Fahrenheit 451

In Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451, in a futuristic society where a corrupt government is attempting to preclude independent thinking, protagonist Montag struggles to combat scientific advancements of this time. To begin with, Clarisse, a young girl, befriends Montag and enlightens him about past history of mankind. She tells him that things were very different hundreds of years ago. For one thing, fireman used to put out fires, whereas now they start them. This is because now the government does not want people to read books, therefore when someone is caught reading a book, their house is burnt down by a fireman. Montag is a fireman. Clarisse is very curious and does not wish "to know how a thing was done, but why" (60). Montag is very enthralled by her thoughts and gains a new perspective on life. Next, the government continually tries to brainwash citizens with technology in order preclude their independent thinking aroused by books. Montag's wife, Mildred, constantly relaxes in their house with three walls of television and obsesses over her "TV family" and how wonderful they are. She believes that they are truly real and more important than her actual family. The government obviously supports this lifestyle and even installs the TVs in people's houses and controls what they watch. The ultimate goal of the government is for citizens to be completely dependent on them, thus they will remain in power. Finally, after Montag realizes the government's agenda, he begins to assert himself in his attempt to thwart its ironclad control over the citizenry. Montag contacts Faber, a retired English professor, who explains to him that the subtle experiences in the books are the important things in life, not what the government promotes. Many books then intrigue Montag that later lead to his exposure. As a result, Montag's house is burnt down, he kills Beatty, his boss, out of mere frustration, and then he runs. The "mechanical bull," a programmed device used to track people, then attempts to catch Montag while he sprints through the woods. He escapes the mechanical bull by confusing the device, and eventually Montag joins others who realize the importance of independent thinking through reading. Subsequently, in the twilight of the night, Montag and a group of erudite men begin their solitary pursuit, combating the unethical government as they begin to retell stories of the past to be remembered for the future generations.