Images, Symbols and Symbolism in Fahrenheit 451

Images and Symbols of Fahrenheit 451

Imagine a future in which all books are banned and censored in an attempt to keep the human race from thinking for themselves. Such a lifestyle is depicted in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. This frightening world is one in which people are controlled by the government in every way. A number of restrictions are placed upon the people of this society. One of which is the prohibition of the possession and/or reading of literature. The firemen of this time are paid not to protect citizens from the danger of fires, but to burn all books to ashes. One fireman, by the name of Montag is (opened up to the ways of a life)<THIS IS VAUGE BE MORE SPECIFIC> in which people read, think, and live freely.

Bradbury uses poetic devices throughout the novel to paint vivid images. Two of these poetic IMAGES are the use of fire and water WHICH portray different meanings. Bradbury refers to fire and its purpose on a number of occasions. To the firemen, fire symbolizes purification through the burning of books. This is ironic since such an act usually denotes destruction. Captain Beatty, chief of the fire department, believes that "fire is bright and fire is clean."(60) This belief develops when he explains to Montag the reasoning behind burning books. The reader is at this time given an image of Beatty, his character, and his way of thinking. In one instance, the flames were used to cleanse the fire department of its evils by its elimination of the chief. In this case, "Montag shot one continuous pulse of liquid fire on [Beatty]" until "he was a shrieking blaze, a jumping, sprawling gibbering mannikin, no longer human or known, all writhing flame on the lawn."(119) A picture is created in the mind of the reader showing how Montag finally stands up for what he believes is right. Furthermore, when Montag set his own house ablaze, he undergoes an uncommon emotional experience in which he views the fire as a new starting point. The fire signifies Montag sterilizing his life by burning his house and "he felt himself gush out in the fire, snatch, rend, rip in half with flame, and put away the senseless problem."(116) This captures Montag in a stage of anger and frustration after his wife has left him and his chief is ready to arrest him.