In Fahrenheit 451, Montag is isolated from his peers and family due to his realization that his life is constructed around a lie. His epiphanic moment results from an encounter with his young neighbor, Clarisse. She forces Montag to re-evaluate his views through asking him, "Are you happy?". Montag' s epiphany that his society shuns books, the one thing that facilitates individual thought, in order to maintain the status quo isolates him mentally from those around him. Montag is indirectly characterized by his interactions with Fabre. He discussed plans to protect books from being burned and distribute them. Rather than instantly complying with all of Fabre's plans, Montag challenges him. Fabre points out that Montag would never have questioned
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The portrayal of these conflicts aid in propelling Montag to his sudden awareness of the ignorance forcefully perpetuated by his government. With his newfound knowledge, Montag withdraws himself from the only life he has ever known. His squadron of firefighters all live with the same goal; to burn books in order to maintain peace. Montag's sudden defection from this practice instantaneously alienates him and forces him to work against the entirety of the government. The struggle between Montag and society comes to a crescendo when Beatty burns down Montag's house and Montag kills him. While Beatty may have been the one to hold the flame thrower that ignited the first flame, Montag's very existence was already set aflame by his isolating knowledge. He distanced himself in the pursuit of knowledge despite the detrimental effects on his relationship and the danger that it put him in. The burden of knowledge not only forces him into isolation, but also out him in direct opposition to the stability of his world. Montag also finds the truth about his own ignorance. The knowledge of his own naivety was brought about by his internal conflict. Montag was forced to examine his flaws as a result of his isolation from society. He is placed into a position in which he can see his worldview was shaped by blissful ignorance. Montag confronts this ignorance and allows himself to realize that
The portrayal of these conflicts aid in propelling Montag to his sudden awareness of the ignorance forcefully perpetuated by his government. With his newfound knowledge, Montag withdraws himself from the only life he has ever known. His squadron of firefighters all live with the same goal; to burn books in order to maintain peace. Montag's sudden defection from this practice instantaneously alienates him and forces him to work against the entirety of the government. The struggle between Montag and society comes to a crescendo when Beatty burns down Montag's house and Montag kills him. While Beatty may have been the one to hold the flame thrower that ignited the first flame, Montag's very existence was already set aflame by his isolating knowledge. He distanced himself in the pursuit of knowledge despite the detrimental effects on his relationship and the danger that it put him in. The burden of knowledge not only forces him into isolation, but also out him in direct opposition to the stability of his world. Montag also finds the truth about his own ignorance. The knowledge of his own naivety was brought about by his internal conflict. Montag was forced to examine his flaws as a result of his isolation from society. He is placed into a position in which he can see his worldview was shaped by blissful ignorance. Montag confronts this ignorance and allows himself to realize that