Fahrenheit 451 Quote Analysis

In the exposition of the novel, Montag is mindless about the power books hold, due to the government's lack in intellectual information provided, and begins to question the ruling of his society. Montag begins to face concurrent external conflicts, the first external conflict begins as a result of a difference of belief and loss of love between Montag and his wife Mildred. Montag feels unwanted and unloved as he finds his inner courage to reveal his true feelings and rebellious ideas to his wife Mildred when Bradbury writes, “When he was done he looked down upon some twenty books lying at his wife’s feet… Mildred backed away as if she were suddenly confronted by a pack of mice.” (Bradbury 63). This quote demonstrates Mildred’s shocked response

at the sight of the banned books, proving to the readers that she wishes to stick with the ideas provided from the government, and has no further intention to pursue a rebellion with Montag. The influence from the government and the rest of society is causing Mildred to forget about the main power hidden in knowledge.

During the Initiation, Montag transforms into a citizen with mixed ideas about the government's complete overrule.

He soon realizes the problems created by burning books, and now finds it hard to reveal his true feelings about the situation. Montag now faces a new external conflict brought upon him by his fire captain Beatty, as he attempts to keep his books and feelings a secret. After seeing a women willingly commit suicide to prevent her from losing her books, Montag begins to reason to himself that books have to hold some power. Captain Beatty, now suspicious about Montag's actions, comes over to Montag in order to teach him a lesson. Beatty claims to know about the history of firemen and explains to Montag more about the downsides of books stating, “I’ve had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing!” (Bradbury 58). This quote depicts Beatty, the antagonist of the story, trying to convince Montag that books are dangerous to his society, and can lead to its downfall. Montag though is now set on his new perspective on books and the way of life, which reminds him of his neighbor Clarisse who helped Montag open his eyes to a new world full of possibilities. He suddenly decides to quit his job of a fireman, and live his life solely on gaining knowledge and books, supporting the theme of knowledge versus the influence of

others.

Toward the end of the novel Montag’s transition is close to complete, as he now becomes final with his decision to rebel against the government's current standings and gain the knowledge that is oppressed by the government. Montag is faced with one of his last conflicts, this one external, between the Mechanical Hound and the rest of society as he is now a highly wanted fugitive. A chase by the hound after Montag’s latest murder causes him to flee to the river in order to escape from it’s grasps. Montag suddenly realizes that this was nothing fictional but actually reality as, “He could feel the Hound, like autumn, come cold and dry and swift, like a wind that didn’t stir grass…”(Bradbury 130). The Mechanical Hound was the government's way to keep control over everyone in their society, and they are completely fine with murdering one of their citizens just in order to keep their power. Montag rebellion has caused him to flee from his normal society, but he crosses paths with other men who help Montag complete his transition into his new self. Montag and the other men are willing to get rid of the influence from others in their lives in order to receive necessary knowledge.