The Phoenix: In Conclusion

According to Peter Sisario from his A Study of the Allusions the Phoenix depicted by Granger near the closing of the story played an important role in many areas of the book. One in particular was the burning of the woman. How did this burning symbolized the relevance to Montag? How does the following quote put together many pieces of the story?

"There was a silly damn bird called a phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burnt himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it [...]."

After the scene with the old woman burning to death, we start to see Montag evolve out of his pool of self and actually start to wonder why he does what he does. The burning of the woman really symbolized Montags progression on his meaning. Montag started to question certain areas of his life and eventually troubled himself for the answers.

The above quote found on page 163 by Granger, really shows how F451's society evolved from so enclosed to possibly what... Bradbury's ending is somewhat ironic. Especially at the moment in which Granger discusses a bird that dies in the fire, and the whole city is bombed. But as a whole, I think the city was bombed just like the Phoenix was burned in order for the revival of a new civilization. Although it is certain that the city will regain strength the big question is whether the city will regain a new hold on the look of the world.

Written by Eric