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Although the Mechanical Hound is merely a piece of machinery, the animalistic characteristics that it possesses render it as a unique character throughout the novel. Montag encounters two different Mechanical Hounds during his time interacting with the firemen, but all of them possess the same vicious instincts. The firemen are able to program it to detect an unlimited number of chemical combinations, and with this information, it can easily hunt down individuals and kill them with the silver needle that shoots out from its mouth. Given its close association with firemen and their pursuit to burn books, the Mechanical Hound functions as a symbol of the government’s ability to weaponize technology against the populace. Merely knowing that such a creature exists is enough to terrorize many people into following the government’s intellectually oppressive laws. Montag expresses his fear of the Mechanical Hound at numerous points throughout the novel, even before he approaches Faber about his plan to take down other firemen. When the paranoia of being discovered is not enough to prevent individuals from hiding books, the Mechanical Hound’s quick ability to kill ensures that those breaking the law are stopped. The fact that a literal piece of machinery represents the will of the government emphasizes just how inhumane their push for control truly is. With no ability to distinguish between the small animals it hunts for sport and the people it targets, the Mechanical Hound proves itself to be a ruthless weapon.
