The Meaning of Fire in Fahrenheit 451by Ray Bradbury Essay

Fire is very common in basic human life and has many purposes. With its many uses, fire’s symbolic meaning is open to various interpretations. In regards to Fahrenheit 451 fire can symbolize knowledge, destruction, and also rebirth. Ray Bradbury illustrates correctly the ambiguity of fire’s metaphors through Montag. As Montag gains new perspectives on fire readers are shown that fire is a very prominent symbol with multiple meanings. Bradbury first depicted fire as a hurtful force through Montag, a fireman, who burn books. With the converted mentality of his culture, â€Å"it was [Montag’s] pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed† (3). Montag’s culture sees burning as an enjoyment;†¦show more content†¦This shows the trust and solace that fire can give, where Montag and his mother had shared a bond in the vast and paralyzed society around them, roused by the light of a small flam e. Introducing words such as â€Å"rediscovery, illumination, comfortably† Bradbury starts Montags mental change and starts to evolve the meaning of fire. In a similar way, the woman who burns to death with her books comments before she dies: â€Å"We shall this day light such a candle†¦as I trust shall never be put out† (36). The candle she refers to embodies the trigger of revolutionary thinking that changes Montag and his understanding of culture. This fire, instead of destroying, creates hope and rebirth. In addition to the woman’s dying words later in the book Montag is inspired by Granger’s telling of the Phoenix. Granger mentioned that â€Å"[Pheonix] must have been first cousin to Man† which is saying that men and the phoenix are alike in the sense that they resurrect every certain amount of years (163). The comparison between Man and the Phoenix is compelling because it gives the reader a feeling of self-renewed hope toward mankind, particularly since Man can look back on the mistakes that he has made and would like to gain from them later on. Throughout history, fire is depicted as a symbol of knowledge and self- awareness. Towards the end of the novel, Montag himself begins to understand the restoring and encouraging power of fire that is