Fire
In the novel, fire is seen as a dual symbol - weapon and comfort. It is introduced as a powerful force because it is used to burn books. Guy's perspective of fire changes, quite a few times throughout the book. In beginning, as part of his job, Guy treasures the moments when the books catch fire, their pages burning bright. However, when he meets Clarisse and develops his hidden interest in books, he regards the fire as an dangerous enemy since it is capable of destroying his newly found interest. As Guy's rebellion blossoms, the fire once again becomes his ally. He uses it to slay Beatty and destroy the Mechanical Hound set by Beatty to hunt him. In the company of book-lovers, Guy sees fire in yet a new light - instead of "burning, it was warming" (Bradbury 139).