Theme Of Knowledge In Fahrenheit 451
In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses character development to support the theme of the importance of knowledge versus ignorance of knowledge. The knowledge books contain is ignored by society because of strict laws that prohibit people from reading books, and requires the burning of books. The law also influences people to ignore the knowledge contained in books with the hope of creating an equal society. Throughout the novel Guy Montag transforms through his interactions with others and self-realization to support the theme of the importance of knowledge versus ignorance of knowledge. He changes from a man who burns books, to one who enjoys and sees the value in them.
In the beginning of the novel, Montag is introduced to us as a man who goes about his business daily, working as a fireman for a living. With his job comes the responsibility to live by the law, and Montag does that diligently. He puts no thought into the effect his actions may be having on the people of his society, and the comprehensive knowledge he is destroying by burning books. Montag “wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house. While the …show more content…
Faber says to Montag, “So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless” (Bradbury 85). His description of books helps to show Montag that books truly do have meaning behind them and can reveal the reality of human imperfections. Faber encourages Montag’s growing interest in books to continue by agreeing to help him get copies made of his book. They also agree to keep continuous communication between the two of them from then on with an ear
In the beginning of the novel, Montag is introduced to us as a man who goes about his business daily, working as a fireman for a living. With his job comes the responsibility to live by the law, and Montag does that diligently. He puts no thought into the effect his actions may be having on the people of his society, and the comprehensive knowledge he is destroying by burning books. Montag “wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house. While the …show more content…
Faber says to Montag, “So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless” (Bradbury 85). His description of books helps to show Montag that books truly do have meaning behind them and can reveal the reality of human imperfections. Faber encourages Montag’s growing interest in books to continue by agreeing to help him get copies made of his book. They also agree to keep continuous communication between the two of them from then on with an ear