The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is full of great characters. The main character of this story is Guy Montag. The question asked to name the "hero" of the book ,but I would not consider Guy Montag heroic. But since he is the protagonist of the book, I am obligated to write about him. The reason I say he is not much of a hero is because he does not really have the character traits of one. When I think of heroic I think of someone who is confident, strong, brave, and put together. Guy Montag is pretty much the opposite of this. Montag is not really brave because bravery is something that really does not exist in this society. The government runs and rules through fear. He does become brave later in the book though by standing up for what he believes in and acting on it even though his life will be endangered. As for strength, I am sure he is strong physically since he is a fireman, but he is certainly not mentally. Guy tends to let his emotions get the best of him. Examples of this would be when he tells off the women in his house and also when he kills Beatty with his flame thrower. As far as put together, Montag does not really have a plan. He kind of just reacts to what life throws at him. He had a plan with Faber at one point, but his emotions kept him from fulfilling it out. In this book, Guy accomplishes realizing in the value of books and literature. He also accomplishes escaping the hound and the cops while also remembering the book of Ecclesiastes. " 'The Book of Ecclesiastes would be fine. Where was it?' 'Here.' Montag touched his head" (Bradbury, 150). Guy Montag is portrayed as any other fireman, who in a way, becomes a hero. I think Guy Montag represents the abstract idea of enlightenment in the way that he realizes the truth and the value of books and because of this, he changes his way of living.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.
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