What Does Fire Mean In Fahrenheit 451

Fire is the most important symbol of Fahrenheit 451 standing for life, rebirth, and destruction. In the beginning of the book Montag talks about how beautiful the fire is, even as it destroys thousands of books and the house. Fire is the constant symbol used throughout the book. It is even used in the title Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns.

Bradbury uses Montag’s hands as a symbol of how his character is changing from the mindless fireman to the fully aware rebel. In the first scene of the novel, Montag and his crew are burning a woman’s house that contains forbidden book. During this, Bradbury uses Montag’s hands as a symbol by writing this; “his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning” (Bradbury 3). This shows Montag’s character at this point as a fireman that thinks he is doing good. Then, later in the story, he starts his transition. Montag looks back at himself stealing forbidden books from peoples’ houses and thinks, “His had had done it all, his hand with a brain of its own, with a conscience and a curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief” (Bradbury 37). From his symbolic hands, we can see how Montag is starting to question

Bradbury’s symbolic use of fire shifts to echo Montag’s increasing enlightenment. As he talks about his love for his job as a firefighter Montag notes that he loves “to see things blackened and change...to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history” (1). Montag enjoys the immediate satisfaction of destroying something; the change in and of itself exhilarates him. Fire represents a false sense of power because he feels he controls what he burns but in reality there are other consequences. It symbolizes a blind power for destruction and change since Montag never looks to repercussions.

In the story Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag is the main character in a world where books are burned by Firemen. While Montag begins questioning the society he lives in, the element of fire is progressively present within the novel. Despite the common association between fire and destruction, the symbolism of fire changes as the story goes along as it provides a parallel to society's behaviour.

In Fahrenheit 451 ,written by Ray Bradbury, the motif of fire, sparks an interest in the reader which pulls them into the life of Guy Montag. In the daily life of Montag, Bradbury portrays the importance of fire in the censored society. From Montag's standpoint the reader gains a clear perspective of the symbolism and importance of fire. Throughout the story fire is used to represent a different emotion or characteristic. At the start of the book fire symbolizes destruction; towards the middle of the book fire is used to represent change and discovering ones identity; and finally at the conclusion of the story fire symbolizes renewal and rebirth.

Ray Bradbury uses a variety of symbols throughout Fahrenheit 451 with people, objects, and places. The first prominent symbol in the book is fire. Fire to most people stands for warmth and light but in this novel it symbolizes power and authority from the firefighters. Fire is used to burn the books and the people who stand for them. This quote at the beginning of the book shows how fire was looked at by the firefighters. “He flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black. He strode in a swarm of butterflies” (1). This piece from the book really shows how firefighters thought of fire as a power they had over other people.

(MIP-1 ) The hands symbolize a “life of their own” as the author contemplates the hands as if they had their own minds. (SIP-A) The hand’s demonstrate in an elaborative way, how they link symbolically, embracing Montag’s desires. (STEWE-1) Montag’s unwillingness is forcing his hands to convey the meaning of which he is unable to share. “Montag had done nothing. His hand had done it all, his hand, with a brain of its own, with a conscience and a curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief” (Bradbury 35). The hands seem to represent the desires of which Montag may want to overcome, but can’t. The hands symbolize the insights of what Montag doesn’t have the audacity to do. Montag has “a conscience and a curiosity…” that he isn’t willing to acknowledge, so he is able to portray them through his hands. (STEWE-2) Bradbury infuses Montag's hands with a life of their own, almost like they have their own mind. Symbolically representing Montag's true desires; they do what he does not have the courage, or even the insight to complete. For example, he steals a book from a home in which a woman was burned and Montag

It is only once in a while a book comes along so great in its message, so frightening in its inferred meaning’s of fire as in Fahrenheit 451. Fire which is used as a symbol of chaos, destruction, and death can also lead to knowledge. Fire has 3 different meanings. Fire represents change which is shown through Montag’s symbolic change from using fire to burn knowledge into using fire to help him find knowledge; fire can represent knowledge as demonstrated through Faber, and fire can represent rebirth of knowledge as shown through the phoenix.

As the fireman, Guy Montag, from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury changes his view on the world, his view on fire changes as well. Throughout the book he encounters many different people who each change him in different ways. Some people convince him that fire is great because of its destruction. It burns away the things that make people unhappy, and changes things. However, as his journey continues, he begins to see fire as an escape. By the end of the book, he realizes that fire does not just take and destroy, but it gives.

(MIP-1) Montag's hands, while seemingly disconnected from him for much of the book, represent his creativity and curiosity and how it cannot be destroyed by society, which connects to the central theme of humanity in the story. (SIP-A) On the surface, his hands, throughout the stealing of the book and the scenes that follow, act on their own; he isn’t responsible for their actions. (STEWE-1) His hands are shown as disconnected beginnings, attachments of his body of which he has no connection to.

Bradbury also uses powerful the symbolism of fire, water and the Phoenix to paint distinct images in the reader’s minds. Firemen see fire as a symbol of purification through the burning of books. This is quite ironic because rather than purifying the world they are contributing to the destruction of knowledge. The Chief of the Fire

Amanda Barrett states that “Fahrenheit 451” provides “warnings against the danger of censorship and the more subtle loss of imagination and creativity” in the bookless society (Barrett, 2). Books are a vital part of a functional society because they evoke emotions that would ultimately vanish if the use of books was banned. When Beatty stopped by Montag’s house, he tried to explain why the society banned books. The use of books, long films, and long hours spent studying at school gradually declined as the society started moving at a faster pace. Beatty brings to light another reason books were banned when he says, “The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that!” (Bradbury, 55). According to Beatty, censorship grew in the society of “Fahrenheit 451” in order not to offend every minority group. Censorship was supposed to help the people in the society grow as equals; however, the suppression of books and other learning aspects hindered the people and bottled up the emotions that are needed for a functional, growing society.

The dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 written by author Ray Bradbury in 1953, shows what he speculates the fate of society to be. The novel takes place in the corrupt United States when most people no longer read books and are satisfied only by entertainment. In the novel, the fire has been perceived in many different ways by the main character, Guy Montag, who was once a fireman. Firemen are mindless servants to society, who burn books to maintain censorship and stop people from thinking for themselves. Fire in Fahrenheit 451 has changed multiple times, from the fire being seen as destructive and chaotic to symbolizing rebirth and purifying. Mythological creatures, such as the salamander and Phoenix have influenced the change in the perception of fire.

In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, fire is a recurring idea. Bradbury used the main character, Guy Montag, to present the fire motif throughout the story. Montag, a fireman, had doubts about his career and society. He sought answers and enlightenment to cure his curiosity about the truth in books. He did not have faith in his society, nor did he understand why intellect was so terrible. In his search Montag realized that fire (and books) were not so evil after all. Montag began to see fire in a different light. Therefore, fire, in Fahrenheit 451, represented rejuvenation through cleansing and renewal.

In the start of Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s thoughts are that fire is good for society. He burns books for a living, and never thought twice about doing his job. That is until he meets characters such as Clarisse, Beatty, and the academics. Montag’s understanding of the nature of fire changes as he becomes enlightened through his relationships.