Dylan Esbenshade
Mrs. Soper
English 11 Honors
21 October 2019
Independent Novel Project
Fahrenheit 451
Montag’s Diary
Entry 1
My name is Guy Montag and I am a firefighter. As I was walking home from work today, I met a girl named Clarisse. She asked to walk home with me. Then she told me she was not afraid of me at all. I was very confused, and I asked her what reason she would have to be afraid of me. She replied by saying that so many people are afraid of firemen, but that I was just a man. Then she continued asking me questions about my job. She asked if I ever read any of the books I burnt, but of course I said no. She said that she heard a rumor that firemen used to put out fires when houses accidentally caught on fire. I told her that is false and to take my word for it.
Before she went into her house, Clarisse said to me, “Are you happy?” and then she was gone. Today was a very odd day. I am so used to just going to work in the morning, doing my job all day, and returning home late at night. That is what my life has been like for years, but now this girl is questioning my lifestyle. When she asked if I was happy, at first I thought it was a silly question, but now I’m starting to think maybe I’m not happy. There is nothing exciting in my life, just the same thing all day every day. I’m even starting to question to myself what the point of burning all these books is, but I will try to keep it to myself and continue my life as a fireman.
Entry 2
Since I last wrote, I found out that Clarisse died. My wife Mildred said that she was run over by a car, which is very unfortunate if it is true. I started stealing books that I’m supposed to burn and hiding them in my house. I know it’s against the law, but I still don’t understand what is so bad about books. I finally told my wife about it and she became very angry at me. She said she was worried Captain Beatty, the head fireman, would find out and burn our house. Later when I was alone, I remembered meeting a man named Faber in the park a year ago. He seemed like he was trying to hide something in his coat, and he seemed afraid of me, but once we began conversation, he said that he was a retired English professor. We talked for a while and before I left, he wrote his address on a slip of paper and gave it to me.
I decided to call Faber. He answered and I asked him how many copies of the Bible are left in the country. He said he thought it was a trap and he couldn’t talk to just anyone on the phone. He ended up hanging up, but later I went to his house. When I swore that I was alone, he finally let me in. I showed him the Bible that I had stolen, and he said he hadn’t seen one in a long time. Together we came up with a plan to print extra books and plant them in firemen’s houses all over the country. He then gave me a small green-metal object that he had created. He told me to put it in my ear so I could listen to him while he stayed safe in his house and so we communicate to each other. And so the adventure begins.
Entry 3
A lot has happened since I last wrote. Faber and I began to carry out our plan. Captain Beatty found out and tried to stop us. He stole my earpiece that Faber gave me, so I could no longer ask Faber what to do. Beatty threatened to trace it back to Faber and find him, but I could not let Faber be in danger. I never though I would kill someone, but I had to in order to save myself and Faber and to finish carrying out our plan. I shot Captain Beatty with a flamethrower and killed him. I closed my eyes and shouted because it was such a horrific scene, but afterwards I didn’t have much time to think about it before I saw the hound.
I was wanted by the fire department. They had sent their Mechanical Hound after me to kill me. I managed to shoot the hound with a single bloom of fire, but it still managed to push me back ten feet against a tree and stab a needle into my leg before it exploded from the fire. My leg became numb, but I knew I would only be safe for a short while and I had to get out of the city. I eventually found my way to Faber’s house. I knew I would have to leave. We talked for a little bit while watching his television. I was wanted and the whole city was being told to look for me. I had to find a way out of the city without anybody seeing me. I didn’t know if I would be able to do it, but it was my only hope. I eventually found a river and just before I was caught, and I jumped into the river and floated out of the city. I didn’t know what would happen next, but I was grateful that I was safe for the time being and I could finally relax a little bit.