@taylor b. i think that Montag was hiding the books from everybody really. After the old lady got caught by her neighbor yo can never really trust anybody.
@Taylor I think Montag was hiding the books because he has been ordered to burn them all of his life so he must get tempted to actually see why they're banned.
He was quoting someone, and so to me it is unclear as to whether the quote means anything to him. However, I do think the quote itself is symbolic, is might even be a mantra for some sort of rebellion of book lovers.
@Arman Montag probably put all of the books there therefore knowing that they were there. I think this because he had always seemed guilty about that vent in previous pages in the book.
@drew Montag didn't take out the books because he was too scared too. Taking out the books could be the biggest mistake of someones life. The old lady was hiding her books, but someone still found them. I think that that is Montags biggest fear.
@Drew He was debating what would happen to him if Beatty found out of Mildred even. So basically I think he didn't read them out of fear, but I think that Claireese also pushed him to do it indirectly.
@arman Beatty's speech honestly implies that the world is due to change, that we take away the social parts of ours lives and put them into non-social/inatiment objects
When I first read what Beatty said, it reminded me of Shakespeare's form of writing. I think the candle is relevant to the burning f the books. @ inner circle: What do you think "...light such a candle, by God's grace, in England" means? I understand the candle part, but does the incantation of God being involved, does that mean it's not only books they burn?
@Gabe Probably because he just felt the need to get it all off of his chest since his wife had already known about the book that she found under his pillow. He is also seeming to want to encourage his wife to think the way that he does, and not just go along with the system but actually think like himself and Clarisse were doing before Clarisse disapeared.
@Drew to your response to Arman. I don't think he actually does but I think he is trying to make other people believe that he is a normal person and doesn't read even though he actually probably does.
@Lexi You said that Montag's biggest fear is getting caught but watching that old lady being burned alive was what influenced him to take out the books. Maybe his fears are what pushed him to finally take out the books, not keep him from doing it.
@Eliza Montag and Mildred seem to really just be room mates instead of husband and wife. They just live together, there isn't really a relationship there. They almost seem like what strangers should be like, what Clarisse and Montag should have been like.
@inner circle i believe that Montag is against burning the books, but i also think that many people in the society are against burning books also because everyone is curious and wants to know what is so bad about the books that they must burn them.
@Eliza I really don't think the Montag and Mildred are in love. I think that maybe at one point in their lives they were in love, but I think that the government and Montag's job have forced them to grow appart rather than together. My hope is that Mildred and Montag can love each other enouh to keep Montag's secret a secret.
@Gabe You're probably right. Since Beatty is the fire chief, he can pretty much get away with everything. Since he enforces the rules, he can make it seem like he follows them.
@Katie (inner circle) They probably do burn the Bible as well, since they are burning all books. I really agree with what Kathryn is saying in how the government doesn't want people to think for themselves. Religion isn't really shown at all in this book. So it would be a good guess that the Bible and other religious books are all burned as well as the more common fiction books.
@ Brooke That's true. They don't seem mto have a real relationship. They don't even remember how they met. It's kind of like the book Matched. They didn't actually fall in love or anything. When Clarisse rubbed his chin with a dandelion,it showed that he didn't really love who he was married to. -Casey
@inner circle i think that when it comes to burning books they burn all books. Religion could be outdata in their society. Religion could not be apart of peoples lives anymore, and the government would have no care on what they burn as long as they are burning all the books.
@ Brooke I agree with Montag's and Mildred's relationship. They don't symbolize the couples we know to today's standards. It's a completely different era that we're reading about, so maybe everything has changed, even marriages.
@inner circle Since the book doesn't specify where the setting is, the reader might not know if there even is a bible where they are. Maybe that has to do with the rewriting of history.
@Inner Circle Yes I do think that they burned bibles and other texts like that because they were burning books so that people didn't have free thought. They may have burned all of them except for one certain kind though because then people will still be able to have faith but not a decision on different faith.
