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Kelly Wilson

Mr. Choi

English 9B

4 March 2018

Beneath the Flames

Firemen burned for pleasure, and books danced alive with flames. Ray Bradbury’s

Fahrenheit 451​ follows the fireman Guy Montag. Montag’s job is to destroy all books and any

house that they are found in, no exceptions. Society opposes the uncomfortable truth and

uncanny curiosity accompanied by literature. Montag conforms without hesitation, until he meets

Clarisse McClellan who forces him to question everything. Bradbury titles his novel, ​Fahrenheit

451​ because this is the temperature at which book paper burns. The novel depicts a future

American dystopia with characters that help resurrect it. Clarisse is a curious round character,

and her unconventional attitude initiates her rejection from society. Clarisse conflicts with the

society in which she lives, because she refuses to conform to its ideals. Guy Montag is the

protagonist. He is naive and full of discontent. Montag conflicts with himself, as he stumbles

through a world he doesn’t understand. Captain Beatty is the antagonist, and one of the most

brilliant men in the novel. Beatty uses his wits to convince others that books are bad, causing

him to conflict with others. While Beatty persuades Montag against literature, Clarisse sways

him to a world of books.

Usually wandering the sidewalks, Clarisse is completely aware of her surroundings.

Clarisse McClellan, Montag’s affable neighbor who is only sixteen years old, she's a
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nonconformist. Clarisse is different from everyone else, which makes her a round character.

Clarisse hates anything that agrees with conformity. She doesn't watch tv and she stops attending

school. Clarisse likes “trying everything once” and “sometimes twice”(Bradbury 11). She

doesn't stay inside her house with her eyes glued to the parlor walls. She goes outside and

explores. Clarisse's unusual behavior earns her a lot of unwanted attention. Society wants to

know why she “hikes around in the forests” or “watches birds and collects butterflies(Bradbury

20). Her family sends her to a psychiatrist, which “they make her go” (Bradbury 20) to. Clarisse

gets ostracised because of distinct opinions and her determination to think for herself. Unlike

everyone else, she is drawn to strange things. During her stroll Clarisse spots Montag. He looks

like any typical fireman but she sees right through him.

Montag changes drastically after encountering the young nonconformist. Montag is the

protagonist of the novel. He was in a state of bliss until he realized, “he was not happy”

(Bradbury 9). Montag wears “happiness like a mask” and Clarisse is the only who dares remove

it. Everything the strange girl says evokes thought. Montag starts to think “there’s something in

books,” unimaginable things, he starts to wonder why books are being burned. Montag knows

“something is missing” (Bradbury 11). He wants to know how a book could “make a woman

stay in a burning house” because “you don't stay for nothing”(Bradbury 51). Without knowing

what he’s doing Montag stops conforming. He can’t explain why, but he feels like a part of his

life is missing. Montag assumes the missing piece to the puzzle is books. Montag confused starts

to rethink everything he does from job choice to his wife. When Montag starts to question the

idea that books should be read and not burned Captain Beatty steps in.
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Beatty is the captain of Montag’s society. He completely opposes literature, which

explains his job choice. Beatty is the antagonist of the story. He burns books, and when he’s not

burning books he’s quoting them. Beatty quotes “‘...Dr. Johnson... ‘He is no wise man that will

quit a certainty for an uncertainty(Bradbury).’” Dr. Johnson is a famous english author, Beatty

quoting his work it implies that he has read it. Not only has he read these books, but he can

understand them and use the text to his advantage. His intellect earns him many fights verbal and

physical. When he tries to convince Montag that literature only evokes confusion it leads to a

serious fight. During this fight, Montag sprays Beatty with fire and “Montag shot one continuous

pulse of liquid fire on him. (Bradbury 113) He hadn't wanted to kill anyone, not even

Beatt(Bradbury 116).” Beatty dies. He yelled at Montag and made fun of him and Montag got

mad. Montag didn't want to kill Beatty, but Beatty made him so upset that Montag acted on in

impulse and anger. Montag doesn't think about what he’s doing, until after it’s done. Beatty is

killed by the same firemen system that he is not only charge of, but supports. Bradbury leads us

to believe that Beatty used to be curious about literature, just like Montag. He broke the law and

read books anyway. However, he realized quickly that books masked a world of confusion and

queer questions.

Books are burned, and literature is completely opposed. When was the last time you

wrote something, or read something without anyone telling you to do so. We want to believe that

our society is far from the dystopia displayed in ​Fahrenheit 451, ​but there are too many

similarities. The characters from the novel can represent many of us today. Clarisse McClellan,

optimistic, inquisitive, recalcitrant. She's a round character, who doesn't change, but is far from

normal. Guy Montag, unhappy, puzzled, and brave. The protagonist, Montag, actively opposes
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burning books, and unknowingly fights for a better future. Captain Beatty quick, clever, and

cunning. Beatty speaks from experience when he tells of the confusion laying between pages.

Clarisse, Montag, Beatty, all different and unique, yet all sophisticated by the same system of

conformity. It was a pleasure to burn.