Montag’s Self-Awakening and Quest for True Happiness in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

Abstract

This thesis mirrors the technological world where people have no interest in books, nature and human relationship. The firemen of this time are not paid to protect the people from the dangers of fire but to burn all the books to ashes. Montag, the protagonist of the novel, adores his job as a firefighter. He was proud of himself as he lights books on fire. After meeting with Clarisse, his happiness crumbles away and finds a profound void inside. For the first time, he lets himself to be aware of the problems of the world and his own unsatisfied desires of knowledge, philosophy and intimacy. He realizes that he doesn’t want to live in the world without literature. Montag, with the help of Faber and Ganger’s group, looks for answers and fulfillment in the forbidden realms of history, philosophy and literature. Thus, Montag starts to realize books are essential because people will be ignorant without books. He goes from conforming with society to rebelling against the said rules. We must read and think to survive and it is not possible without books and a society that runs on ignorance and mere pleasure can’t survive. Reading can provide us the real meaning of our existence and true happiness. It can provide us solace from existential problems. The power gained from reading is priceless as it expands our knowledge and awareness.Reading also stimulates our creative imaginations and can take us back into history and days gone by; it can also give us insight into now, the future and the unknown. On the other hand, reading can give our mind a much needed escape from the stresses and worries of everyday life which helps us to remain happy.