Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Essay Example

In reading the novel, I would say that the author created the characters and different plots that occur in the story in such a way that one would be able to see the different perspectives of those involved in the book burning activity. In its first chapter, “The Hearth & the Salamander,” the author introduces the character of Guy Montag, the protagonist, who is a fireman authorized to burn anything that belonged to people who had access to outlawed books. With this power, Montag thought he was happy until he meets Clarisse, a liberal and free-spirited neighbor who makes him start re-thinking what he does for a living and if all that he does is worth it (The Complete Guide).

One instance where Montag starts to doubt his perceived happiness would be the passage that said, “So it was the hand that started it all . . . His hands had been infected, and soon it would be his arms . . . His hands were ravenous” (Bradbury 19). This refers to his theft of books from an old woman’s house which he covers up, describing it to be an involuntary body reflex he does not have control of. At first, he claims this poison that allows him to steal books spreads from his hands to his arms and soon takes over his whole body, which he uses to rationalize the bigger and more serious crimes he commits.

In analyzing Montag’s character, I would say that the author uses strong symbolism to reflect certain philosophies that were imminent during that historical era. One would be Montag’s hand.. One would be Montag’s hand which is a symbol of his search for truth. As Montag considers his hand to be a poison, it is also a constant reminder of the guilt brought about by burning books, which leads him to doubting his motivations for allowing his hand, a small part of his body, to rule over his entire life (“SparkNotes: Fahrenheit 451”).

Relating this era when the book burning activity was rampant in the United States to the protagonist’s character, I would say that the author gives us the perspective of those people such as Montag who are seen to defy the society’s right to unbiased information. Here, the author tries to expose the possible motivations that people such as Montag have for committing a crime against the whole of society, such as the harmless desire to be able to support one’s family and provide security even when it entails going against their beliefs.

Another interesting character in the story would be Beatty, the antagonist, who is described as being knowledgeable about literature and ideologies. He is the captain of the firemen who knows very well the business Montag and he himself are in. The dialog of Beatty saying, “We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal,” is an important line toward the end of “The Hearth and the Salamander” as this poses an irony he experiences out of their job of book burning to stop the dissemination of ideas and yet wanting to defend the equalization of society, each having equal rights to know (Bradbury 28).

This once again allows readers to have another perspective of those being considered a disdain in society as those such as Montag