When Fahrenheit 451 begins, Montag is burning down a house that contains books, thinking “It was a pleasure to burn” (1). By the end of the book, he is running away from the government and has committed murder for his own freedom. What changes him? What evidence is there that he has been questioning his society for some time? Consider both the events and the people who influence Montag’s development.

Teaching Suggestion: Montag is lonely and wants more out of life. He seems dissatisfied by his relationship and wants human connection. Students will immediately note that he is impacted by Clarisse and the life that she and her family live. Encourage students to reflect on other characters and events too. Montag is equally impacted by his conversations with Captain Beatty about their society and the principles of free speech versus harmony. We discover that long before he met Clarisse, he had already had a conversation with Faber and begun stealing books. Mildred’s suicide attempt/overdose seems to make him reflect on his entire life and what he wants. Students may connect this discussion to the themes of the Impact of Censorship on Society and Technology and the Natural World.

Differentiation Suggestion: For additional support, students can use a graphic organizer that lists the characters of the novel to prepare or fill out during discussion.