A catalyst is person or thing that precipitates an event or change (Google). Claries initiates the earliest changes in Montages character as she subtly forces him to develop his self-awareness. With this self-awareness, Montage is inspired and encouraged by Professor Faber to change his views and habits.
Completing Montages change in character is Granger, whose wise and uplifting words offer Montage a new perspective on the future. These three individuals are catalysts in Montages life as their actions lead to major development of his character. Claries McClellan is a young girl in Montages neighborhood who inspires deeper thought in the firefighter, thus initiating a transformation Of his character. Previous to meeting Claries, Montage is a close-minded man who is content with living his life to model the rest of society; without thinking, and without questioning.
When he meets Claries, this way of life is challenged as he provokes Montage to think about himself, and reflect on his life. She asks him, “Are you 0) and Montage is forced to ask himself questions that had never crossed his mind before. He considers his relationship with his wife, Mildred, and examines her life as well. Montage becomes aware of the fact that Mildred has grown very distant from him, and that he has no real connection with his wife. He witnesses Mildred overdose on sleep medication, and instead of brushing it off as he might have done before, Montage is troubled by the experience.
Montage becomes afraid of the canonical hound at his work, wary of the fact that it might know of the questioning going on in his head. Because Montages mind has been activated by Claries, he begins to struggle with the many things that are not right in his life. He concludes that he wore his happiness like a mask, and that Claries had run off with that mask. Claries is the catalyst that inspires this awareness, and compels Montage forward in his journey of self-realization. As Montage begins to think about his life and society, professor Faber behaves as a catalyst, encouraging Montage to turn his thoughts into actions.
Before becoming associated with Faber, Montage does nothing more than think these deeper thoughts inspired by Claries. He has neither the knowledge nor the means to act on his reflections, or change the things that he discovers are amiss in his life. However, this idle behavior changes as Faber provides Montage with information, and ideas. F-Baber inspires Montage saying, ” Now, if you suggest that we print extra books in fireman’s houses all over the country, so that seeds of suspicion would be sown among these arsonists, bravo, I’d say”(Rudyard 85).
Montage immediately welcomes this idea, and works with Faber to devise a strategy to put the plan into action. With newly acquired knowledge and inspiration from Faber, Montage slowly becomes a rebel, expanding and acting on Farers plan to frame the firemen. He is driven to steal books, kill the fire chief, and phone in an alarm after planting a book in Fireman Blacks. Montage changes from a thoughtful yet law-abiding man to an active and creative rebel due to Barber’s influence. As a result of his rebellion, Montage meets Granger who is responsible for some of he final alterations in Montages character.
At the time that he encounters Granger, Montages thoughts are jumbled as he struggles to make conclusions about books, knowledge and society. Granger offers clarity for Montage, providing him with explanations, and a purpose in his new life. He explains, “We’ll pass the books on to our children, by word of mouth, and let our children wait, in turn, on the other people” (Bradbury 153). This idea elucidates things for Montage, giving him a way to deal with everything going on in his head.
Instead Of blindly burning, running, and acting recklessly out of desperation and confusion, Montage finally has a purpose for the future. He is TABLE to put together all of his knowledge and experience with books and society to pass on information to new generations, and work for a strong society. Granger sparks this change in Montage as he provides Montage with hope, knowledge, and a plan. In Ray Bradbury novel Fahrenheit 451, Claries McClellan, Professor Faber, and Granger all act as catalysts in Montages life.
Claries triggers some of the first fluctuations in Montages hearted, as she leads him to think about his life, and society. Following these stirrings of self-examination, Montage is inspired and enTABLEd by Faber to act on his thoughts. As a result of the actions inspired by Faber, Montage meets Granger who compels Montage to transform even further, giving him a purpose for the future. These three catalysts contribute to Montages character development, and each play an important role in his great transformation throughout the novel.
