Celina Enriquez

Humanities

September 24, 2014

Character Analysis- Guy Montag

Everyone happens to always look up to a hero. A hero is a person who has exceptional
qualities, achievements and is able to perform activities that an ordinary person would find a
challenge. A hero can be a role model for and to others. Guy Montag perhaps is a hero in the
novel Fahrenheit 451. Montag happens to have the great qualities of a wonderful hero because,
he has courage, skills and he is risky at many times in his life.

Courage is one of the heroic qualities that Montag continues to possess. Throughout this
novel Guy Montag expresses that he has courage that he will do the right thing even though the
odds are against him. For example, Montag places his hand on the womens elbow and says,
you can come with me. (Pg.39) Guy Montag in the process was trying to convince the old lady
to get out of the house that was about to be burned down. This action requires courage because,
in the society in Fahrenheit 451, nobody cares about one another everyone is somewhat selfish
and by sharing a helping hand to the old lady Montag then creates suspicion about himself by his
other fellow firemen. Another point in this novel where Montag shows courage is when he reads
in the subway in front of a majority of people to think independently. This is a clear act of
courage because, reading or owning a book in the novel perhaps is illegal and can happen to lead
to severe consequences. Finally, Montag in order to create a difference and a change to the anti-
social society in occurrence which perhaps takes steps which can happen to be difficult but are
necessary in this situation. An example is, Montag kills Beatty and at some point happens to
knock out three of the firemen because they are recieving the news about Montag hiding books
in other firemens houses. Montag has a major quality of a hero by partaking in having courage.

Beyond courage, Montag happens to also possess specific skills which take place as
heroic. First, Montag not only possesses brains but also happens to passess brawn. Montag
illustrates this while he is trying to escape from his burning house along with fighting the
Mechanical Hound. Second, Montag illustrates his amount of intelligence towards the ending of
the novel because he finally comes to realization about the wrongs along with what it will take to
correct them. For example, Montag says, The salamador devours his tail! (Pg.86). The
slamandor takes place as symbolic in relation within Montag coming up with plans along with
Faber to get rid of the government from the inside by coming up with with ideas of ways to
destroy the firemen structure by planting books into their homes. Another reason would be that
Montag happens to never let go of his calmness while facing danger around himself. Montag also
plans and uses his own knowledge to be able to overcome the obstacles that he has been facing.
An example, is when Montag is able to trick the Mechanical Hound by using Fabers dirty
clothes also by erasing his scent by using a variation of substances in which provides time for
him to make his way to the river. Montag is a hero because, he passesses the quality of having
skill.

Montag happens to risk his life a majority of times and it is known that without risking
life a hero is not a hero. Montag happens to want to change and in order for this to take place for
the sake of curiosity he decides to hide books in his own house which is a risk is a risk to his life
because, in Fahrenheit 451 reading or even owning a book is illegal as it happens to be able to
promote readers to think independently. Another point that takes place where Montag risks his
life is when he tries to change the minds of Mildred and her friends by reading a poem. This
action happens to worsen as one of Mildreds friends begins to cry while another friend is
perhaps criticizing books. This outcome of this action becomes clearer to Montag after he comes
back to realization that his own wife Mildred turned him into being a firemen. Montag says,
Mildred, you didnt put in the alarm! (Pg.114). Finally, in the end Montag has no choice but to
take charge as carrying out the acts of sacrifice. Montag chooses to flee after burning Beatty
house, and effectively learning his old life behind and continuing on. Montag then decides that
he wants to take part as an agent in changing and making an improvement to his own individual
society. Therefore, Montag is a hero because he happens to take charge and risk his own life a
majority amount of times.

In conclusion, Montag partakes the qualities of a hero. He teaches others to do the right
things in life make good choices in life even when others happen to be against the actions
partaking. Montag teaches others that in order to achieve few things in life there is a highly
possibility you will have to give up a few things in life. Guy Montag is able to clearly state
heroism in Fahrenheit 451. We all can take part and make a difference into society. One
individual hero is not born, they are formed.