Essay On Fahrenheit 451

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Fahrenheit 451 is set in a future society where knowledge is considered dangerous and individuality is discouraged. The people are kept complacent with a steady stream of meaningless entertainment. A war is being waged, but no one seems to know why or even whom the enemy is. Books are outlawed because they contain ideas that might cause people to question the status quo. It is the job of the firemen to burn books to prevent the spread of dissension and independent thought. Guy Montag is one such fireman. He enjoys his job and is happy, or so he thinks until one day he meets his new neighbor. Clarisse McClellan is a 17-year-old who is unlike anyone Montag has ever met. She is inquisitive and interested in the world around her…show more content…
On the subway to Faber’s house he tries to memorize a passage of the Bible, fearing that he’ll have to turn it in to Beatty, but he is distracted by an advertising jingle. Faber is hesitant to help Montag at first, saying that an attempt to change society would be futile since people stopped reading of their own accord. But he agrees to contact a retired printer and assist Montag’s plan to sabotage fire stations. But before they can proceed, an alarm comes into the station – on Montag’s own house. Mildred placed the call, fed up after Montag read poetry to a group of her friends. Beatty forces Montag to burn his house, but Montag turns his flame-thrower on Beatty and burns him as well. Montag flees with the authorities in hot pursuit. He ends up in the river and floats downstream. Ashore, he meets a group of vagabonds who reveal that they are part of a nationwide network of “Book People” who have memorized works of literature in order to preserve them for a time when society might be ready once again to learn. Suddenly, a bombing raid levels the city Montag has just left. He sets out with the Book People to search for survivors, intending to use the Bible passage that he has finally remembered to give them comfort and, possibly,

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