Symbols in Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Since no one can definitely “know” what the future offers, the future represents the beauty of hope. Several writers explore the future through science fiction. One of the most distinguished and prolific writers of science fiction is Ray Bradbury. Although the setting of his famous novel, Fahrenheit 451, is in some future time, the society shown in this setting seems sadly stark, almost hopeless. In a world pervaded with mindless, hedonistic, and destructive individuals, intellect, morality, and creativity have all but vanished. However, three important symbols in this cautionary tale reinforce the inextinguishable, fiery power of knowledge. Three crucial symbols in the novel are the sieve, the hound, and fire.

Early in his life, Guy Montag, the protagonist of the novel flashes back to a painful memory of a childhood challenge with a sieve. As a child, Montag had accepted the challenge from a cousin to try to fill a sieve with sand for a prize of a dime. Too young to realize the futility of this task, as a hopeful child, he toiled for hours in the sun until he cried in despairing defeat. The childish memories of defeat are triggered by Montag’s frustrating adult experiences with reading. As the commercials blared on the public transportation rail, Montag tried to interpret, collect, and grasp the words he read from the Bible, and as he read, “…the silly thought came to him, if you read fast and read all, maybe some of the sand will stay in the sieve. But he read and the words fell through…” (78). In this early reading effort, each word, phrase, or sentence slipped from his mind in much the same way the sands of his childhood had slipped through the sieve. This allegorical flashback demonstrates both the frustration and deter...

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...a burning bright light, leading Montag to safety like a beacon of illumination signaling from a lighthouse. Fire becomes a warming hearth around which people gather to share their stories.

Ironically, Montag eventually realizes that the grains of sandy words he had felt slipping through the holes of his mind had actually stayed with him becoming kindling that ignited memories and imagination. He simply needed to escape the heat of his fiery, destructive environment. In this new place, without kerosene perfume, fire even smelled differently. Fire could enable Montag to discover a world in which men could befriend other men and even other creatures, a world in which fires could indeed burn blazing, bright flames of hope to lead men out of the primitive caves of their ignorance.

Work Cited

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982.