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Essay about Fahrenheit 451

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Fahrenheit 451 “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings” is a famous quote said by Heinrich Heine, which relates to the concept of book burning, seen in the novel Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury uses his unique literary style to write the novel Fahrenheit 451; where he brings his readers to a future American Society which consists of censorship, book burning, and completely oblivious families. The novel’s protagonist, Guy Montag, is one of the many firemen who takes pride in starting fires rather than putting them out, until he encounters a seventeen-year-old girl named Clarisse McClellan. As the novel progresses, the reader is able to notice what Clarisse’s values are in the novel, how her innocence and …show more content…

She refuses the entertainment that society offers, such as watching television. Instead, she prefers to wonder, sit, and talk about things, most particularly with Montag. Furthermore, she is not intimidated by the government like the rest of society. All of this enlightens Montag to reveal all the goodness that is being hidden in this blind society. Clarisse never tells Montag what to think; she just shows him that thinking is an option. She simply asks Montag questions such as “How long’ve you worked at being a fireman?” (8) and “How did you get into it?” (22) Such questions awaken him to realize why he really “enjoys” doing what he does, to a point where he realizes he really does not admire starting fires, and burning books. Montag grows extremely dissatisfied with his life and work as he talks more with Clarisse. She instigates him to wonder if perhaps books are not so bad, and so he even steals one from a book burning. In Fahrenheit 451, it states, “So it was the hand that started it all . . . His hands had been infected, and soon it would be his arms . . . His hands were ravenous.” (41) The reader is able to see here that Montag is becoming more and more influenced by Clarisse. The more time he spends with her, the more he begins to contemplate. This phrase clearly shows how Montag is being “infected”, but in a positive way. His thoughts are taking control over him all because of his conversations with Clarisse. She invites him to

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