Guy Montag: Finding Truth

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There is evidence that the Egyptians and the Romans, both cultures of the ancient world, organized the first firefighting groups. Ever since then, the sole goal of a firefighter is to save life, property, and the environment. However, this is not the case in Ray Bradbury’s science fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451. In Fahrenheit 451 the nice community, firemen are transformed into a futuristic squad of law enforcers. Their new job is to search and burn books, as well as the locations at which they are found. This act of book burning is an attempt to keep society and its residence equal and happy. Though, when a person is trapped within a society that regulates their behavior, thoughts, and opinions, they are unable to understand the corrupt nature of their society. However, there is always one individual who is willing and capable of uncovering the truth. This individual is Guy Montag. Guy Montag, a fireman, is able to find truth by forming illegal friendships, rebelling against society to acquire knowledge, and finding flaws within the society. Therefore, through the character of Guy Montag, Ray Bradbury reveals the message that censorship, in fact, does not control society, but it prompts people to rebel.

Ray Bradbury first reveals this message when Montag meets Clarisse McClellan. It is after burning a house full of books that they meet. Clarisse is a seventeen year old neighbor, who likes to talk about the world around her. In the brief conversation between Montag and Clarisse, Clarisse questions his job and his purpose in life. Left in disbelief, Montag keeps thinking of what Clarisse said before she vanished into the “moon light”. He confirmed “of course I’m happy. What does she think? I’m not? He asked the quiet room” (Bra...

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...r rights and lead others to victory.

Work Cited

Beasley, Liz, ed. "Fahrenheit 451." Student's Encyclopedia of American Literary Characters. Ed.

Matthew J. Bruccoli and Judith S. Baughman. Vol. 1. New York: Facts on File, 2008. 112-14. Print. A-F.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.

Eller, Edward E. "Fahrenheit 451." Ed. Diane Telgen. Novels for Students. Vol. 1. New York:

Gale, 1997. 149-59. Print.

Mogen, David. "Fahrenheit 451 as Social Criticism." In Ray Bradbury. Twayne Publishers,

1986. Quoted as "Fahrenheit 451 as Social Criticism" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Fahrenheit

451, Bloom's Guide. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2007.

Touponce, William F. Ray Bradbury and the Poetics of Reverie: Fantasy, Science

Fiction, and the Reader. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Research Press, 1984.

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