Guy Montag's Character Change In Fahrenheit 451

People change people. This is because every single interaction, conversation or experience can affect someone’s way of thinking. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main character Guy Montag undergoes a re-education on how he views the world. Each character he encounters motivates him to take action about his curious mindset. Some of the most prominent people who impact Montag include, Clarisse, the unnamed old woman, Faber, and Beatty. All of these characters create uncertainty and oppose Montag’s beliefs as they influence his change from a mindless firefighter to a man capable of thinking for himself. Clarisse perhaps plays the most impactful role in Montag’s metamorphosis. She serves as a catalyst that impels Montag to start thinking for himself. She possesses the unique qualities of curiosity and questioning. Before her, he had never met someone who asks “why” instead of “how”, who knows that dew rests on the grass in the morning, or who takes walks for their own satisfaction and relaxation (Bradbury 13). Clarisse teaches Montag how to make the most out of life and to enjoy the little pleasures of it. He also realizes that she is honest and sincere. Montag tells his wife Mildred that Clarisse is the first person he can remember who looks straight at him as if he means something (Bradbury 50). Because of Clarisse, Montag feels important and earns self-worth, unlike how his own spouse makes him feel. Additionally, Clarisse causes Montag to ponder the relationship he has with his wife and to wonder about other people in ways he had never before. She asks Montag if he is happy (Bradbury 14). Despite Montag’s automatic reply of “Of course,” Bradbury makes it apparent that he does not feel that way. Her question causes Montag to realize that he is indeed unhappy, especially with the detached way people live. No one seems to care for anyone else, such as how Mildred does not recall where the two of them even met (Bradbury 46). Therefore, Clarisse essentially sparks Montag’s thinking ability and teaches him how much more there is to life than what he thinks. The unnamed woman also tremendously impacts Montag. She refuses to leave her book-filled, burning house and goes up in flames with it (Bradbury 43). In this pivotal moment, Montag realizes that if books are as horrible and meaningless as the government told society they are, she would not have committed suicide for them. He says “there must be something in books, things we can’t imagine to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing” (Bradbury 55). The woman makes Montag aware of the power books possess because she would rather die than live without them. Furthermore, he has never seen a human victim of his work before her so she has a profound affect on Montag. Her impact is made evident when, the day after this incident, Montag starts to read books and reveal his hidden stash of them to his wife (Bradbury 69). The unnamed woman …show more content…
He tries to dissuade Montag from wanting to read, but the opposite results occur. Beatty comes over to his house while he is sick to persuade him that books can only cause trouble (Bradbury 59). This moment seems to make Montag even more curious about the knowledge contained inside of books. After this encounter, Beatty allows him a day to read to make his decision (Bradbury 66). Beatty believes that he can turn him against the books, however Montag uses that day to become even further immersed in his books. Without Beatty, Montag’s curiosity about the valuable substance books hold may have never grown. Furthermore, Beatty also makes Montag unafraid to rebel against the government. During the night that Montag’s house gets burnt down, Beatty taunts him by saying quotes and reciting lines by Shakespeare (Bradbury 121). These words drive Montag to murder Beatty, thus committing his first blatant act of crime against society. This moment also turns Montag into a wanted man that must live on the run. Thus, showing how Beatty quickens Montag’s development from a seemingly satisfied member of society to a man confident enough to revolt against