Fahrenheit 451 Essay

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Transformation of characters in Fahrenheit 451
Ja, Pitchanun Choonhanirunrit, 1108
Mahidol University International Demonstration School
All people always make mistakes, but we can change ourselves to be a better person like in
the quote We can never go back and change what has been said and done but we can always learn
the lesson to make things better next time(Mohan, n.d.). The story in this paper is about the book
called Fahrenheit 451 which is one of the best book of Ray Bradbury. The story is about the man
named Guy Montag. He has black hair, black brow and fiery face. At the beginning, Montag work
as the fireman in the fire departure. He is mindless and enjoy burning. However, at the end of the
story he reveal transformation. Ray Bradbury develops the character of Montag in Fahrenheit 451
though the process of thinking about his life and memories..
Clarisse McClellan lead Guy Montag to step out and made Montag to think. Clarisse is the
young delightful seventeen years old girl who always question things. She always notice the
surrounding nature and she is Montag neighbour. She got kick out off the school because she
doesnt conform the social norm. In her thought, being social is freely to think, ask, and question
things. At one point of the story, Clarisse told Montag Have you ever heard of rubbing it under
your chin? If it rubs off, it means Im in love. Has it?(p.19) it means that if he rubbed the
dandelion on his chin and it rubbed off it means that he is in love. In fact, the dandelion doesnt
rubbed off Montag chin. Nevertheless, Montag thinks that it is nonsense until he realise the truth
that even the place that he and his wife first met is not recognise by both of them. It show that they
didnt attend to each other. He aware that If she died, he was certain he wouldnt cry(p.41). It
show that even his wife Mildred die he would not cry but he will cry because he not cry at her
death.
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Like we know, Montag never notice anything until he saw Clarisse but there is another key
that lead to Montag development which is the old woman. She made Montag start to think about
others. This character is the old woman who read and collecting books in her house. Montag met
her when he work in his duty for firing the house. He told and force her to come out with him but
she replies I want to stay here(p.36). She thought, if there is no book she is willing to die.
Therefore, she is fume of fire. Afterward, Montag start to feel guilty about whatever he has done. It
seem that he has killed ordinary person that just has books. It is crazy. This lead Montag to imagine
and appreciate the writers. He now understand how hard and how much time the writer spend to
write one book. He said It took some man a lifetime maybe to put some of his thoughts down,
looking around at the world and life and then I come along in two minutes and boom! its all
over.(p.49)
Books lead Montag to be changed. At first, Montag never interested in book and not
understand why is book important. But, after he think about why people willing to die just for that
nonsense books he start to read. He read and read but he doesnt understand and he try to find the
way to understand which he ask Faber for help. Faber teach him what does book included. The
book isnt important but the quality, time for the reader to think and analyse, and do the action base
on what we learn from the book is the important things. Now, he understand how foolish the society
and people are. After he went back home and talk to Mildred friends and he realise how brainless
they are. Damn it! What do you know about Hoag and Noble(p.93). In the quote Mildreds
friends talked about who they were choosing for the president. They just look at the external
appearance of the candidate not their ability which upset Montag. They also talked about their child
and husband in the ignorant way. Therefore, he show the book to Mildreds friends and read the
poem called The Sea Of Faith to her friends which the poem is about true love. After listen to the
poem, Mrs. Phelps cry because she never has true love.

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All in all, Montag is gradually change though out the story. Three main point that lead to
his transformation are Clarisse, the old woman, and books. Clarisse always talked about things in
daily life. Thus, Montag begin to notice the nature of the world and notice that he and his wife
didnt has true love. For the old woman, after he burn her he start to realise how dedicate for the
author just to write one books. Last but not least, books made Montag has the thought to try to
understand and ask help from other. Soon after, he aware how terrible the society he confront is.
However, you can always remember that if Montag can changed you also can change.
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References
Bradbury, R. (2013). Fahrenheit 451: NewYork, NY: Simon & Shuster.
Mohan, P. M. (n.d.). For making things better. Retrieved at October 6, 2016 from http://
www.lionhearteagle.com/2011/12/for-making-things-better.html

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Ja, Pitchanun Choonhanirunrit, 1108

Mahidol University International Demonstration School

though the process of thinking about his life and memories..

Bradbury, R. (2013). Fahrenheit 451: NewYork, NY: Simon & Shuster.

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