What’s Up With the Epigraph?

Epigraphs are like little appetizers to the great entrée of a story. They illuminate important aspects of the story, and they get us headed in the right direction.

If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.
– Juan Ramón Jiménez

Fahrenheit 451 is all about rebellion against seemingly overwhelming opposition. Extending the metaphor to the detailed portions of the novel reveals a clear parallel: the lines on the paper reflect the rigidity of Guy Montag’s world – the rules of behavior, the mental oppression, the intellectual subjugation. Writing “the other way” is representative of insurrection – the same kind of insurrection in which Montag indulges through books and the seeking of knowledge.

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