How Montag Changes In Fahrenheit 451

In Fahrenheit 451, Montag changes by the end of the novel because at the beginning of the novel, Montag was very content and happy with his job as a fireman and his life in general and never questioned it, but as Montag met new people and experienced different situations, he realizes that he is not happy and was questioning many things, including books, firemen, and life in general. Montag explains at the beginning of the novel, “It never went away, that smile, it never ever went away, as long as he remembered” (Bradbury 8). Based on this statement, it can be concluded that Montag really enjoyed his life. He loved his job and always had a “fiery” smile on his face, but when Montag meets Clarisse, he begins to rethink his happiness, his life, and his job. Montag …show more content…
He was not happy, He was not happy. He said the words to himself, He recognized this as a true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask” (Bradbury 16). This shows that Montag just now realizes how he’s been faking his happiness all along. From this point on, Montag is unhappy and also starts questioning everything he’s been doing. He also starts to take a look at his society and seeing how technology has been controlling everyone. After Montag sees a woman burn herself along with her books, Montag is extremely distraught about this and starts questioning books, and why some people seem so connected to them. In Montag’s words, “Last night I thought about all the kerosene I’ve used in the past ten years. And I thought about books. And for the first time I realized that a man was behind each one of the books. A man had to think them up. A man had to take a long time to put down on paper . . . It took some man a lifetime maybe to put some of his thoughts down, looking at the world and life, and then I come along in two minutes and boom” (Bradbury 55). This proves that Montag is starting to have an interest in books and is also starting to care how burning books is affecting some