Montag as Hero in Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was first published in 1933 and its story involves a futuristic world in the midst of nuclear war . The totalitarian government of this future forbids its people from reading or participating in other acts involving individual thought. The law banning reading is likely relatively new, and the government faces the enormous task of destroying all of its citizens' books. This arrangement of books is the job of the main character, Guy Montag, officially titled “firefighter”. He and his team raid libraries and homes, burning any books they find in front of dozens of delighted spectators. At the very beginning of the novel, Montag appears as a ruthless and hateful human being. Surprisingly, however, it is Montag who emerges as the protagonist at the end. Montag is a dynamic character; it constantly learns, changes, and maintains the reader's interest. Ray Bradbury is able to incorporate careful details and ideas that change the reader's opinion of Montag and allow him to become the hero of the story. As Fahrenheit 451 begins, Guy Montag burns the books in a house and thoroughly enjoys his flame feast. Bradbury places several subtle metaphors in this section that lead the reader to equate Montag with a detestable snake-like human being. As Montag stood "with that great python spewing its poisonous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded to his head...". (19). Montag even takes on the appearance of a monster in the line, "...and his orange eyes glow at the thought of what is to come..." (19). It is difficult to understand why Montag enjoys burning so much, and the fact that he receives so much pleasure...... middle of paper ...... the story progresses, Montag completely overturns his belief system and becomes a defender for the salvation of books. He is chased from his job and his home, but at the last moment his decision saves him from certain destruction by a nuclear bomb. Montag becomes a hero, one of the last to retain the power of literature in his mind. Fahrenheit 451 shows that a character's personality can have many more facets than we see at first glance. Bradbury is able to refract the crystal of Montag's character, so that it reflects into each reader's heart a different aspect of humanity. Once Montag becomes more human, Bradbury makes it almost impossible for the reader to hold a grudge against his past. Using this as a tool, Montag, the story's first apparent antagonist, defeats the government, who is the true antagonist, and emerges as the hero..