Set in the 24th century, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of the protagonist, Guy Montag. At first, Montag enjoys his job as a firefighter, burning illegally owned books and their owners' homes. However, Montag soon begins to question the value of his profession and, therefore, his life. Throughout the novel, Montag struggles to survive, eventually fleeing his oppressive and censored society and joining an underground network of intellectuals. With his new friends, Montag witnesses the atomic destruction of his old city and dedicates himself to rebuilding a literate and cultural society. Early in the novel, Montag develops a friendship with his 17-year-old neighbor, Clarisse McClellan, whose humanist outlook and inquisitive nature inspires Montag to examine his life. Soon he realizes that he is unhappy and no longer loves his wife, Millie. Meanwhile, Millie doesn't want to face reality and instead chooses to immerse herself in interactive television, seashell radio and an addiction to tranquilizers. Dissatisfied with his occupation and resentful of a society indifferent to reports of impending atomic war, Montag begins to question the morals of the world. Specifically, Montag questions why books are seen as so dangerous and why some people are so loyal to them. What power do books have? Driven by his growing unease, Montag steals a book from a collection which he must burn. At the scene of the fire, Montag is shaken when the owner of the books, an older woman, refuses to leave her home. Instead, the woman sets fire to her kerosene-soaked house and remains there as she and it are destroyed by the flames. The woman's dedication to her books makes Montag realize that the happiness he lacks can perhaps be found in books. After the fire, Montag returns home, feeling sick as he relives the woman's horrible death. He begins to realize that although for the past ten years he thought he was serving society as a firefighter, in reality he was simply an instrument of destruction. That night, during a discussion with Millie, Montag learns that his friend Clarisse was killed by a speeding car more than a week earlier. Upon hearing this news, Montag feels even sicker. He falls asleep that night with his stolen book hidden under his pillow. The next day, Montag refuses to go to work, claiming that he is ill. His boss, Captain Beatty, visits Montag that morning and appears to be aware of the internal struggle Montag is suffering from and that Montag might own books..