Beatty: The True Motivator for Montag (Fahrenheit 451 Book Analysis)

“‘Go ahead now, you second-hand literateur, pull the trigger.’ He took one step toward Montag. Montag only said, ‘We never burned right’” (113). Here is one of the last things Beatty says to Montag in Fahrenheit 451, before being burned alive by Montag. This is a demonstration of how Beatty’s irritability and manipulative behavior can push someone like Montag, who normally falls in line, to do something so extreme, like burning the fire captain. It is clear that Beatty is a huge motivator for Montag, as demonstrated by the previous quote. Some may say, that Faber is an even bigger motivator due to Faber’s love of books, and position as a model for Montag. On the contrary, it is Beatty’s pestering attitude and role as Montag’s boss that proves him a bigger motivator, as shown by the previous quote.

Strong emotions can push people to do extreme things, even people who have been raised their whole life to repress them, such as Montag. Beatty is an expert at inciting anger with his teasing insults and quotes, which can be seen when Montag enters the firehouse for the last time, “here comes a very strange beast which in all tongues is called a fool” (101). Lines like these that Beatty says to Montag can enact strong emotions for him. Beatty’s insults slip into Montag’s mind and fester, which eventually piles up and pushes Montag into being a rebel. After being sick and tired of Beatty’s hypocritical and repulsive personality, Montag begins to question his job and morality as a fireman, as shown when he begins acting strange and tries to avoid working, even threatening to quit. This is proof that Beatty can enact enough emotion in Montag to make him rethink the job he has had for ten years.

Standing in the way of someone can be enough of a push for someone to do something completely out of the ordinary. This is true for Montag, and can best be seen when Montag is reflecting on his actions after burning Beatty and rebelling against the rest of the firemen, “Beatty, he thought, you’re not a problem now. You always said, don’t face a problem, burn it” (115). Due to Beatty’s role as the fire captain, making him the boss of Montag and the other firemen, he makes them do as the rules stated by the government command. Of course one of these rules is to burn all books: “burn ‘em to ashes, then burn the ashes. That’s our official slogan” (6). This creates a rift between Beatty and Montag, because Beatty strictly follows the rules, while Montag wants to rebel and learn more about the books and life before the heavy censorship. Thus making Beatty an obstacle Montag must overcome to achieve his goal. This feud between them is enough motivation for Montag to take extreme measures, like burning Beatty, and going against the firemen, much like a student being motivated to finish a school project right before it is due.

Despite the huge amounts of evidence that can be exhibited in Fahrenheit 451, some say that Faber is an even bigger motivator than Beatty. Faber is an inspiration and role model for Montag, causing Montag to find solace in him and pushes himself to be just like Faber. Faber’s green bullet is also seen as symbolic, showing that Faber will always be with Montag and that when Beatty knocks the bullet out of Montag’s ear, it shows a disconnect between Montag and Faber, “Beatty struck him a blow on the head that sent him reeling back. The green bullet in which Faber’s voice whispered and cried fell to the sidewalk” (112). While Faber may have been what made Montag dive deep into what books he has collected over the years and is an inspiration for Montag, Beatty’s grating and bothersome mindset is what truly is pushing Montag along with his tendency to push Montag to do things he does not want to do is what inspires Montag to reach out to Faber in the first place.

In conclusion, Beatty being Montag’s commander along with his grating personality and attitude, is a bigger motivator for Montag’s thoughts, beliefs, and actions, than Faber. While Faber does prove himself to be a huge role model and inspiration for Montag with his intellect and love for books, Beatty can motivate Montag significantly more with his snarky remarks, hypocritical beliefs, and controlling position. Bradbury could have used Beatty as a MacGuffin to move along the story, by playing with Montag’s emotions, making Beatty a better and bigger motivator than Faber.