Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 portrays a group of men called “firemen;” their title, however, is ironic from what one would expect a fireman to do. Instead of putting out fires, the men in this novel deliberately set books and what are thought to be criminal houses ablaze. Montag, the novel’s protagonist, finds “pleasure” (Bradbury 1) in his job at the beginning of the book. Farther along into the story, he realizes that burning books and destroying knowledge is not only wrong, but fatal to others and his own understanding of the world. He now recognizes that by depriving a generation of history, religion, etc., he has aided in the “numbing” of his people to such an extent that original thoughts are nonexistent, cares of anything besides having
fun are ludicrous, and concern for others’ well-being is completely absent from society. Early on in the book Montag has a conversation with his new neighbor where he states that he will “never wash [the smell of kerosene] off completely” (4). Symbolically this could mean that Montag’s job is so dynamic, or perhaps heinous, that the “venomous kerosene” (1) has stained his personality, and possibly his soul. He will never shake the memories nor the reputation of being a book burner.
fun are ludicrous, and concern for others’ well-being is completely absent from society. Early on in the book Montag has a conversation with his new neighbor where he states that he will “never wash [the smell of kerosene] off completely” (4). Symbolically this could mean that Montag’s job is so dynamic, or perhaps heinous, that the “venomous kerosene” (1) has stained his personality, and possibly his soul. He will never shake the memories nor the reputation of being a book burner.