Censorship and Unhappiness: Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

A Hero is about a person who is admired for their courageous acts, the nobility of character, and admired for his or her brave deeds. The novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, introduces Guy Montag, who lacks heroic attributes. Bradbury shows a variety of precedent that conveys Montag’s transition toward anti-heroism, such as being self-centered or greedy, he acts recklessly, and triggers his emotions. These are some of the character traits and deeds that Ray Bradbury is trying to convey about Montag not being a hero.  This topic we will research in our essay 'Censorship and Unhappiness: Fahrenheit 451 analysis'.

One of the reasons used in the novel portrays the overall message that Montag is not a hero, he is being greedy. He shows a desire for something that leads him through being self-centered. His job is a fireman who burns books, books were considered illegal in society. Firstly, Montag infringes the law as he steals the book and keeps for himself. The curiosity builds up with Montag as he read the line 'Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine'. As he became curious “His hands had done it all…in each trembling finger, had turned thief”. This explains that because of his own curiosity he infringes the law and steals the book for his own knowledge. Secondly, Montag places the books in the kitchen of his fellow fireman’s house to take revenge. According to Montag, “Mrs. Black, are you asleep in there? He thought. This isn’t good, but your husband did it to others…And now since you’re a fireman’s wife, it’s your house your turn, for all the houses your husband burned and the people he hurt without thinking”. Seeking for revenge is not a solution to correct the wrong deeds of someone. Montag involved the fireman’s wife just because her husband did an atrocious action. Montag shows how eager he is to take revenge for the wrongdoings of his fellow firemen. Lastly, Montag escapes for his mistakes. Indeed, Montag is self-centered when he thinks of his own safety. Another example is, “He ran out away from the last row of houses, on a slope leading down to a solid moving blackness…He was moving from an unreality that was frightening into a reality that was unreal because it was new”. Montag escapes from his mistakes instead of facing them. In conclusion, Montag’s greediness leads him to cause actions that will eventually put him and society in danger.

Not only does Montag’s greediness make him not a hero, but so does his reckless act. Montag acts recklessly where he does not think of his actions toward other people. First of all, Montag recklessly read the poem “Dover Beach” out loud, “There were people in the suction train but he held the book in his hands and the silly thought came to him if you read fast and read all…But he read and the worlds fell through…”. Montag recklessly read the poem although he knew that reading books are prohibited. Secondly, Montag recklessly stole books because of his curiosity. For example, “He dropped the book. Immediately, another fell into his arm”. During this action, Montag recklessly stole the book from the old woman’s house due to his curiosity. Lastly, Montag’s actions affect the entire society by putting the whole nation in danger. For example, “Through the aluminum wall, he heard a radio voice saying, “War has been declared”. This explains that Montag’s actions cause the entire society to be in trouble and there will be a lot of people who will suffer. In conclusion, taking action without thinking can cause harm or worse pain from other people. Montag acts recklessly without thinking for the consequences of his actions. Montag does things in a rash and incautious manner.

Montag’s eagerness to learn and seek for his own knowledge triggers his emotions. Firstly, Montag is shown to be a coward whereas his emotions are triggered due to his reactions. An example would be, “Montag’s face was entirely numbing and featureless, he felt his head turn like a stone carving to the dark place next door, set in its bright border flowers”. This explains that when Beatty found out that Montag is a traitor for reading books, he burns his house. Montag’s eagerness to learn cause him to be in danger and it triggers his emotions by being cowardly and not defending his actions. Secondly, due to Montag’s emotions, he committed a crime. Montag killed Beatty, “Montag shut his eyes, shouted, shouted, and fought to get his hands at his ears to clamp and to cut away the sound. Beatty flopped over and over and over, and at last, twisted in on himself like a charred wax doll and lay silent”. In the situation, Montag’s anger leads him to commit a crime in which he faces consequences. Lastly, Montag’s emotions of being curious towards the book to lead him in danger. According to Montag, “You weren’t there, you didn’t see, there must be something in books, things we can imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing”. As Montag starts to be curious he cannot control his emotions where he constantly seeks knowledge and read books. In conclusion, following his or her emotions can be a disadvantage that may cause trouble afterward. Montag’s emotions lead him to do things that are not right and by his emotions, he betrayed his job and society.

To conclude, Montag’s transition throughout the novel shows that his character traits change into being an anti-hero. He is faced with the expectation of the job as a fireman in which he should burn books. As the novel progresses his character traits help Montag to mold his transition from being dedicated to his work to being curious about the books and betraying his job and society. The greediness of Montag made him do actions that will cause harm to others. The way Montag recklessly act affect the entire society and he does things incautious manner. Montag’s curiosity made him triggers his emotions where he can do things in unexpected ways like killing Captain Beatty.