Fahrenheit451

Fahrenheit 451

By livia.diener
  • “Do you ever read the books you burn?” He laughed. “That’s against the law!”... “Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?” (Bradbury 5-6)

    “Do you ever read the books you burn?” He laughed. “That’s against the law!”... “Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?” (Bradbury 5-6)

    This is in the very beginning of the book when the main character, Montag is walking home from his job as a fireman, and he meets his neighbor Clarisse. This is when Clarisse introduces the idea of the the past where people didn’t live in fear and saw the world through the ideas in books. At this point Montag begins to question everything he has ever known and the problem the main character must address is shown.
  • “'...we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out'...[said Latimer to Ridley] as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy..." (Bradbury 33 and 37)

    “'...we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out'...[said Latimer to Ridley] as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy..." (Bradbury 33 and 37)

    Montag and his team get a call about books found in a women’s house. They go to arrest her and burn the books with the house, but she refuses and burns herself along with them. This quote makes a statement: there are those that hope to see books returned to sources of knowledge, and that the fire created shall never be put out. Montag realizes how corrupt the world has become, and tempts him to see the world through another point of view.
  • “Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean.” (Bradbury 57)

    “Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean.” (Bradbury 57)

    I like this quote because when read, it made me feel inspired and purified, but sad at the same time. It is true that fire in a way “cleans” things and makes an object or person “pure”. Unfortunately Montag sees this quote has such power and determination towards one idea that obviously Beatty only sees the world one way, therefore seems incapable of being reasoned with to see the other point of view.
  • “If you don’t want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none.” (Bradbury 58)

    “If you don’t want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none.” (Bradbury 58)

    This is the end of chapter one where Montag is being tested by the “antagonist,” Beatty, who hopes that by explaining what the world wants and needs (happiness and no worries), will persuade Montag that burning the books and people that hold them is the right thing to do. Beatty tempts him to question his new opinion on the view of books and the world.
  • “I was doing a terrible thing in using the very books you clung to, to rebut you on every hand, every point! What traitors books can be! You think they’re backing you up, and they turn on you...

    “I was doing a terrible thing in using the very books you clung to, to rebut you on every hand, every point! What traitors books can be! You think they’re backing you up, and they turn on you...

    ...Others can use them, too, and there you are, lost in the middle of the moor, in a great welter of nouns and verbs and adjectives.” (Bradbury 104) This is the end of chapter two where Beatty makes Montag feel his and Faber’s quest to take down the fireman is hopeless because Beatty uses the ideas in books against him. Our main character feels hopeless because he can’t rebuff or it will blow his cover. It’s his lowest point.
  • “We never burned right…” (Bradbury 113)

    “We never burned right…” (Bradbury 113)

    This is at the beginning of chapter three when Montag takes a stand and burns Beatty after Beatty forced him to burn both the books he collected and his house. The idea of burning right demonstrates how Montag stuck to his points of view, and had integrity by standing up for what he believed in. Similar to the quote I referenced on page 33. He defeats the main “antagonist.”
  • “...they were sure of nothing save that the books were on file behind their quiet eyes, the books waiting… for the customers who might come by later years…” (Bradbury 148)

    “...they were sure of nothing save that the books were on file behind their quiet eyes, the books waiting… for the customers who might come by later years…” (Bradbury 148)

    This is near the end of chapter three when Montag escaped the city and sought refuge with people who shared his views and hopes for the world: see through books. Montag knows that the knowledge from the books are safe in their minds and will someday be passed on to those who walk this the same path after them.
  • “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” (Bradbury 148)

    “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” (Bradbury 148)

    This is near the end of chapter three when Montag is spending time with people who are in hiding for the same reasons as him. They didn’t look like the kind of people who shared his viewpoints so this quote is what one of them told him. Montag thought he would be able to tell right away by a person’s appearance whether or not they possessed the knowledge of books. He learns that you can’t tell what’s in a person’s heart until you truly know them.
  • “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies.” (Bradbury 149)

    “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies.” (Bradbury 149)

    Towards the end of the third chapter Montag goes back and thinks about the differences between him and the people in his life. He mainly notices that they are empty and gave nothing to the world or each other. One of his companions explains that this is important because by leaving something your soul has a somewhere to go when you die, and people are reminded of you by it. From this Montag understands why substance is important, which is what books are appreciated for.
  • “...there was everything to think about and much to remember.” (Bradbury 157)

    “...there was everything to think about and much to remember.” (Bradbury 157)

    This is the very last part of the book when Montag is heading back to his fallen home. He wonders what the right thing to say is, to help people know what to remember and think about. He then remembers a few lines from a book which taught that no matter what things heal and that having a rise and fall in life and society is natural. Things happen, but we move on. It is those lines he remembered that he would share. Rebirth.