The Sieve and the Sand

In the second part of the novel we are introduced to the character of Professor Faber. Montag meets Faber in the park a while before the start of the book and sees him reading a book. Faber gives Montag his address, basically saying that Montag can either turn him in, or they can become friends. This exchange seems to be the beginning of the doubt Montag has about his job. After Montag's confrontation with Beatty at his house, Montag drops by Faber's apartment. Montag tells Faber of his plan to stop the firefighters. His plan sounds like a good idea: planting books in the fire stations, and watching them get burned because of it. But I think there would be some problems with it. Most firefighters if not all, do not have this seed of doubt that Montag has, they are all brainwashed into thinking books are bad. They would not react the way Montag and Faber would want.

I find the meeting of Mildred with her two friends Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles very strange. The women's conversations are so shallow and superficial it is incredible. they talk about things like how they only voted for the last president based on looks, and the nonchalant way they discuss their children, "I put up with them when they come home three days a month;it's not bad at all. You heave them into the 'parlor' and turn the switch. It's like washing clothes: stuff laundry in and slam the lid" (Bradbury 96). This is an example of how superficial society has become. They do not think for themselves, Mildred even considers the actors on her wall screens her family. The screens have a part written out so the person at home watching, can read the lines and feel like they are really interacting with the actors. Books were outlawed because society did not want the authors to plant ideas into the people's heads. They want everyone to think the same.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.