The Metamorphosis of Guy Montag Essay - 2184 Words

Ray Bradbury originally wrote his novel, Fahrenheit 451, as an indictment against the censorship evident during the McCarthy era of America, and it has since become one of the few modern science fiction books that can be considered a classic. The adulation of this novel is due to its plethora of symbols, metaphors, and character development. Bradburys character development is singularly impressive in this book because he shows the evolution of the main character, Guy Montag, from book-burner to living-book (Johnson 111). His maturity is displayed by his growing understanding of the world in which he lives and by seeing the flaws in his society. Bradbury illustrates Montags metamorphosis with him changing from a mindless burning drone†¦show more content†¦(Watt 41). Bradbury reinforces this contrast by causing Mildred to relate only to the subject of herself, while Clarisses favorite subject is other people. When Montag meets the Mechanical Hound, he discovers that it is a de ad beast, [a] living beast (Bradbury 24). Donald Watt describes it as a striking and sinister gadget and it is most terrifying for being both alive and not alive (41; Huntington 113). The Hound becomes Montags particular mechanical enemyÂ…[and it] becomes more suspicious of him as time passes and Montag develops a greater freedom from his society (Johnson 112). Thus, Montag is thrust into the realization that his culture is not flawless, but instead is rife with abuses of human freedoms. The final catalyst that convinces Montag that creativity is not to be destroyed is his last job as a fireman. He is taken to an old womans house, and he finds hundreds of books that fell like slaughtered birds when the suddenly odious firefighters walked among them (Bradbury 35-6). Montag feels the womans presence in the house; he feels her accusations, and he suddenly feels guilty about his actions. The firefighters pour kerosene on all the books, and when they are ready to set the blaze, the woman will refuses to leave her library. Instead she lights a matchShow MoreRelated The Metamorphosis of Guy Montag Essay2120 Words   |  9 Pagescharacter, Guy Montag, â€Å"from book-burner to living-book† (Johnson 111). His maturity is displayed by his growing understanding of the world in which he lives and by seeing the flaws in his society. Bradbury illustrates Montag’s metamorphosis with him changing from a mindless burning drone to his maturation and acceptance into a society of like-minded booklovers. The first words of Bradbury’s novel state, â€Å"it was a pleasure to burn† (Bradbury 3). These words sum up the beginning character of Montag; heRead MoreFahrenheit 451; 3 Characters That Helped Montag Change790 Words   |  4 PagesFahrenheit 451: 3 characters who helped Montag change into a different person People’s actions and their individual perceptions can influence and develop change in another person’s character. In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, makes a complete metamorphosis with the help from his neighbor Clarisse, his wife Mildred, and his boss Beatty. In the beginning of the novel, he despised the whole idea of reading, had no thoughts or questions about his life, and was justRead MoreFahrenheit 4511345 Words   |  6 Pagesthe protagonist, Guy Montag. At first, Montag takes pleasure in his profession as a fireman, burning illegally owned books and the homes of their owners. However, Montag soon begins to question the value of his profession and, in turn, his life. He begins to wonder why some people are willing to sacrifice their lives to keep their books. In a society where censorship and restrictions are in force, always a few people will resist this control and seek to find the answers. Montag becomes one of theseRead M oreFahrenheit 451 Essay - Montags Change of Heart1604 Words   |  7 Pages1 Aaron Mrs. MacDonald ENG 2D April 24, 2012 Guy Montag’s Change of Heart People always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. This is the case as well in Fahrenheit 451, the novel, written by Ray Bradbury, is the story that follows a normal man, Guy Montag, who lived a normal life in his civilization post apocalptic as a fireman. Although where he is from, it is not a fireman’s duty to put out fires, but rather to burn books. It is because of his profession heRead MoreFahrenheit 451 - Power of Books1470 Words   |  6 PagesTHE POWER OF BOOKS ESSAY Guy Montag’s â€Å"crime against society†, was that he understood the power of books. Fahrenheit 451 (1953), written by Ray Bradbury depicts a dystopian society which, due to the absence of books, discourages intellect and punishes free-will. As receptacles of knowledge, books give human beings a unique power, as they encourage and nurture intellect and understanding. The intellectual metamorphosis that Montag undergoes renders him aware of this fact, making him anRead MoreAnalysis Of Fahrenheit 451 During The Cold War2348 Words   |  10 PagesAndrea Aggarao Mrs.Thunell English II Honors 7 April 2016 Guy Montag’s Transformation Throughout Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury wrote his novel, Fahrenheit 451, during the Cold War. Although he initially wanted to warn people about the danger that technology can greatly affect a society and community for the worst, Bradbury s novel was interpreted as commentary for censorship at the time he was writing the novel. His use of many examples of reality was thought to emphasize this point. Even so, theRead MoreFire Does More Than Burn1943 Words   |  8 PagesSet in the 24th century, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of Guy Montag. At first Montag loves his job as a fireman, burning illegally owned books and the homes of their owners. However, Montag soon begins to question the value of his profession and. Throughout the novel Montag struggles with his existence, eventually running from his oppressive, censored society and joining an underground network of intellectuals. With his new friends, Montag witnesses the destruction of his city and dedicates himself