Lee
Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury during the Second World War, is a futuristic novel about a paradoxical society in which it is the job of firemen to set fires rather than to put them out. The firemen are explicitly charged with seeking out and burning any books they find in the city. Amidst the chaos of this backwards-thinking society, the symbol of a phoenix emerges as a representation of the protagonist Montag’s transformation and development. The phoenix is a prominent figure in Greek mythology and represents rebirth and immortality. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury uses a phoenix to illustrate how Montag consciously undergoes a series of changes in his desire to fight against an unjust and acquiescent society. At the end of its life, the phoenix carefully constructs a pyre of wood and sets it ablaze. The bird then falls upon the pyre and allows itself deliberately to be consumed by the hot flames it has created. Soon, it emerges from the ashes as a new phoenix, stronger and more beautiful than ever. Montag’s disillusionment with society causes him to undergo a radical and liberating transformation, much like the phoenix itself.
Like the phoenix that desires a new beginning, Montag realizes the destructive nature of his old beliefs and longs to liberate himself from the narrow views society holds. Returning to his home one day after work, Montag meets Clarisse, an eccentric yet refreshingly honest girl who lives next door. She poses a simple question to Montag: “’Is it true that long ago, firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?”’ (8). This seemingly innocent query unsettles Montag and forces him to reexamine who he is as a fireman and as a man. Why is he continuing to perform a job which is neither logical nor rational? Never before have Montag’s beliefs and behaviours been directly challenged, and Montag begins to realize that he has never once examined or questioned the effects of his actions. Furthermore, Bradbury allows Montag to compare himself with the people around him. When he comes to a house where books are reportedly hidden, Montag realizes that some people value their freedom more than their own lives. He ponders that, “’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”’(78). For any individual who strives for truth in knowledge, the loss of books is akin to a loss of one’s identity. The author creates two disparate groups in society: those who cannot see the value in books and those willing to jeopardize their lives to protect books and retain their own freedom and imagination. As Montag begins to reflect on his own life, he questions his current system of beliefs as he imagines the possibility of living a life free from fear and society’s irrational expectations. Montag is left to think about the purpose of saving books, and this fuels Montag’s desire to change his beliefs and his life. Bradbury deliberately uses the repetition of the word “something” because Montag has never before had to justify his actions; rather, he has chosen to lead an unfeeling life driven by automatic responses. Finally, Montag’s commitment to questioning societal values comes to him when Clarisse provides Montag with the following insight: “’You’re not like the others. I’ve seen a few….You’re one of the few who put up with me. That’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman. It doesn’t seem right for you, somehow”’ (23). Clarisse’s emphasis on the word “you’re” serves to highlight the author’s intention of indicating that Montag is unique in his ability to bravely challenge the status quo. Like a phoenix who becomes burdened and wearied by its current existence, Montag’s interaction with Clarisse encourages him to reexamine his core beliefs. He thought he enjoyed his life as a fireman, but becomes skeptical once he realizes that his life’s work is built on a foundation of deception, ignorance, and lies. Once these initial doubts set in, they become the driving force or fuel behind Montag’s inner transformation.
