Montag's Transition
Ray Bradbury fills his novel Fahrenheit 451 with many significant themes.Montag's substantial change is evident when the smell of kerosene, that he originally considered to be a pleasant smell, makes him vomit. When Montag's lips are taken over by Faber's words he is proving the fact that he wants to change and comport himself like Faber. The execution of Beatty and the destruction of Montag's house clearly marks a time of alteration for Montag. Montag struggles to find meaning beyond his single-minded society and his determination leads to the theme of Montag attempting to go through a transition. Granted, some might argue that Montag does not go through a transitional period but just learns to divulge his thoughts that were hidden deep inside his soul. However, one cannot ignore the fact that the smell of kerosene that was once a favorable odor became a detestable smell that provoked Montag's regurgitation. Montag becomes sick not only due to the smell of the kerosene but because he realizes the fatal effect it had on the innocent
The books leapt and danced like roasted birds, their wings ablaze with red and yellow feathers"(116-117). Montag turns the flame upon his house and upon Beatty to mark a change in his life. Even now he could feel the start of the long journey, the leave-taking, the going-away from the self he had been"(103). Montag remembers Beatty's advice on how to deal with a problem by burning it. He also wants to get rid of the books that had caused so much pain and confusion in attempt to move on. This quotation proves that Montag is accepting his expedition to find his new self so he can learn from his mistakes that he faced in his present society, such as taking away the life that authors put into their books by burning them. The agreeable smell of kerosene eventually has an opposite effect on Montag and makes him unhealthy. All these ashes represent Montag's endeavor to differentiate himself from the old Montag. Clearly, Montag wants to change by combining his knowledge with Faber's to become a whole new person that is different than before. In the scene where Montag causes Mildred's friends to feel by reading a poem "Dover beach", Montag speaks Faber's words and proves that he wants to reconstruct his mentality to compare with Faber, a member that is distinct in his society. Bradbury also says, "And one day he would look back upon the fool and know the fool. Montag's fight for change against a dull society and conflicting characters such as Beatty is a crucial theme throughout Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. He changes mentally when he is forced to comprehend that the kerosene, that once seemed so positive to him when he was as empty and as vulnerable to society as Mildred, became a negative murderer. Obviously, Montag wants to get rid of all evidence that he ever lived in such a house filled with no devotion between himself and his wife, who was more concerned with her "family" shown on the T.
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Acceptance Essays
