An Investigation into Guy Montag (Fahrenheit 451)

In the start of the novel Fahrenheit 451, the main character Guy Montag is described by many different concepts, metaphors and conflicting ideas. The first line, "It was a pleasure to burn", is only a very short, simple sentence, but conceals a powerful and explanitive description of Montag's character. It evokes that he is destructive, which perhaps is driven by a metaphorical fire inside of him, but also that he is different from regular modern, civilised people, as he is purposefully burning something, and if you read on a few lines, you will find that this something is a house, which of course is a thing that would definitely be frowned upon to burn in todays culture, especially for someone to take pleasure from doing so. You would also find signs indicating that he may be authoritative, due to his role of burning, and that he is dignified and proud in this role, i.e; "significant number" and "brass nozzle in his fists". Turn the page, and you would find constant references to happiness, emphasising the smile left on his face by the fire, and adding how he whistled while he walked. " Minstrel man" is a quote that leaves Montag shrouded in the soot of evil, but the fact that the Minstrels were in fact white people, perhaps implies that there is some good, kindness and difference behind his cloak of black. Overall, in only the first two pages of the book, the author has already provided an in depth description of the central character, if thorough investigation of the text is carried out.