Burning through the Layers
High School. You either love it or hate it. Or perhaps you have the good o'l love hate relationship. Typically, students source the reason for their dread of high school to be the daunting number of assignments. In most cases, this is all too true. Although, the profound stereotypical assignment always portrayed to be the worse are and always will be an essay. So, here I am tackling the "impossible" assignment:
Have you ever looked at your reflection? I assume the answer is yes. And if it's not then. that is shocking. Everyday we take a look in the mirror whether its when we awake in the morning, get ready for particular event, or simply out of boredom. But, I am not trying to highlight the part of looking at your features in the mirror. I am more or so asking what do you see in the mirror. What defines you? Everyday we struggle with finding our identity. Do we genuinely know who we are. Its a difficult question if you ask me. However, addressing this question head on can lead to outcomes you never imagined possible. As seen in a certain novel. Fahrenheit 451, written beautifully by Ray Bradbury. If you have ever read any works by Bradbury that yo already know whats in store.But, if not do not fear I will guide you through the experience. In short, the plot revolves around a man named,Guy Montag. Montag resides in a dystopian society where books are outlawed as a result having "firemen" burn any that are found. Montag is one of those "firemen". The most common themes expressed on this novel is censorship or ignorance as a whole. But,I see this novel differently. And it all because of one damn metaphor about a mirror.
Bradbury is known for predicting future conflicts we now face in today's society. And believe me he did not fail with this novel. In my perspective, the novel reflects the struggling of finding one's self identity or the difficulty of the topic of self identification alone. The author reveals this by using symbolism, mirrors, and the simply the character's journey as a whole.
Hands. We never really think twice about them. I mean they're just there. A part of our body. But, not in this book. The hands are so much more. Now, there are many times we are brought back into the topic of hands in this book. And each time we learn something meaningful. For once, we are given a situation where the protagonists a character his boss to be more specific. This event was illustrated as, "He twitched the safety catch on the flame thrower. Beatty glanced instantly at Montag’s fingers and his eyes widened the faintest bit. Montag saw the surprise there and himself glanced to his hands to see what new thing they had done. Thinking back later he could never decide whether the hands or Beatty’s reaction to the hands gave him the final push toward murder,”. I know what you're thinking. Despite the actual murder present there is a hidden message. As Beatty the person who is murdered by Montag is portrayed to be fork in the road preventing Montag from truly finding his true self. This event represents the frustration one feels to find our true selves. We crave it. We want it. Therefore, after time of struggling sometimes we act out letting our hands takeover. And that is what happened here for Montag his hands took over. In addition, during a conversation, a character named, Granger, begins to talk about his grandfather who has passed. He describes him as sculptor who carved wood, he helped clean up the slums, he raised doves and pigeons, he told jokes, and he played the violin. His actions in life made such an impact on the world and on Granger. Therefore, this is connecting to our hands by representing our actions. It is being implied that our actions are what is remembered when we our gone And it's quite beautiful actually. But, so terrifying at the same time. This brings up the question: who are we to the world? Who are we really? It really gets us thinking about what legacy will we leave behind will it be genuine or will it just be a hoax of a personality we painted to please others. And that's the scary part. In the end, the use of hands in this novel implicitly illustrates the significance of finding self identity despite the hardships that will come along doing so.
At last the mirror. Now, the metaphor I mentioned. Close the end of the novel, Fahrenheit 451, a character named Granger speaks of finally burying the war and putting it in the past. Firstly, he says they would begin with a mirror company. The purpose of this is for the people of the society to truly look at themselves. This helps people realize their flaws and or mistakes. This is metaphor referring for people to reflect on themselves to genuinely analyze their life and even purpose in general.This is always the first step or major step in the process of fixing an issue. Therefore, that's where the significance of this representation of a mirror brings. Take a good look in the mirror. They always say. Do you see-your true self? What is our true selves? But, it is a first step. To a long journey. Furthermore, this ideology is presented when the city is being bombed and Montag's thoughts go to picturing his wife, Mildred, dying in a hotel room, "Montag, falling flat, going down, saw or felt, or imagined he saw or felt the walls go dark in Millie’s face, heard her screaming, because in the millionth part of time left, she saw her own face reflected there, in a mirror instead of a crystal ball, and it was such a wildly empty face, all by itself in the room, touching nothing, starved and eating of itself, that at last she recognized it as her own". This quote reveals how Mildred's death will function like a mirror that will allow her see her true self for the first time in her life. It will revealed how empty and or vain her life has been with no time to change it. Fortunately, has learned the importance of self-reflection and self-understanding before it was too late.
Now, for the journey. It is no secret that Guy Montag is a dynamic character. The character goes from a good citizen in society to a rebel, from numb to actually feeling emotions, and finally from conversing bluntly to actually have thoughts and mindfulness in the conversation. At first, Montag is a great fireman in his dark society, he burns the books as he is supposed to and he enjoys this is seen right of the bat in the novel, “ It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed”. We can explicitly see how Montag find satisfaction in burning the books as it is his job. However, this changes. We can see the change when his rebellious side comes forth. Guy begins to hide books, he starts a stash at his house. Not only that but he seeks help from another character to help him read a book so, he ends up getting an earpiece where a character named, Faber, reads to him. . Therefore, it is clear that a change occurred Montag went from the rule enforcer to the rule breaker. . Secondly, in their first interaction Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy without thought he assumes his answer is yes however, once he actually processes the question he begins to see he is not as his life had been always numb and gray. Then, we can see this drastic emotion change when Montag explains to Faber what he is seeking from reading books and discussing them with others. He expresses his frustration with the way technology has taken over their lives: The televisions in the walls do all the talking while the people don’t talk to each other. This lack of human connection contributes to the unhappiness he realizes he’s been feeling, which is why he begins looking for something with greater meaning.We can see that Montag is yearning for new emotion he wants he feels the first ration for once his emotion is strongly represented and it was not before. Thirdly, Montag at first was a terrible person to have a conversation with his answers were always quick and short as seen in his first interaction with Clarisse. In other words, he answered without thought: quick and efficient like, a robot almost. However, as Montag encounters the wanderers sitting by the fire they hold a deep meaningful conversation you can see how Montag actually took his time to find the right reply and words to these people which I think is the best change of all. In conclusion, Montag goes through an evolution as many protagonists but, unlike the others he finds humanity in this robotic society he lives in which I think is simply beautiful. Guy Montag achieved the impossible he found his true identity.
Nowadays, difficulty is promoted greatly. But, does it actually occur? With so many new technological innovations like social media and more we can't help but copy. We follow the trend its just in our nature to do so. We want to fit in. No one really wants to stand out So, do we truly break out of given stereotypes? I know in the constitution it states,"We are all equal...", but that does not mean we have all equal the same personality. I hope we all can go through finding our identity just like Montag. It will be hard. But, hey let's take the first step. Take a look the mirror and break through the layer of facades you put over yourself.
