent in mythology. Also, within the novel the parlor walls proved themselves to be more than what was initially apparent. These symbols give this book a very specific tone and mood.
In the beginning of the novel, Montag's wife was fascinated by the parlor walls. She disregarded the fact that one wall was a large portion of Montag's salary. These walls, which constantly keep Mildred amused, are more than just a physical barrier between the couple. The walls represent her close-mindedness toward her husband and the reality that is their present society. These walls can also be thought of as an obstruction which Montag has to conquer, in order to have the simple freedoms his civilization does not offer. Their society is completely devoid of all intuitive thought whatsoever. When he was sick, he asked his wife to turn off the parlor walls and she refused, because the "walls" had more importance than his comfort. Clearly, the parlor walls were a symbol for a barrier which Montag had to overcome to discover his true identity.
Ray Bradbury also uses the symbol of water to show a sense of rebirth within Montag. When someone is baptized in water it symbolizes and "new self image", much like Montags quick stop where he "washed his hands and face and toweled himself dry," (125) while on the run from the government. This symbolizes Montag's desire for renewal and change within himself from his previous shallow existence. Water is also the opposite element of fire, which is ironic, because fire was the element which Montag worked with everyday of his adult life. Furthermore, the river was a safe

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury puts motifs to represent and show the audience hints for what is going to happen.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Symbols are small elements that formulate the themes of the books. Authors used them to disguise the themes otherwise, the story may loose it's drill. Also symbols allow the reader to interpret the ideas based on their perspective. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury explains the idea of knowledge and ignorance through a set of symbolic…

    • 55 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This drawing of Mildred from the book Fahrenheit 451 is not a literal portrait. Instead of trying to make a realistic representation of the character I decided to portray her though her actions and the way she sees the world.…

    • 242 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 Symbols

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Symbols are a big part of the world, without them we wouldn't know what happened in the past. In the book Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury uses symbols as a way to provide imagery and to elaborate on specific ideas. Fahrenheit 451 uses three prominent symbols, the number 451 plastered on the helmets of firemen, the burning of the books within this society, and the phoenix. They all represent big issues in the world.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury’s timeless classic, Fahrenheit 451, is divided into three sections. The title of each section has a meaning relevant to the story. The first section being, “The Hearth and the Salamander” also has a significance. When fire was first discovered, it was used for good things, like for warmth, cooking food, etc. for those people, fire was essentially a savior, and it represented comfort and survival. Hence, the hearth also represents how fire was formerly used and seen as good. The hearth, also a traditional symbol of the home, represents Montag’s home life, his relationship with Mildred, the parlor, and Clarisse. At the start of Fahrenheit 451 the hearth, or fireplace, is know for giving warmth and goodness. In the beginning of the novel, fire is described as positive and non-destructive.…

