Key Characters in Fahrenheit 451
This chapter provides an in-depth look at the main characters in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, exploring their roles and significance in the novel's dystopian world.
Guy Montag
Guy Montag is the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451 and serves as the reader's entry point into the dystopian society.
Highlight: Montag's transformation from loyal fireman to rebellious book reader drives the novel's plot and themes.
Key traits of Guy Montag:
- Initially satisfied with his job as a fireman
- Begins questioning the system after significant events
- Secretly keeps and reads books
- Becomes a state criminal and must flee
- Lacks knowledge but is eager to learn
Clarisse McClellan
Clarisse is a young neighbor who plays a crucial role in sparking Montag's transformation.
Quote: Clarisse is described as "the exact opposite of the illiterate average person living in society."
Characteristics of Clarisse:
- Teenager living in Montag's neighborhood
- Interested in nature and asking "why" instead of "how"
- Considered an outcast by her peers and teachers
- Disappears and is reportedly killed in a car crash
Mildred "Millie" Montag
Mildred is Guy Montag's wife and represents the average citizen in the novel's society.
Example: Mildred's addiction to sleeping pills and obsession with her "TV family" illustrate the society's dependence on technology and escapism.
Key aspects of Mildred:
- Addicted to sleeping pills
- Absorbed by TV shows on her parlor walls
- Indifferent to the outside world
- Betrays Montag by reporting him for keeping books
Captain Beatty
Captain Beatty is Montag's boss and serves as an antagonist in the novel.
Vocabulary: Antagonist - A character who opposes the protagonist or main character.
Important points about Captain Beatty:
- Former avid reader who stopped due to the controversy of books
- Forces Montag to burn his own house
- Killed by Montag with a flamethrower
- May have wanted to die, as suggested by his actions
Faber
Faber is a former English professor who becomes an ally to Montag.
Highlight: Faber represents the preservation of knowledge and the resistance against the oppressive society.
This character analysis of Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates how Bradbury uses each character to explore different aspects of the dystopian world and the themes of knowledge, conformity, and rebellion.