As the inner circle noted, there probably isn't much (if any) presence of religion because we have seen no suggestion of praying or thoughts to a greater being.
@Klarissa I also think that they are not in love, but I think that that is correct with most of the relationships in their society. Television seems to be ruining relationships with people, so that might be normal in these times
I believe that Montag is against the burning of books, but how is he going to keep it a secret? Considering his wife is already suspicious of him, he shouldn't be "in the closet" reading.
@Inner Circle They most likely burn religious books because religions are what make people different. It gives people their own minds and beliefs. People could use the influence of their religion to rebel or question the government.
@blake they are going against the constution, but that's not they first time, even now people are trying to get the right to bear arms taken away from the constitution
I think Beatty represents nothing in society today very well, but he does represent a mindset in-between wanting to destroy all books and wanting to preserve all of them.
To me, Beatty isn't a bad character either. I don't even think there is a real antagonist in the story at all except for the government which isn't even mentioned directly yet. -Casey( I had to post as anonymous because it wouldn't let me post under google acount)
@Taylor Probably not all of them did, but there had to have been a great few since Beatty already seemed to know what weas going on with Montag when he hadn't shown upp to work that day. Even Beatty had said that he had done the same. Also they seemed to have an acception among themselves and that they let the other firefighters keep the book for a time period of 24 hours and then after that they just burn the book with no punishment towards the man who took it in the first place.
@ Inner Circle If they were burning writing they probably burned the constitution as one of the first thing. Then it was probably re-written so that nobody knew
@Inner Circle When they rewrote history, they could have gotten rid of the Constitution all together. Because there was so much government influence, it would have been easier then if we were to do that today
@Klarissa I think that Beatty is more than that. He seems able to answer questions Montag has of the past. He knows what things used to be like, but doesn't necessarily express that.
@Arman I don't think religion is practiced because the government does not want it to exist. They want everyone to have one mind and think the same things. The government most likely restricts religion to make everyone the same.
I think Beatty is a bully. He uses manipulation to control every situation and keeps Montag in fear. He is a bully who uses fear to control every situation.
@maggie if they are all equal in all ways then their society can't progress, ..but, what if the government isn't equal to the rest of society, how would that change the way things progress?
@gabe- To be honest I highly doubt the constituion would have been burnt as it created the rights and rules of society, to help keep order in the nation.
Do you guys think that Beatty represents the public in general? He seems to be the perfect person through the eyes of the government. He seems to think everything that the government wants him to think. He's not trying to bring down the hammer, and he seems like a really nice guy. But it's as if he was programed to think the way he does. -Casey
While I don't see Beatty as a bad character, I also think he's been given more credit than he deserves. It likely that he doesn't have a whole lot of layers. He recognizes how society is, he recognizes that some people don't like it, but he doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.
Montag can't be the only firefighter curious of the books content. I'm not sure if he's the person curious about the books. He definitely isn't the only person with books obviously. I also read a comment saying the old lady was called on because of her books. Trust seems to be an issue in this story. Montag is aware that he has more power being a firefighter, but I don't recollect him being greedy for power.
I have to agree with Klarissa. If all the firemen were reading books, the hound would be turning against all of them, not just Montag. Although, there is the possibility that the hound can only detect things one at a time. We really haven't heard to much on the composition or mind set of the hound, so who knows.
@Willie I think the main change to the constitution was the first amendment, because banning books takes away so many freedoms of the people. The only new "freedom" I can think of is the distribution of medicine, and that would probably not be in their version of a Constitution.
Beatty is trying to get Montag to resist the temptation to read books because he has likely seen Montag reading when starting fires and suspects he's keeping books. He is definitley bullying him to stop, but it might be good as the law in concerned.
@Class Do you think that Mildred loves Montag enough to keep his secret about the books, or is she to "sucked in" by the government to help protect Montag?
I think that in this government, the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press are limited as Blake said. What prevents the government from limiting other rights? Does the government have complete power?
@Willie The government has certainly changed everyones freedom of speech. This involves being able to write your ideas and have them published. Also, they are seeming to take out freedom of religion because they are burning the Bible most likely, and no one really seems to believe any dfferent than others based on the way that their society is run, so really andy freedom of thought has been taken out from society. Those that think different are marked as unsocial, like Clarisse, or they burn along side with all of the books that they had for example. It doesn't really seem like any new ones exsist.
@Taylor Beatty has an effect on Montag. I don't think he's just Beatty. He influences Montag to do different things. There has to be some kind of symbolism behind that. He could symbolize the parts of the government that restrict the freedom of the people. Like Mrs. Moritz said, he bullies Montag through fear. Isn't that kind of what the government does?
I think that firefighters could probably get away with more then people because their neighbors and such would not expect them to have books, and neither would the other firefighters. Not that all firefighters have a secret stash of books, but it would be easier to have them.
@Willie Pretty much freedom of expression in all forms has been eliminated, but now, people can just run over dogs and kids and knock stuff over at 90+ MPH and no one thinks anything of it.
@MMoritz I thinlk that if he is a bully like you think he resembles a Jack character where he is able to bully without being stopped because he has self-created power.
That is very true. The other firefighters have, will, or are going through this stage of wanting to red for information against the law. The new ideas are to drawing to resist.
@Savannah and class If trust is such an issue in this book, then why do you think that Montag even trusted his own wife with such a huge secret that could destroy everything in his life that he has worked so hard to get to?
Beatty may not be an antagonist now, but you never know what intentions he has. For all we know as the readers, he could be tricking Montag so he could get a higher position in life.
I don't see him as a bully, per say. I definitely think he's a little intimidating, but he really just seems to be enforcing this society's laws. Over all, I don't think he's too bad a guy, he's just something of a follower.
@mmoritz I don't think that Clarisse was really hit by a car. I think the government took her and her family away. Beatty did talk like they are a problem that needed to be fixed.
@inner circle I think that the government does not have to follow the all equal rule so then, the what th government does is the only way things can progress. So now the government controls everything that happens and changes in this society.
Maybe Beatty had something to do with the disappearance of Clarisse. He had knowledge of Clarisse and her family. Maybe he wanted to remove Clarisse and her ideas from society.
@Baergan That's a good point. The firefighters are also government workers so the government probably gives them a little more wiggle room when it comes to the rules.
@ class: I realize we are questioning if the Constitution was burned or even the Bible or any religious book. This is a completely different society. Yes, the Constitution is the list of rights for the society, but who knows if the "government" has created a different way around the Constitution.
She could have actually been hit by a car (possibly Mildred's car), or she could have been killed or taken away by "the government" for being a radical. I might just be reading to much in to this though.
@ Brooke That is a really good point. This kinda goes back to his relationship with her. To me, she doesn't weem like the kind of person that can keep a secret. I wonder why Montag would trust her. -Casey
@mmoritz I think that Clarisse definitely was not hit by a car. Whether it was because of the government, or her own choice, it was because of society. She would not have been in the story just to die in a car crash. I think that if there is a rebellion, Clarisse will be a part of it.
This government has already shown their violence by the firefighter's burning or material, so they could very well have simply taken her and her family away for thinking differently.
@Maggie I think that is a very good idea because Beatty probably didn't want Clarisse to dirty Montag's perfect mind like she has been doing throughout the book.
I think he told her because, as he said, she is his wife. Their relationship is rocky, but perhaps he is trying to strengthen it by including her in his secret.
@Brooke I think it is because if firefighters were punished for having books, then society would think that it is okay. They are the ones who are supposed to control the books, so if they have them, it makes it seem like no one is agreeing with the government. That is why they may be able to get away with having books. If they were punished, it would start even more of a rebellion.
@mmoritz I definitely think that Clarrise isn't dead. It doesn't make sense. I wonder if she was forced to move by this elusive government. Did she have to do this with other towns too? Casey S
@Moritz I think that Clarisse could have been taken out by the government. In the last chapter of reading that we did she had mentioned that "they" made her go to theripy and in this section Beatty had mentioned that the odd balls of society are often taken out. This is shown often with how the owners of books are burned. Or maybe Clarisse was hit by a car because she was talking about how kids were killing kids, and that everyone just kept on dying from the high sppeds, no one cared if someone got hurt as long as you had insurance.
@inner circle- Arman brings up a good point that the foreshadowing in the beginning with the hound could then conclude that the hound could be trying to hunt down Montag, that the hound knows that Montag is breaking the law without anyone knowing besides Mildred.
@Brooke Wait, do we know that everyone suffers death. I thought that the houses were burned out and the people were taken away, but I'm not sure they die. The only exception of course is the woman who was burned alive.
Beatty wouldn't have any reason to come back after his insanely long lecture to Montag, so it was ssimply a solicitor or someone wanting to talk to Montag and Mildred.
If Clarisse is really dead, what do you think Bradbury was trying to say by killing off such an influential character so early on in the book? Was it because she had served her purpose, or do you think her death is even more symbolic?
@Lexi They do have wiggle room even when it comes to the books. Beatty said himself that firemen could keep the books for 24 hours. Regular civilians don't have that kind of lenience.
@Casey--as far as we know, there are no other towns beyond the one where Montag lives. If there are other towns, I would guess they are under the same pretenses as this town.
@inner circle the government may not need her but I do think that they do see her as a threat to society. When one person speaks out, then it could cause a large number of people to stand up against the government.
@ Inner Circle Maybe Clarisse is being held by the government. Whether she is dead or in a prison of some sort, the government can't afford to have Clarisse's ideas out there. I definitely think the government had to do with Clarisse's dissapearance.
@ Willie I do not agree with you on that. I do think that it wasn't Beatty for that reason, but the author would have no point in writing that if it were just a solicitor. I think it definitely is someone of some importance to the story.
@Casey This all depends. If you look at the world today some countries are doing things like this today, look at China a few years back or North Korea. The world could be extremely different outside of the area he lives in.
@Drew I like the idea that the hound was at the door. Maybe Beatty sent the hound, because Beatty suspected that Montag might be hiding something. I'm not sure, but I think that this could be a reasonable guess.
If she was killed by a car, how incredibly sad. She definitely foreshadowed her death by talking about being afraid of kids her age and how fast they drive. Plus, it isn't really a surprise considering she said that 10 of her friends had died in car accidents. So sad. :(
@Klarissa It had also said that many of the people that had the books and they were burned were suicidal, which is a form of death. Whether its from their own will of doing this or for causes like that woman, they all seem to suffer death. The death could also be a mental death, where they really seem to conform to the government and they dont have their own thoughts anymore.
@Blake It also seems to me that the hound has a built in camera or an information storing system of a sort that Beatty has access to and is therefore able to know what is going on. I'm not sure how else he would show up with such timing as he did.
@drew but don't you think if they firemen can take the books how does the government know that they are not sharing the books with others in the society. Then wouldn't burning the books would become a lost cause.
@Eliza I think Clarisse's purpose was to plant the seed. She caused Montag to start thinking these rebellious and questioning thoughts. She planted the seed and now it's time for him to take charge and challenge.
@Taylor I tend to think that she will not reappear, because she is what caused Montag to start thinking outside of the box. She basically has served her purpose and that she has motivated Montag.
@ mmoritz That's true. They only know what they've been told. For all we know, there might not even be a government at all. It hasn't been mentioned directly. There is only this one town and what goes on in it is all that we know.
I think he is trying to find that Mildred, especially by sharing his book secret with her. I think he wants it to be his wife, but they are two very different people at this point.
Montag will likely look for someone with the same thought process because he needs to come to terms with himself about the whole issue of hiding and reading books.
@Brooke Ok, I do agree with that. I like your point on "mental death". I think that your right, all people do die in some form or another. I also think they die at heart. They people have lost their houses, and they have lost the ability to read. Essentailly- people have lost their education.