    • 790 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At first, he feels comfortable with his job, but when Mildred tells Montag that Clarisse is “gone”, Montag starts to have thoughts on the questions Clarisse asked him (Bradbury 23). “”How did it start? How did you get into it? How did you pick your work and how did you happen to think to take the job you have?”” Clarisse asks Montag (Bradbury 47). This makes him take a new perspective on his life setting him on his journey to find the truth about his society. While Montag is going through the events, the stress rises within…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury uses figures of speech such as imagery and metaphors to express how Montag is an impassioned man. Bradbury says that it was a “pleasure” for Mantag to “see things” he burns to be “blackened and changed.” The imagery gives a mental image through the sense of sight to show how Montag enjoy extremely destructive things. Through imagery Mantag is shown to have endless love for his job. Bradbury claims that Montag’s hands are “hands of” an “amazing conductor playing all the symphonies” as Montag grips the brass nozzle and sprays the kerosene. In This metaphor, montag, hands, as he sprays the kerosene, are said to be the hands of a conductor playing symphonies. This shows how Montag is addicted to the excitement he obtained in his line of work.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings” is an empowering quote by the poet Heinrich Heine that directly relates to Fahrenheit 451. When books are burned or prohibited, knowledge and the freedom of thought are destroyed, which shatters the human spirit. In the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 the government burns books and all literary material to please and control the public.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 emphasizes many symbols throughout the book, one of them being fire, and how it can be more than just destruction. The theme of fire is shown by representing the destruction of books, however to other characters it is seen as more than just fire. "Burning book pages are compared compared to birds flying away (Bradbury, 2)." Burning books means more than its destruction. It also means that the book's history is no longer coming back. Fire has a powerful role in Fahrenheit 451 and its destruction causing things to change for its citizens. "The fireman feels powerful when he causes things to change (Lenhoff, 1)." Not only is the destruction of books important, but it also causes a person to feel the amount of power fire can have…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Since the beginning, fire has been only known as destruction and despair. This seems to be true until Ray Bradbury published Fahrenheit 45, which has a perspective on fire being not just destruction but also warmth in a of world censorship that has gone out of touch with its human counterparts through its use of technology. Bradbury originally wrote this novel, Fahrenheit 451, as a short story called" The Firemen" in 1950 in galaxy science fiction; he later published it as a novel in 1953. A well renowned author, Ray Bradbury wrote one of his premier pieces Fahrenheit 451, a novel that puts a focus on a society where the government has put a censorship on book reading, and has a problem with overuse of technology, which many people today worry…

    • 1946 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 is a novel based on the role of burning books in order to eliminate their dissenting ideas. Guy Montag is a fireman who burns houses containing books, rather than putting fires out. In his community, laws are enforced to prevent folks from thinking. These rules try to hide the reality that the government is controlling people, as well as the faults in the world. The novel begins with the quote, "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way," from Juan Ramon Jimenez. I believe the quote reflects how you shouldn’t follow principles just because a society tell you to do so, instead, you must march to the beat of your own drum.…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is a plethora of literary devices in Fahrenheit 451. “…and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning…” (1). This example of a literary device is a metaphor since Montag is comparing himself to a conductor directing a symphony as he burns a fire and it shows that he is proud of his job as a fireman. He believes he is doing a wondrous job by setting ablaze all the books. “The rain was thinning away and the girl was walking…with her head up and the few drops falling on her face” (19). Clarisse says, “The rain feels good…I love to walk in it.” (19). These two quotes both represent a positive mood because when Montag leaves home after having an unsatisfying conversation with his…

    • 244 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Bradbury uses symbolism to indicate that relationships reflect who individuals are and who they want to be. Fire seems to mean a lot of different things at different moments in Fahrenheit 451. Beatty and his fireman minions use it to destroy. But the woman whose house they burn interprets it another way: "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." For her, it represents strength. Montag himself discovers an alternative use for fire at the end of the novel; when he realizes that it can warm instead of destroy. Like that whole cycle of life thing, fire has a constructive and destructive half. And like the books that are burned, each character in the novel is forced to interpret for them and confront contradictory perspectives – just like Beatty said about the books. Symbolism helps view the story from multiple points of view, and also gives a more vivid understanding of the thoughts and feelings of the characters.…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Not knowing things is sometimes an award, but it can also be a curse. The same idea is applied to the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury where the government often hides the truth from the people. They do this to keep everyone happy since they think if you do not know about something, you do not have to worry about it. Some people can accept this standard of living, but others feel as if they are missing something like the main character Guy Montag felt as he learned more about books. Montag developed throughout the story to overcome the statement Ignorance is Bliss by the help of many characters but mainly Beatty, Clarisse, and Faber.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    (AGG) With great obsession of meaningless “stuff” comes with great consequences. (BS-1) People in the novel Fahrenheit 451 are way too focused on the irrelevant things in life. (BS-2) This has caused them to destroy their relationships with family and friends. (BS-3) Some people are “different” and actually care about living life to the fullest and focusing on things that matter. (TS) Most of the people in this sick society are too caught up in electronics, and because of this they don’t care to fix their broken relationships or look at what people have on the inside, not just the surface.…

    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics