Fahrenheit 451 Research

Symbolism in Fahrenheit 451

Michael Swader

English Composition II

Tara Lampert

3/10/15

Symbolism is an excellent tool for an author to use to reference or illustrate a particular subject without directly saying what the subject is. Examples of symbols include fire, a specific animal, an object, or even the weather to illustrate an idea within a literary work. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 uses many symbols to illustrate what the characters within the novel are thinking and feeling. Fire, the Bible, snakes, and the government itself are symbols used to convey messages within the book that relate to the reader such as tying into a certain set of beliefs or being controlled themselves.

Fire within the book works with two specific purposes, dealing with destruction and reconstruction. Fire itself is symbolic in nature, from its use in the Christian community as the drive for the Holy Spirit, to the flames of rebirth as the phoenix rises from the ashes While these characteristics are considered good, fire is also used to symbolize destruction, which is how Bradbury uses it in the novel. Guy Montag is a fireman who responds to the alerts of people about a house that has a collection of books, which are considered a taboo in the future. Instead of putting out fires, he ignites them to destroy the books and keep society in the dark and under the control of a totalitarian regime. This fire is a symbol of the darkness within a person, as Montag in the first half of the novel confesses to enjoying what he does - "it was a pleasure to burn" (Bradbury). Montag has a change of heart and view towards the end, unlike his fire chief and his wife. His fire chief is concerned only about how to keep his power and his wife only cares about what is on television. At the end of the novel, Granger alludes to the city's destruction with the fire of a rebirth and the legendary phoenix, with mankind having to learn again and to renew all the literature...