@Lexi That's a really good point. Maybe the government doesn't know that firemen are taking books. Maybe this 24 hour rule that Beatty mentioned is actually just a rule established by the firemen.
@ mmoritz I don't think so. I think that he isn't the kind of guy that would go looking for someone like that. I think that he would come upon another person.
Even if Clarisse was just a catalyst she was to important in the story to die that quickly. Montag will have to find someone to vent to and express himself with. He is trying to use Mildred to be that person which I do not think will work.
@inner circle- The pressence and fall out of Clarisse really creates the "social change" that Mongtag was missing in his life, that he needs to change the way he is and how society is developed.
I agree that the hound may have gotten orders from someone. Especially Beatty, he wansn't suprised when Montag told him about the hound. Is it possible that Beatty is out to harm Montag?
@Arman I think that Montag will convince Mildred to help him because when challenging the system it's almost always necessary for the main person to have someone backing them up.
@Brooke Oh man, that is a good question. Again, it might be the hound. (He's hunting down Montag!) However, it could just be a part of Montag that was fearful because he had the books, and so his imagination made it up.
I dont think that Mildred can take the place of Clarisse in Montag's life. Clarisse truly cared about Montag, but Mildred cares more about television than her husband.
@Arman I think that this will all depend on if they can grow in their relastionship. Yes, she cares about her house, but does she care enough about Montag? This I'm not sure on.
@ Klarissa I'm not saying I'm right, but Clarisse is a stranger, but she seems a better choice as far as trusting people. It seems like strangers might be better to trust rather than people you know.
@ Rick Do you think that she is really just facinated by the drama of it? Because I'm hoping that she might start to worry about her husband instead of focusing on her programs and the law.
@inner circle- The book doesn't just have to do with television, it has to do with technology and anti-socialists in the society, that all technology is changing people's minds.
I don't think that Mildred is very worried about being caught. Mildred is more worried about her belongings being burned. She does not want her beloved televisions to be destroyed.
@Maggie I don't think Mildred can take the place of Clarisse either, but I think Montag is going to try to make her do it. Montag realizes that he needs support in order to undergo this rebellion. He is going to try and trust Mildred, but I think it will end up backfiring on him.
@Taylor- I think that Montag was hiding the book first off cause he knew that if he didn't hide it, he'd get in trouble, but I think that he had the book in the first place because like Vanessa said, he was curious about why they had to burn these books anyway. @Arman-I think that Beatty's speech as a whole showed how society worked. He was almost telling the story of how fireman were once this but now are that and what they are expected to do, but I think he what he was trying to get at was the fact that all of society is supposed to/expected to do certain stuff, as well. @Drew-hmm...good question about why he hasn't read them yet. I think maybe it's because of the obvious-he hasn't had time, or that maybe he was very afraid that he was going to get caught and he was very afraid of the punishment if that happened. @Arman-I kinda do think that Beatty knew about those books because in his 'speech', it almost seemed like he was being so deep and respectful of fireman that he was trying to get Montag to cough up the book and confess. You know, when someone tells you how great you are and you are feeling guilty about something, you don't want them to be saying all this great stuff about you and so you confess. I think it's almost like that. @ Brooke- I think Beatty represents the really naive people in society. He's not naive naive. He's naive in a smart way. Confusing, I know, but he's not dumb. He's just so convinced that his way of life (burning books) is correct that he won't give any other way a thought. @Brooke- I don't think it's fair to assume that in this setting in this book there is a Constitution. Who knows if there is one? Who knows if there are laws like today? Maybe that's the reason all these books are being burned...there are restrictions like that in the 'constitution'.@class- On the discussion of Clarisse getting "hit by a car" or "kidnapped by the government", I don't think we will ever really know. I may be wrong, but I don't think we should assume anything at this point. What if we are totally wrong? We might just be skewing our view on this book because of this topic. Maybe she did get kidnapped, maybe she got hit by a car. Who knows.@Brooke- Montag trusted his wife because even though this book was written in the past and set in the future, I still think marriage is the same...you marry someone because you love someone. I think that he really did love her and trusted her, but just like everyone else, the government got a hold of her and turned her loose. But obviously, she didn't rat him out with Beatty and the book, and so I think she is respectable in that sense and deserves his trust until proven otherwise. Why shouldn't he trust her? @mmoritz- I don't think that Montag will find another person to fill Clarisse's role. Either she will come back, or he will sit there feeling sorry for himself or he will do something about the government, but he will not find someone else to replace her. I think she was too irreplaceable and he couldn't find anyone quite like her. Also, he is not a doer, he is a follower.
