The Metamorphosis of Guy Montag Essay - 2120 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. Bradbury’s character development is singularly impressive in this book because he shows the evolution of the main character, 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†¦show more content†¦Montag’s first reaction is to laugh off Clarisse’s questions; he seems uneasy with the thought of reading. His emotions and laughing reaction reveal his nervousness around a young girl, who can so easily challenge the values that he has followed all his life. Clarisse is also important because she awakens Montag to the natural world. She asks him if he knew there was a man on the moon, or if he knew what it means when a dandelion rubs off on a chin. Clarisse is the one who introduces Bradbury’s theme that â€Å"[n]ature is good and technology is bad† (Huntington 113). Clarisse lets Montag experience freedom from his society because â€Å"[t]he novel expresses this vision of freedom with images of sentimentalized nature† (Huntington 112). She leaves him feeling that something in Montag’s world has changed, that â€Å"[h]e was not happy†¦[h]e wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask† (Bradbury 12). Montag can no longer accept the world the way it is, and thus, either he, or it, must change. He then comes home to his wife, Mildred, to find her near death from a suicide attempt. Montag watches as two employees use a sinister machine to purge his wife of the poison. Montag sees the machine as â€Å"black cobra†, and he wonders if â€Å"it suck[s] out all the poisons accumulated with the years† (Bradbury 14).Show MoreRelatedThe Metamorphosis of Guy Montag Essay2184 Words   |  9 Pagesdevelopment. 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 to his maturation and acceptance into a society of like-minded booklovers. Read 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