The Kindling Point of Paper in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury The title of Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 refers to the kindling point of paper. It is the temperature required to supply the activation needed for the combustion of paper. The story line is based in a society where the conditions of life are miserable. People are not allowed to read books and those caught reading books are taken into custody and the books alongside their houses are burnt by firemen. The novel revolves around Guy Montag who is a fireman who loves and enjoys his work that is burning books. Bradbury captures Guy’s love for his job: â€Å"It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed† (1: part 1). As usual, his work brings him and his workmates to the house of an old lady who has a secret store of books. The lady declines to walk away from her house and watch it being burned down and instead chooses to light the match herself setting the house and herself up to flames. Montag without being noticed by any of his workmates steals a book from the old woman’s secret store before it is completely burned. From this juncture onwards, we see Montag encountering various challenges and coming across people who assist him. Even so, a time comes when he has to make a choice of either quitting what he has been doing or beginning to do what he thinks or terms is right. Montag’s character shows defiance. He defies the set laws of not reading books set by the government. His main reason for