Characteristics Of Montag In Fahrenheit 451

Many characters experience different characteristics throughout a novel. This is true for Guy Montag in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451. Montag is the protagonist in a world that is very unique. The setting of Fahrenheit 451 is one that brings out the ultimate traits in each character, and one that tests the limits of ones thoughts. In Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury portrays Guy Montag as a protagonist, skeptical, and dynamic in this dystopian society. It’s the twenty-forth century; Fahrenheit 451 introduces a world where firemen start fires rather than putting them out. A population that has been banned to read books and to enjoy the outside nature but instead encouraged to watch excessive amounts of television. Bradybury introduces Guy

Montag throughout the novel reads books. This is seen as very rebellious because books are banned in this society. Books were banned during this time because society didn’t want to promote creativity and freethinking. “Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them at all” (Beatty). Instead Bradbury wanted to create a controlled environment that did not have any of these social benefits. Secondly, Montag killed his boss after escaping his job and the imprisoned city. This is seen as rebellious because Montag then became a fugitive and a threat to society. Finally, Montag on several occasions stole books when he was working. This, for the same reasons as reading, is very rebellious. As mentioned before, books are banned in this society and stealing them as a firefighter is a serious

In the beginning of the novel Montag never questioned the burning of the books finding it ridiculous for anyone who did. Further along, Montag is exposed to new ideas and starts to question this ban and ultimately fights against it. He becomes a central figure in the questioning of the purpose of the book ban. Guy Montag meets Clarisse McClellan, the outcast from society. Talking with his neighbor McClellan makes Montag question his job, becoming even more skeptical. For Montag, the simple skepticism of the book ban was transformed into ultimate doubt on his purpose in this society. Therefore, Montag is then curious to know why books are banned from the society, and what they might have to offer. ”And for the first time I realized that a man was behind each one of the books. A man had to think them up. A man had to take a long time to put them down on paper. And I’d never even thought that thought before” (Montag). While trying to find this conclusion, Montag is a major skeptic to societies rules, and his purpose within this