Fahrenheit 451 14 Fire

Fahrenheit 451 has a strong theme of fire. It is a symbol that shows up many times in the book. The title is even supposed to be the temperature at which paper combusts. The main occupation focused on in the story is that of the fireman. Fire seems to represent different things at different times in the story. To Beatty it means destruction. He says “Its real beauty is that it destroys responsibility and consequences” (Bradbury, 115.) He uses fire to destroy books, and get rid of problems. Eventually becomes the problem that is burned by the fire. The old woman that is burned with her books sees fire differently. Before she dies she says “We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out” (Bradbury, 40.) She believes that fire is good, and that it will make her remembered, not forgotten. Montag sees fire as a good thing before the book starts, but he thinks it is bad throughout most of the story. He used to actually think the smell of kerosene was good, but then he sees no point in burning books. When Montag meets Granger he gets a new perspective on fire. He sees the fire from a distance, and notices that it is different. It is providing warmth and light. Montag sees that fire can actually help people, and notes that it even smells different. Granger explains another meaning of fire to Montag. He tells the story of the phoenix, and how it would burn itself then come back from its own ashes. He sees fire as a sort of rebirth. When something is burned by the fire it is just reborn. Fire is probably the most recurring symbol in the story. It is constantly in Fahrenheit 451, and is a good representation for many things. Most characters have their own opinion on it, and it symbolized many things for each of them.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 2003. Print.