Fahrenheit 451 Character Analysis

Fahrenheit 451, a book by Ray Bradbury, takes place in an unnamed American city during 2053. This city is full of ‘drone-like’ citizens that make the mood of this book dark and depressing. Every citizen is this way because of their full attention being given towards technological devices. The devices included within this story are television sets, ear buds, and a machine that does blood diffusions. The reason the author sets his story in this time is because he likes to set his book 100 years in the future from when he wrote them.
A well, thought out part of this book is the characters. Guy Montag, the protagonist and main character, is around 30-years-old in good health and condition. He is a very confident and unique person. “‘I’ll

hold onto the world tight some day. I’ve got one finger on it now; that’s a beginning’” (155 ). This shows Montag’s determination when revolting against the government. Mildred, however, is his wife that is weak and gives up very easily. She is a good example of a ‘drone-like’ citizen. Someone that has people wondering in both the real world and Bradbury’s is Clarisse, Montag’s new neighbor. She is a 17-year-old girl that loves nature and asks many questions which persuades Montag to stand up for people, unlike Mildred who won’t realize the joy their world contains. It all starts when Montag is asked, “‘Are you happy?” (7) by Clarisse.
This story has some extremely exciting events once you read deeper in the story.

It starts off where Montag is asked the question I mentioned on page 7. Beyond that point, Montag questions himself and becomes smarter. As a result, Montag starts reading books, which if you don’t already know is illegal. After hiding books he owns he eventually shows his wife who is uninterested and later reports it. This causes Montag to burn his own house with a flamethrower and actually burns his boss, Captain Beatty, due to the fact that Montag simply can’t stand his taunts. Before you know it, Montag finds himself in a manhunt with a mechanical hound and helicopters after him. Guy escapes and meets a band of rebels. A bomb drops on the city and they go back to find nothing but ruins, for that is what I think they’ll

find.
The main conflict this book contains is Man vs. Society. One way you can tell is by the way the citizens are taken by technology. The government’s plan in this situation is to consume their attention to technology so much that they just have no time to think about what’s important causing the government to be in full control regarding any possible threats. The citizens definitely can’t think without books anyway. Society’s biggest problem is the way death spreads like wildfire. “‘We get these cases nine or ten a night”’ (13). This quote was whenever Mildred had attempted suicide by an overdose on sleeping pills. It shows that others try suicide because the way the world is in their point of view when they realize there is simply no purpose to live any longer. Beatty wanted to die as well if you had read towards the end. “In the middle of crying Montag knew it for the truth. Beaty had wanted to die” (116). It is clearly stated in the text.
Many believe it is safe to say that there was no real ending to conflicts within this book. Mine was one in which the only useful task we can do is provide an accurate resolution. After the bomb dropped on the city and the rebels arrived they would have searched for survivors. If it was a nuclear explosion their chances of finding at least 1 would be very low. They would have no way to communicate with others, besides people within their group, and would require food and water or else they would die in about 3 days to 3 weeks. The morale appears to be to the final event of the conflict, a bomb strike, is that war never changes.
The theme of this book is rebellion.

Throughout the story Montag gains a sense of sincere understanding revolving around dominance and superiority. Everyone can confirm this when he kills Beatty because beyond that point he is really in charge and people will wonder, what is a firefighter without a captain? You can estimate Beaty’s death when Montag says to himself, “‘I’m going to do something, ‘said Montag. ‘I don’t even know what yet, but I’m going to do something big’” (62). Beyond this event, Guy will team up with Faber, a retired English professor that is currently retired, so they can change the way the government reacts and behaves. Faber understands what will happen whenever he states, ‘“The salamander devours his own tail!’”

(82)
Overall this book was worth the time used for reading. If you want a book full of adventure and wonder this is your book. I liked this book due to the fact that it was very similar to the way the world is now, corrupted and controlled. This provided much entertainment to my humor. In my opinion, this book had an awful ending because there was simply not an ending. I understand that using your imagination would help create one, Bradbury, but the reason a person reads a book is for the author’s imagination. However, Bradbury has taught me that you shouldn’t waste your time on simple machines like Mildred who even states, “‘How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall-TV put in?”’ (180) She was so obsessed that she just wanted more and more which really would not help at all. Don’t screw up like her, live your life to the fullest.