The novel, “ Fahrenheit” by Ray Bradbury exemplifies a dynamic character known as Guy Montag, who undergoes a serious transformation of character development and finding his self-identity. Montag lives in a corrupt society due to the fact that people are deprived of books and aren't really allowed to feel anything, but just talk to TV walls all day. At the beginning of the novel, Montag starts off as an ordinary stereotypical fireman who burns illegal books at the temperature of Fahrenheit 451. After Guy meets a young diverse girl named Clarisse he suddenly starts questioning his life and society, and from that moment on Montag perceives the harshness of society as opposed to the cherishing of nature which he rarely does. Due to the sudden epiphany, he sinks into the causes of change for himself, which characterizes him throughout the rest of the novel. Many readers may question Montag’s choices and be indecisive on whether he should be a good guy or a bad guy. Considering how Montag naturally cares for others, wants a change in a corrupt society, and is hungry for knowledge epitomizes that he is an upright person.
In addition, Guy Montag has a natural sense of caring for others throughout the whole novel. We can see this at the beginning of the book when Guy enters his bedroom to find out that his wife Mildred had overdosed on drugs and needed immediate medical assistance, if not she might have died. Montag becomes mortified as he sees his wife in this particular state. He immediately calls for help and two unprofessional machine operators go to the site. Montag questions their skills, “First, why don’t you tell me if she’ll be all right (Bradbury 19). Even though Mildred never shows affection towards Montag he still bothers to care for her and becomes afraid of the fact that her life might be in danger. We can also see this sense of caring for Clarisse. After he met her, Montag constantly thinks about Clarisse and questions her presence, and even brings her up to his wife and Beatty. Towards the end of the novel we can see that Montag still has Clarisse embedded in his thoughts, “Montag’s face was entirely numb and featureless; he felt his head turn like a stone carving to the dark place next door, set in its bright borders of flowers (Bradbury 115). This quote demonstrates the constant empathy that Monatg has for Clarisse. In this part of the book Montag was discovered by Beatty for keeping and reading books. Montag at that moment comprehended how Clarisse felt in this dystopian society. He went through a phase where he put on Clarisse’s thinking shoes and never took them off.
Furthermore, Montag can be seen as a good person because he wanted to change for himself in a corrupt and dystopian society. The society in Fahrenheit 451 can be described as people who are obedient because they are afraid of the consequences which is the government. Things such as conformity and individuality which is expressing oneself can be seen as a sin. In this society, people who don't “fit in” are often seen as a threat to others and killed. After Montag meets Clarisse, he begins to question his happiness and his role in society. Montag soon becomes desperate to find out why things are the way they are. After a talk with Beatty Montag still pursues change since he is extremely curious about books. We can see this when Montag tries to understand books with Mildred in order to find answers and her response is, “What does it mean? It doesn’t mean anything! The Captain was right!” (Bradbury, 72). Montag then continues to tell her, “ We’ll start over again, at the beginning” (Bradbury, 72). Not only does he want to understand the book with Mildred, but he wants her to realize the truth that she is so blind to. We can also see him changing his mindset when he steals a book from a house that was burnt by the firemen.
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To continue, Montag has morality, which may not seem like much, but compared to the people that surround him he does. After meeting Clarisse Montag learns to differentiate what is good and what is bad. At the beginning of the novel, Montag can be viewed as a very insensitive person, but he undergoes a dramatic change. Montag was never really immoral, but he was amoral, a person whose actions are encouraged by society. He goes through a journey that allows him to discover morality along with traits such as wonder and thinking. We can see his sense of morality when the firemen and Montag burn down an old woman's house for having books. Montag continues to tell a woman, whose house is being burned for committing a crime, to step out and save herself. Throughout this scene Montag is anxious and genuinely worried that the woman will die, “ You’re not leaving her here? he protested” (Bradbury, 42). While Beatty honestly could care less of the old women. Montag knew that it was not right to let her die.
In contrast, many people might look at Montag as a bad person, especially because he killed Beatty. Montag killed Beatty in order to protect Faber and himself. That still does not justify the fact that he murdered someone. This was because Beatty acted the way he did due to the society he was around. Beatty actually never committed a crime he was just abiding by the law. For this reason, people might think Montag is a bad guy.
In conclusion, throughout the whole novel, Guy Montag goes through a change that can be seen as a positive change. This change is due to Clarisse and Guy’s own reasoning to discover what is the meaning of life. Montag is a good person because she pursued change and clarity. Montag is also a good guy because, unlike people in his society, he genuinely cares for others. He cares for people because he knows what is good and what is wrong.
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