Jane Eyre And Fahrenheit 451 - 1381 Words

Jane Eyre and Fahrenheit 451 are two pieces of literature destined to stand the test of time. They both possess various traits which distinguish themselves as ‘classics,’ thereby allowing them to be relevant novels regardless of the time period. These aforementioned traits are derived from the facts that both of these novels are timelessly relatable in the sense of possessing the universal ‘coming of age’ theme regarding overcoming disillusionment, give a glimpse into history by acting as symbols of societal norms in their respective time periods, and demonstrate elevated writing largely through the use of symbolism. A critical part of growing up seems to always entail the overcoming of some form of disillusionment. Jane Eyre and Fahrenheit 451 both illustrate this theme so often demonstrated in classic ‘coming of age’ novels. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag becomes disillusioned with his role in society as a fireman: his job is to burn books. Montag goes his entire life blindly following the notion that books are not only superfluous objects but objects which incite chaos. However, after observing a woman who chooses to burn alongside her books rather than be without them (Spencer 65), Montag begins to reflect on all that he has been doing as a fireman and the mindlessness with which he has been doing so (Bradbury 49). The fact that this woman was willing to die for the exact cause Montag was trying to eradicate opens his eyes to the fact that his job may not be as honorable