Fahrenheit 451 Symbolism-the River Essay

In Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit(postnominal) 451, Montags escape by means of the river svmbolizes his salvation, along with some(prenominal)(prenominal) new(prenominal) things. . In several other instances besides the river, water is customd to pipeline make off and to thus show the dissimilarity between good and evil. Also, the woods through which the travels river symbolizes the innocence of macrocosmkind before civilization. This is plainly a scaratch on the surface of this new(a)s seemingly endless symbolisation. Fahrenheit tells the fib of a fireman named Montag whose personal line of credit is to set fire to books in severalise to maintain societys ignorance.When Montag kills Beatty, the blast Chief, he decides to run from the world that he has lived his whole flavor in. His newfound acquaintanceship Faber, another person on the outskirts of society, tells him that he will be safe if he makes it to the river. This is an illustration of literal salvation. Rivers l ots dally divine emmissaries, life, and the enterance into the afterlife (Jobes 1341). After a long time of floating Montag knew he must never burn over again (Bradbury 141). This shows that the river changes Montag or is at least the cocoon in which he rest maculation he undergoes a metamorphisis into what is basically a different person. Also, it is interesting that, in the experienced South as wholesome as in Biblical times, the baptisms of new Christians often would take place in the hot river or creek.Montags journey in the river seems to be a baptism of sorts, as it frees him from the shackles and duress of his former life.The river, however, is only the vessel in which Montag travels to the heart of the forest. The forest is the abode of man in his state of innocence, and a Hebraical symbol for kingdom (Jobes 594). In the unexampled, the forest and the river atomic number 18 likened to one another at times, such as when Montag describes the forest story as a dry river olfaction of hot cloves and warm dust (Bradbury 144). When Montag several men who, like him, atomic number 18 on the outside of society looking in, they are at the old railroad tracks tht keep down through the heart of the forest like a rusty dagger wielded by the filthy hand of industry. It is here that he finds his real redemption.The river is not the only use of water as symbolic representation in Fahrenheit 451. urine symbolizes baptism, cleansing, resurrection, and is a radical of both good and evil (Jobes 167). Water is used on numerous do to line of descent with fire, wich is representative of divine love, fervor, and life, unless also divine anger, destuction, and death (Jobes 571).Usually, they contrast good and evil, and although fire is generally associated with evil, its symbolism begins to change toward the end of the novel When Montag sees the fire the men in the forest are using to warm themselves, he realizes he has never thought in his life that fire can give as well as take (Bradbury 147). The fire is a metaphor for Montag he finally realizes that he can change the world for the go against instead of for the worse.Ray Bradburys novel offers a rich tapestry of symbolism to all those who read it.Bradbury weaves a seemingly endless amount of symbols into his story in a way that is wonderfully eloquent, clearly American, and easily accessible to the casual reader. His fanatic cry against censorship and engaging story has enthralled readers for the past 50 years. He uses symbolism to help get his aim across, and thus makes the story work on a deeper level. Through symbolism, Bradbury has found a way to affect the reader in the very core of their being, and he has make this novel one whose jarring imact stays with the reader long after they cast off turned he final page.