Symbolism of hands

1. Symbolism of hands By:Mihai Untea, Mark Witthuhn, Jessica T., Ryan M.

2. Text references • “ She opened the fingers of one hand and held a slender object, an ordinary kitchen match. (Bradbury 39) • “When disaster seemed positive he pulled his hands from his pockets and broke his fall by grasping the brass pole.” (Bradbury 4) • “His hands had been infected , and soon it would be his arms.” (Bradbury 41)

3. Symbolism • The symbolic meaning of hands in this novel could be the difference between life and death. They can be portrayed as protectors or aggressors. We say this because in one situation they save and help Montag not fall and in the other shows how she is holding the match and lights it with her hand which causes her death.

4. Literal Meaning • Hands grab, touch and feel things. • the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.( dictionary Definition )

5. Question #3 • When Montag first describes kerosene to Clarisse he said, “Its like a perfume to me” and “you can never wash it off completely” (Bradbury 6 ). At the end of section one he says “last night I thought about all the kerosene I used in the past ten years. And thought about all the books, and for the first time I realized that there was a man behind each one of those books” ( Bradbury 51-52 ). Montag is a dynamic character because he is changing his views on society and on his job. He no longer thinks the same way he used to, and this is shown by the way that his views on kerosene have changed.