Who are the main characters in the novel? Do you like them? Why or why not? What is special about them? What do they reveal about the universal human experience?

Guy Montag, who is he? He is a person, who could not be that person, if it were not for other people. People such as Mildred, Clarisse, Faber, Beatty, and even Granger. People shape people, and make each other. these characters all have ties with Montag, that lead him to be the character he is presented as at the end of Fahrenheit 451.

First, we have, of course, Guy Montag himself. Guy Montag is the primary protagonist of the story, and it is focused around an important time in his life. He is a very contradictory character in this novel, yet represents humanity as a whole the best. He starts out as a fireman, the censors, yet his purpose in life changes to ridding of the world's firemen. He is often confused or angry in the book, which leads him to do the things he does, which, evidently, shapes his character. He goes from Guy Montag to GUY MONTAG, through these people and actions.

The one who had started it all, was a seventeen year old girl by the name of Clarisse McClellan. She showed Montag how to think. She taught him how to not just know stuff happens, but to want to know why that happens. She also told him of a past when things were different. This all confused Montag, yet comforted him, for he was sad when he heard the news of Clarisse's death.

Secondly, was Montag's wife, Mildred, who, surprisingly, appears to be one antagonist of Montag. She turned Montag in for having books, she hated Montag fr even having books, and avoided directly talking about her and Guy's relationship together. She showed that Montag was needing something, when he saw the dandelion was right, once he thought about it, and that Mildred did nothing for him.

Also, there was Faber. Faber was an old man that hid in his house, for fear that his knowledge of the world may get him killed. He denied any relationship with books, until Montag sent out looking for him. Together they tried to overthrow the firemen, though he had preferred not at first. He is a very noble man, but hides himself inside, so not much is really known about him.

Montag was even influenced by people he didn't even know. The lady who had committed suicide made him curious on why books were so valuable, that a woman would take away her own life because her books were burned. This GREATLY affected the plot and Montag's way of thinking. Had it not been for her, he would not be so curious on what was presented in the books.

And then there was Beatty. He plays as Montag's friend early in the novel, but shows he is really an antagonist near the end. The death of Beatty plays a gigantic role in how the plot is affected, and is the reason Montag left the city, saving his life.

Lastly, was Granger. Many see Granger as unimportant in the story, but not many see what he comes to represent. Granger represented, to me, God. The path not taken by many leads you to Granger, with a few people, and when you come to find him, he provides for your needs, though life comes to be difficult. Granger knows much about life, and strays not from the path he was set out to follow. Because Montag came to him, he was saved from death, along with the rest of the people with Granger. Granger is out in the world to do one thing. Save it if it needs help. Granger is a representation of God in this novel. To save...


-Tanner-