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Transformation of characters in Fahrenheit 451

Ja, Pitchanun Choonhanirunrit, 1108

Mahidol University International Demonstration School

All people always make mistakes, but we can change ourselves to be a better person like in

the quote We can never go back and change what has been said and done but we can always learn

the lesson to make things better next time(Mohan, n.d.). The story in this paper is about the book

called Fahrenheit 451 which is one of the best book of Ray Bradbury. The story is about the man

named Guy Montag. He has black hair, black brow and fiery face. At the beginning, Montag work

as the fireman in the fire departure. He is mindless and enjoy burning. However, at the end of the

story he reveal transformation. Ray Bradbury develops the character of Montag in Fahrenheit 451

though the process of thinking about his life and memories..

Clarisse McClellan lead Guy Montag to step out and made Montag to think. Clarisse is the

young delightful seventeen years old girl who always question things. She always notice the

surrounding nature and she is Montag neighbour. She got kick out off the school because she

doesnt conform the social norm. In her thought, being social is freely to think, ask, and question

things. At one point of the story, Clarisse told Montag Have you ever heard of rubbing it under

your chin? If it rubs off, it means Im in love. Has it?(p.19) it means that if he rubbed the

dandelion on his chin and it rubbed off it means that he is in love. In fact, the dandelion doesnt

rubbed off Montag chin. Nevertheless, Montag thinks that it is nonsense until he realise the truth

that even the place that he and his wife first met is not recognise by both of them. It show that they

didnt attend to each other. He aware that If she died, he was certain he wouldnt cry(p.41). It

show that even his wife Mildred die he would not cry but he will cry because he not cry at her

death.
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Like we know, Montag never notice anything until he saw Clarisse but there is another key

that lead to Montag development which is the old woman. She made Montag start to think about

others. This character is the old woman who read and collecting books in her house. Montag met

her when he work in his duty for firing the house. He told and force her to come out with him but

she replies I want to stay here(p.36). She thought, if there is no book she is willing to die.

Therefore, she is fume of fire. Afterward, Montag start to feel guilty about whatever he has done. It

seem that he has killed ordinary person that just has books. It is crazy. This lead Montag to imagine

and appreciate the writers. He now understand how hard and how much time the writer spend to

write one book. He said It took some man a lifetime maybe to put some of his thoughts down,

looking around at the world and life and then I come along in two minutes and boom! its all

over.(p.49)

Books lead Montag to be changed. At first, Montag never interested in book and not

understand why is book important. But, after he think about why people willing to die just for that

nonsense books he start to read. He read and read but he doesnt understand and he try to find the

way to understand which he ask Faber for help. Faber teach him what does book included. The

book isnt important but the quality, time for the reader to think and analyse, and do the action base

on what we learn from the book is the important things. Now, he understand how foolish the society

and people are. After he went back home and talk to Mildred friends and he realise how brainless

they are. Damn it! What do you know about Hoag and Noble(p.93). In the quote Mildreds

friends talked about who they were choosing for the president. They just look at the external

appearance of the candidate not their ability which upset Montag. They also talked about their child

and husband in the ignorant way. Therefore, he show the book to Mildreds friends and read the

poem called The Sea Of Faith to her friends which the poem is about true love. After listen to the

poem, Mrs. Phelps cry because she never has true love.

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All in all, Montag is gradually change though out the story. Three main point that lead to

his transformation are Clarisse, the old woman, and books. Clarisse always talked about things in

daily life. Thus, Montag begin to notice the nature of the world and notice that he and his wife

didnt has true love. For the old woman, after he burn her he start to realise how dedicate for the

author just to write one books. Last but not least, books made Montag has the thought to try to

understand and ask help from other. Soon after, he aware how terrible the society he confront is.

However, you can always remember that if Montag can changed you also can change.
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References

Bradbury, R. (2013). Fahrenheit 451: NewYork, NY: Simon & Shuster.

Mohan, P. M. (n.d.). For making things better. Retrieved at October 6, 2016 from http://

www.lionhearteagle.com/2011/12/for-making-things-better.html