Fahrenheit 451 1

Juliah
Laemmer
Laemmer 1
Mrs. Cramer
College Composition 1
11 November 2016
Fahrenheit 451- The Temperature That Burns Knowledge
Every society has standards. In other words, each society has a set of social norms that
pressure the people in it to oblige to what is customary. For example, as soon as the new iPhone
comes out everyone is compelled to get it. This is due to the observation that in Americas
modern society, new is cool. This concept is observed in the modern world and creates the
backbone of plots in literature. Fahrenheit 451, a science fiction novel written by Ray Bradbury,
revolves around this principle in his bleak depiction of America's future. Bradburys depiction
creates a dystopia, which is defined by strict control and limited freedom. The social taboo in this
book, ironically, is the reading of books. Bradbury created the character Guy Montag, who is
referred to throughout the book by his last name. Montag is a fireman, not a firefighter. The
firemen create fires to burn the books, instead of diminishing flames. Montag challenges this
corrupt dystopia by stealing books in a trek to solve the reasons behind his unhappiness. Overall,
in Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury uses symbolism to initiate the rising action and to complete the
resolution.
To begin, Montag is introduced to his first symbol early in the book. As Montag is
coming home from a normal day on the job, drenched in the stench of kerosene, when he comes
to a stop. This is when he meets an unfamiliar face, a new neighbor. They proceed to speak as the
night carries on. This person, Clarisse McClellan, represents the symbol beginning the rising
action. Clarisse, a seventeen-year-old, makes Montag think. This simple action sets the rising
action in motion. Clarisse lives as an outcast of Bradburys depiction of Americas future society.
She enjoys hiking, playing outside, and doesnt go to school. Most importantly, her curiosity and
Laemmer 2
ability to ask questions sets her apart from other kids. As Clarisse and Montag's conversation
comes to an end and Clarisse is half way up her walkway, she turns again to Montag, as if she
remembered something. She says, "Are you happy?"(10) Before he had time to process what she
had asked, she had already gone into her house. First Montag says to himself, "Of course I'm
happy."(10) However, this is followed by contradicting thoughts, causing Montag to ponder if he
is really happy and what the reason may be. Clarisse symbolizes a guardian angel to Montag. Her
purpose is to make Montag question himself in order to break free from societys taboo of books
in order for him to become his own person. After Clarisse has done what is necessary to put him
in motion, she is excluded physically in the book; Clarisse dies. Clarisses absence makes
Montag even more proactive. This is because Montag wishes to avenge her death by finding
answers to the questions she asked him. Conclusively, Montag begins to search for his reason of
unhappiness, which was emphasized by the death of Clarisse. Perhaps, the answer lay in the
books which are deemed illegal.
Transitioning from the beginning of the book to the end, Bradbury uses the Phoenix as an
object of symbolism to complete the resolution. To summarize, Montag gets caught with his
books, the most important of which is the last known copy of The Holy Bible. He kills Captain
Beatty and is chased due to his crime of possessing books by the hound, a mechanical dog that is
nearly impossible to escape. While Montag is on the move to escape, Faber, a professor who
helps Montag with his books, tells him where to find refuge. This haven is with a group of
intellectuals trying to preserve the knowledge of the old world, waiting until society will
encourage people to think again. Each intellectual has a book memorized. For example, select
intellectuals carry works from Plato, Charles Darwin, Schopenhauer, Einstein, Thomas Jefferson
and more historical masterminds. The media eventually gives up their hunt for Montag and
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captures a random loner to give the people closure. After this, the city is bombed. The head of the
group, Granger, gazed into the fire and said, "Phoenix."(163) The Phoenix, a mythological
creature, combusts and is then rebirthed. The Phoenix combusting can be compared the city that
was bombed and destroyed. After the intellectuals are sure its safe, they begin their trek towards
the city. Once the intellectuals arrive, the rebirth of the city occurs. Montag, carrying the
knowledge of The Holy Bible, tries to think of a way to make the trip to the city easier, and he
remembers an exact quote from the book. Previously, Montag had only known that he had read
The Holy Bible and was unsure of his abilities to recite it. Granger assures him that nothing is
lost, and it will come when he needs it. As it turns out, Montag needs the knowledge of The Holy
Bible to recover from the traumatic experience of the cities demolition. Accordingly, Montag had
recollected his knowledge of The Holy Bible. This occurrence reincarnated Montag as a true
intellectual and recovered him from the traumatic experience of the aftermath. Thus, the Phoenix
symbolizes the rebirth of society, as well as, the reincarnation of Montag and concludes
Fahrenheit 451.
To conclude, Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, uses symbolism to put the plot
into motion, and to end it. Without Clarisse asking Montag questions to set him in motion as his
guardian angel, he would have never begun to think. If Montag would have never been
encouraged to explore the reasons for his unhappiness, he wouldn't have taken a book. This leads
to Montag learning and thinking, beginning his trek to happiness. Also, The Phoenixs never
ending life cycle of combustion and rebirth symbolizes the cities devastation and pending
revival, along with Montags reincarnation as an intellectual. As Ray Bradbury stated and
Montag exemplified, We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how
to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

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