Civil Disobedience: Character Analysis of Guy Montag from Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
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Josie Helf Patty Sibbernsen English 1 January 13 2015
Civil Disobedience
A free society is one that is described as a community in which each citizen is independent and
works solely toward their own personal goals.
Although sometimes depicted as efficient and less problematic due to its structure, societies such as these eliminate any trace of a true human connection or individualism.
In
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, protagonist Guy Montag sets out on an impossible task to reveal knowledge from the past by performing acts of civil disobedience that challenge his society along with all those living in it; however, Montag’s character must go through dramatic changes in order to do so. In a community where books are burned and those who possess them and the wisdom they hold are killed or admitted into insane asylums, Montag has to discover the truth behind books despite the danger it brings him.
Not only is Montag putting himself at risk, but he is also jeopardizing his marriage with his wife, Mildred, as well as his relationship with his boss,
Beatty, who is skeptical of the secrets Montag is hiding. In
Fahrenheit 451
, by Ray Bradbury, Guy
Montag’s character goes through drastic changes, which enable him to perform acts of civil disobedience and influence others in the society around him. In “The Hearth and the Salamander”, the realization and development Montag experiences as a character allows him to challenge the government and perform acts of civil disobedience. To the rest of society Montag’s character is viewed as an everyday citizen. Not only is he married to his wife,
Mildred, who stares at the television all day watching the government’s brainwashing shows, but in addition Montag has one of the most important jobs in his society, a fireman. At the beginning of the
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book, these two aspects of Montag’s life contribute to making him one of the most loyal citizens within
his
Josie Helf Patty Sibbernsen English 1 January 13 2015
Civil Disobedience
A free society is one that is described as a community in which each citizen is independent and
works solely toward their own personal goals.
Although sometimes depicted as efficient and less problematic due to its structure, societies such as these eliminate any trace of a true human connection or individualism.
In
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, protagonist Guy Montag sets out on an impossible task to reveal knowledge from the past by performing acts of civil disobedience that challenge his society along with all those living in it; however, Montag’s character must go through dramatic changes in order to do so. In a community where books are burned and those who possess them and the wisdom they hold are killed or admitted into insane asylums, Montag has to discover the truth behind books despite the danger it brings him.
Not only is Montag putting himself at risk, but he is also jeopardizing his marriage with his wife, Mildred, as well as his relationship with his boss,
Beatty, who is skeptical of the secrets Montag is hiding. In
Fahrenheit 451
, by Ray Bradbury, Guy
Montag’s character goes through drastic changes, which enable him to perform acts of civil disobedience and influence others in the society around him. In “The Hearth and the Salamander”, the realization and development Montag experiences as a character allows him to challenge the government and perform acts of civil disobedience. To the rest of society Montag’s character is viewed as an everyday citizen. Not only is he married to his wife,
Mildred, who stares at the television all day watching the government’s brainwashing shows, but in addition Montag has one of the most important jobs in his society, a fireman. At the beginning of the
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book, these two aspects of Montag’s life contribute to making him one of the most loyal citizens within
his