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Teachers & SchoolsIdentity
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The crisis of identity is at the core of Fahrenheit 451—just like middle school. As Montag learns from a series of mentors and teachers, he sees his own identity melding with that of his instructors. This is also a means of scapegoating—if your identity is not entirely your own, then you are not entirely responsible for your actions.
It's a tad ironic that this occurs as Montag is learning to think for himself, but that's kind of the point. Bradbury explores the question of how to define the self throughout the story, and seems to find an answer: actions.
Montag assimilates first Clarisse’s and later Faber’s identity to avoid thinking for himself. It is not until he washes in the river that he assumes his own new identity.