I think there are a few reasons why we still read this book. One reason is its strong message. It is a warning that we should keep thinking for ourselves because knowledge and books are important. Books let us visit places and learn things that we can’t visit or learn in real life. The people in Fahrenheit 451 did not need to visit places or gain knowledge that books offer because they were told that they did not want to by the parlor every day. We read this book to show us how things would be if we did not think for ourselves.
Another reason to read the book is for the characters. Guy Montag is a normal person during the time, and he begins to question the way things work and what his purpose is. He shows a semi-easily susceptible mind to what people tell him, but conquers this in the end. There is also Clariss McClellan, who was the first person to make Montag question the world around him. She makes Montag realize that he is not happy, but almost emotionless. Montag is almost devastated when he finds that she is dead. Then there is Montag’s wife Mildred that was basically brainwashed all throughout the story. Montag regrets that his relationship with his wife was not very good because he could not relate to Mildred anymore. He wishes it could have been better, but he will never see her again. Another character is Beatty, Montag’s fire chief. He becomes Montag’s enemy during the story because his beliefs are so much different. Beatty quotes the books that Montag reads, and uses them against him. He antagonizes Montag to the point where he has to burn him to death. The last reoccurring character in the story is Faber. He is Montag’s partner in bringing books back for reading. Montag wants to work with him to put books in firemen’s houses to frame them. Faber eventually tells Montag that they will meet another time, and says where he will be. All the characters make an importance in the story that is very timeless.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 2003. Print.
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