Against the System in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

In the book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag struggles within himself over two compelling ambitions: whether to be in conformity like the rest of the society he lives in or rebel against the government.
Montag scuffles between whether to follow his society’s standards or revolt against the government. At first, the author expresses how Montag used to think that he was content by burning books as his job when Bradbury says, “Montag grinned the fierce grin of all men singed and driven back by flame. . . . It never went away, that smile, it never ever went away, as long as he remembered” (part 1, page 4). This shows how Montag carried his grin like a mask with sedulity. As a fireman, Montag had to burn books because they are considered illegal since they make people knowledgeable. . Montag follows one of the society’s standards by being an obedient servant to the government, not questioning why he had to burn books, and always carrying a locked in smile after he finishes with burning books, which  in that society  is something that he is expected to do all the time. Later, when Montag saw an old woman burn herself along with her books instead of giving up her books, he realizes that there is something special about books. Instead of remaining stoic like the other fireman in that scene, Montag steals a book when the author says, “Montag's hand closed like a mouth, crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest” (1, 37). Without much thought, Montag caught a book in the woman’s home and hid it inside his coat. Even though Montag mindlessly stole the book, this distinguished Montag from the rest of the society. This act shows that an unforeseen force drives Montag and seems to be curious ...

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...make all people equal. . Montag believed that books, free thought, and activities should be accepted so that people would not continue to be ignorant. Montag’s renegade acts prove him a hero in this dystopian society.
Being a renegade in a utopian society could make someone seem like an anarchist in hopes of causing chaos but in a dystopian society, rebelling could make someone seem like the hero revolutionist in hopes of a better place. When Montag burned the fire captain, Beatty, it illuminates how he was able to see through a corrupt society because he was able to recognize that books were important. He was a hero because he was one of the few people willing to stand up against the burning of books. Montag knew the importance of books and was willing to fight for them even though it meant that he had to go against the system in order to do what he feels is right.