Characterization, Symbolism or Settings in the Novel Fahrenheit 451 (Essay Sample)

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Fahrenheit Analysis
Fahrenheit 451 is one of the exemplary books ever written by Ray Bradbury. The profound and proficient novel belongs to the genre of literature known as “dystopias.” The theme is derived from the word “utopia.” The people in the society where Guy Montag resided did not have the freedom to read books, enjoy the environment and its nature, have leisure time, think independently, or have significant conversations (Brians). Instead, the society is obsessed with their wealth, drive faster, stay glued to the television, and listen to the “Seashell Radio” attached to their ears. The novel opens with a fire that is started by Guy Montag and his co-workers. They are denied the fountain of knowledge that can be acquired only through books. The books are prohibited and burned whenever they are discovered. They are highly considered as a taboo. Montag is given the sole responsibility of burning the books and does not complain about it. Everything is normal for Montag until he stumbles upon the seventeen-year-old Clarissa McClean, who changes his perception of things.
Symbolism and Imagery
The hearth and salamander- as expected from a novel entitled Fahrenheit 451, is a lot of fire. The title represents the temperature at which things are burning. Therefore, we should notice that books are not the only things burning at that high temperature; people are angry, and their rage burns inside. For instance, when Montag meets Clarisse his blood rush causes his body to feel the heat (Bradbury a). Additionally, after the bombing, we experience the uprising of a phoenix from the ashes when Granger and his co-workers pick themselves. In Fahrenheit 451, the fire has many meanings. The fire used by Beatty and his fellow firefighters was for destruction while for the woman whose house was burnt she saw fire as the representation of strength.
Montag’s fire truck is recognized as a salamander, and it was fire-resistant. As the novel is ending, Montag realizes that fire can be used for warmth instead of destruction (Atkins & Ann 7). However, the fire had already ruined the society, and the society destroyed Montag home as witnessed through Mildred addiction of TV and sleeping pills. Therefore, fire can be used for destructive and constructive purposes.
Insects and nature imagery- Fahrenheit 451 has references concerning animals and insects throughout. For instance, Mildred gets stomach-ache and thus, gets pumped with a machine that is referred to be looking like an electric-eyed snake. The ears piece that Mildred attaches to her ears while listening to the radio at night resembles a praying mantis. Additionally, in the chase scene, the helicopters are referred to as insects. Most of these referrals are made concerning technology because it has replaced the natural order. The government with an aim of controlling and destroying the citizens who tend to be rebellious develops the technology. Similarly, the mechanical hound is developed such a way that it has eight legs just like the spiders (Bradbury b). There is pervasion from nature, and this fits perfectly in the scenes of Fahrenheit 451 because its society aims for destruction rather than construction hence the natural order cannot survive.
At the beginning of the novel, when Clarisse meets with Montag, she is reckoned with innocence and honesty that accompanies her adolescent stage. Clarisse has an immense love for nature and somehow converts Montag to experience the joy accompanied by creation through experiencing the rains. Montag is changed tremendously by the experience, and when he escapes the town during the chase, he is illuminated concerning the supernatural power of the untouched nature.
Nakedness- in the novel, when Montag gets rid of his clothes and submerges himself in the river, it proves that he is cleansing himself. He is doing away with his old self and embracing a new person to get rid of the crises he has experienced. He gets dressed in Faber’s attires: Montag assimilated a new being by getting rid of his old identity. Additionally, when Montag survives, and another man is killed in his place, he automatically becomes a new being because it is an excellent ancillary.
Blood- where there is destruction, it is bound to have blood. Therefore, blood is mentioned throughout the novel to demonstrate how the human beings are repressed and tormented. When Montag often is filled with rage, he experiences a surge of blood circulation that tend to well and circulate his body with a gushing manner. In the case of Mildred when her original self-diminishes and her infected blood is replaced; the blood is regularly associated with the machine that resembles the snake(Itzkoff). The author, Bradbury, utilizes the technology to unravel the corrupted characters possessed by Mildred such as self-hatred and misery. The replacement of her blood could not eliminate the darkness that engraved her soul. Mildred represented the people who were empty and dead inside; the individuals who had already been poisoned and nothing could redeem them.
The sieve and sand- the second part title of “the sieve and the sand,” is derived to represent the Montag’s effort to study as fast as possible with the hope that he will be able to retain some knowledge. It also illustrates Montag's childhood lifestyle when he used to collect sieves of sands to earn money from his cousin. Additionally, the sand can represent the physical truth that Montag seeks while the sieve represents the knowledge that humans are unable to grasp and retain despite their efforts.
Theme
Literature and Writing- in Montag society, books were banned. Additionally, there were strict rules embedded if anyone was found in possession of any books; the houses would be set on fire. Regardless, of the massive ban concerning books, the novel explores extensively about the advantages and disadvantages of literature and the characters demonstrates different perspectives. One of the characters debates how books are bringing concerns because they present various viewpoints and hence, causes confusion to the readers. While another character, pinpoints that books are not significant, rather the knowledge derived from them is what is imperative. Nevertheless, Fahrenheit 451 reminds us that literature grants us civilization and freedom and without it, we would be aimless and stuck in challenging times.
Censorship- in Fahrenheit, the suppression is illustrated through the dependency on technology. The town depended on television and the radio. The readers are led to think that the society was lazy because of the advanced technology because it controlled what how they thought and felt (Atkins & Ann 4). ...