Book Summary
Fahrenheit 451 is a novel that describes a futuristic, dystopian society. In this society, "fireman" work to burn all books so that everyone can live a life of fun and happiness, without competing to be "intellectual" and without having to question authority or immorality around them. Upon meeting an intellectual young girl named Clarisse, a fireman, Guy Montag, begins to analyze his way of life. He confronts his wife who does not seem interested in questioning the world around her, as she is completely swept up in the media-entrenched, technological world in her own home. She would rather watch the Television screens with her friends than deal with the impending war and immorality occurring around her daily. Mentored by a retired English Professor named Faber, Montag decides to take a stand against the impending doom of the world, and hatches a plan with Faber to plant books in the homes of firemen in order to turn the firehouse's authority on itself--thereby opening up the chance to restore value in books and intellectual thought again. The lengths Montag will go to take this stand makes a surprising twist in the middle of the book, leading Montag, in the end, to find a group of people who are just as dedicated to restoring hope back into society.
Critical Characters
Guy Montag - Montag is the third man in his family to have become a fireman, and the first to begin to question it. He is a courageous man, but lacks the knowledge to know how to best handle his realizations that the cause he works for may be corrupt--which is why he teams up with Faber (see below), a fearful man, but one with the wisdom Montag needs to make a difference.
Captain Beatty - Beatty is the captain of the firehouse in which Montag works. He references lots of quotes from books during the week, suggesting that he, at one point, read many books--but now, strangely, is at the vilified leader of the book-burning authority in the story.
Professor Faber - A retired, timid, yet incredibly cynical English professor that serves as Montag's mentor. Too scared to rebel against authority himself, Faber advises Montag through his infiltration of the firehouse, and helps him see the power of books, and why it is critical to restore the value of them in society's eyes.
Clarisse McClellan - A young, 17-year-old girl that appears only in the beginning of the book and then mysteriously disappears by the first hundred pages. She is the first one to make Montag question his job as a fireman, and encourages him to be curious about the world around him and the policies he has followed throughout his life. She is the start of his rebellion.
Captain Beatty - Beatty is the captain of the firehouse in which Montag works. He references lots of quotes from books during the week, suggesting that he, at one point, read many books--but now, strangely, is at the vilified leader of the book-burning authority in the story.
Professor Faber - A retired, timid, yet incredibly cynical English professor that serves as Montag's mentor. Too scared to rebel against authority himself, Faber advises Montag through his infiltration of the firehouse, and helps him see the power of books, and why it is critical to restore the value of them in society's eyes.
Clarisse McClellan - A young, 17-year-old girl that appears only in the beginning of the book and then mysteriously disappears by the first hundred pages. She is the first one to make Montag question his job as a fireman, and encourages him to be curious about the world around him and the policies he has followed throughout his life. She is the start of his rebellion.