In Fahrenheit 451, the woman burns
herself, presumably, to become a martyr for her cause.
Her
suicide raises the stakes. The novel is full of biblical allusions, and the woman going
up in flames, as Christian martyrs are famous for doing, fits with the allusions and
connects her to Christian martyrs. Her death is a statement, and as far as Montag is
concerned, a powerful one. Her death is an old time testimonial. Her death is a
catalyst for Montag's transformation. That she cares so much for books she is willing
to die for them moves Montag in the direction of beginning a new, thought-filled
life.
Standing among her books as she, and them, go up in
flames, is an image reminiscent of a martyr being burned at the stake. She lights the
match herself to demonstrate her free will, and her power to choose. She willingly
gives up her life to testify to the value of what the firemen are destoying. And
Bradbury writing her as a martyr for books connects her to the Christian martyr the
Captain tells Montag about.
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