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Fahrenheit 451 Analysis
Guy Montag • A fireman and the book's protagonist. As the novel opens, Montag takes pride in burning books and the homes of people who illegally own books. After meeting Clarisse McClellan, however, he begins to face his growing dissatisfaction with his life, his job, his marriage, and the pleasure-seeking, unthinking culture in which he lives. In fact, he has been secretly hoarding books, without actually reading them. After Clarisse's death, he eventually begins to read the books. From that point on, there's no turning back, and Montag begins to take action against his oppressive society.
Montag’s Identity Crisis: Early • “It was a pleasure to burn. • It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with the great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history.” • “it {kerosene} is nothing but perfume to me.”
Montag’s Identity Crisis • "his body divide itself […], the two halves grinding one upon the other." • Montag imagines that his new, rebellious half isn't him at all, but is actually Clarisse. When he speaks, he imagines her talking through his mouth. • Later, when Faber ends up inside Montag's head via the earpiece, we see more confusion of identity. Montag even distances himself from his own hands, which in his mind are the dirty culprits breaking all the rules. (Guilt) • Thinking (Happiness, Books)
Clarisse McClellan • She prefers to walk, engage in conversation, observe the natural world, and observe people. Her questioning, free spirit starts Montag thinking about his own life and his place in society. • “He saw himself in her eyes, suspended in two shining drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny, in fine detail, the lines about his mouth, everything there, as if her eyes were two miraculous bits of violet amber that might capture and hold him intact. Her face, turned to him now, was fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it. It was not the hysterical light of electricity but- what? But the strangely comfortable and rare and gentle flattering light of the candle.”
Clarisse McClellan • Mildred’s Foil • “Are you happy?” -serves as the catalyst that impels Montag toward a painful but necessary self-examination. • Her Christian name is based on the Latin adjective clarus, which means "clearly". It may be understod as a telling name referring both to her outward appearance and to her character. • Her terrible death underscores the rampant dehumanization of society and the resulting random acts of violence.
Faber • A former English professor who describes himself as a coward because he did not act to try to change the direction in which society was headed. He uses a two-way radio to direct Montag through situations in which he is too frightened to place himself. He provides a counterpoint to Beatty's arguments against literature and thought. Faber is named after a famous publisher (Faber & Faber) and a brand of pencils.
Captain Beatty • Familiar with the Bible “Tower of Babel”
Captain Beatty • Beatty as a paradox? • Paradox: A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself and still seems true somehow. Fancy that. Everyday examples include, "Nobody goes to the restaurant because it's too crowded.“ • Paradoxes in literature are often less about logical conundrums and more about illuminating meaning. While paradoxes may seem totally contradictory, literary paradoxes are often totally true at the same time.
Allusions • An allusion is a reference to a mythological, Biblical, literary, or historical person, place, or thing or any reference to another work of literature. • Allusions are usually brief and passing. • Allusions can enrich our reading of one text by causing us to think about another text.
Tower of Babel • “Where’s your common sense? None of these books agree with each other. You’ve been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel. Snap out of it!” –Captain Beatty • His mention of the Tower of Babel is an allusion to a story in the Bible. • In the Old Testament book of Genesis, everyone spoke one language. The people built a huge tower, trying to get to heaven. God realized they needed to be restrained from accomplishing so much. He confused, or mixed up, their language so that everyone spoke different languages. • Mention of the Tower of Babel now means confusion and corruption of language, the disagreement between different languages, or the inability to communicate. • What do you think Beatty meant by saying this to the woman?
"Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." • This quotation refers to Hugh Latimer, the leading English reformer of the sixteenth century and Nicholas Ridley, Anglican bishop: they refused to recognize Roman Catholic doctrine and therefore were burnt alive for heresy in 1555. In a similar way the old woman refuses to sacrifice her views; therefore her death puts Montag's development into motion: she becomes a candle which will last him the rest of his life (cf. p. 51). The analogy between the fate of the reformers and that of the old woman is quite obvious.
Censorship • "Bigger the population, the more minorities. Don't step on the toes of the dog lovers, the cat lovers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, chiefs, Mormons, Baptists, Unitarians, second-generation Chinese, Swedes, Italians, Germans, Texans, Brooklynites, Irishmen, people from Oregon or Mexico. The people in this book, this play, this TV serial are not meant to represent any actual painters, cartographers, mechanics anywhere. The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that!... Authors, full of evil thoughts, lock up your typewriters. They did."