First!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that Montag was hiding the books in the first place?
ReplyDelete@Taylor
ReplyDeleteBecause he was curious about why the books were such a big deal! Also, if he didn't, his house would be burned....
@ outer circle
ReplyDeletewhat did you think of Beatty's speech as a whole?
What did it mean?
@taylor b. i think that Montag was hiding the books from everybody really. After the old lady got caught by her neighbor yo can never really trust anybody.
ReplyDelete@class
ReplyDeleteDo you think that it might have been Montag's wife, Mildred, could have been the one who hit Clarisse without knowing it?
@vanessa
ReplyDeleteBut he could have atleast told his wife. Doesn't he trust her?
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI think Montag was hiding the books because he has been ordered to burn them all of his life so he must get tempted to actually see why they're banned.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteHe was always curious about books so he hid them but he never had the guts to take them out
@Outer Circle
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Montag hid the books for a year but had not read them yet?
@Willie
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Montag put all the books in the vent or he knew they were there? Do you think Beatty knows of all of those books?
@taylor well if him and his wife don't even talk to each other then how could he trust someone he doesnt really even know
ReplyDelete@Taylor
ReplyDeleteWell, clearly not. His wife watches TV all day so he probably didn't feel very close to her.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteHe was quoting someone, and so to me it is unclear as to whether the quote means anything to him. However, I do think the quote itself is symbolic, is might even be a mantra for some sort of rebellion of book lovers.
@Class
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think he finally revealed that he was keeping the books?
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI think that Montag (as well as all human nature) is curious about the books. He wants to know for himself if the books are truely worthless.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteMontag probably put all of the books there therefore knowing that they were there. I think this because he had always seemed guilty about that vent in previous pages in the book.
@ Drew W.
ReplyDeleteMontag needed a safe place and time to read the books. Also, he may have been afraid to read them.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. Do you think Beatty was aware of what Montag was hiding?
@drew Montag didn't take out the books because he was too scared too. Taking out the books could be the biggest mistake of someones life. The old lady was hiding her books, but someone still found them. I think that that is Montags biggest fear.
ReplyDelete@Drew
ReplyDeleteHe was debating what would happen to him if Beatty found out of Mildred even. So basically I think he didn't read them out of fear, but I think that Claireese also pushed him to do it indirectly.
@arman
ReplyDeleteBeatty's speech honestly implies that the world is due to change, that we take away the social parts of ours lives and put them into non-social/inatiment objects
When I first read what Beatty said, it reminded me of Shakespeare's form of writing. I think the candle is relevant to the burning f the books.
ReplyDelete@ inner circle:
What do you think "...light such a candle, by God's grace, in England" means? I understand the candle part, but does the incantation of God being involved, does that mean it's not only books they burn?
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteI think that Clarisse inspired him, and that finally he is ready to step out and find out if the books are really worthless for himself.
I was surprised how patient Beatty was with Montag. Why didn't Beatty force Montag to go to work?
ReplyDelete@class
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Montag and Mildred's relationship?
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteProbably because he just felt the need to get it all off of his chest since his wife had already known about the book that she found under his pillow. He is also seeming to want to encourage his wife to think the way that he does, and not just go along with the system but actually think like himself and Clarisse were doing before Clarisse disapeared.
@ inner circle
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think that beety ever reads books before he burns them. Is there any eviddance?
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteMontag may have felt that he needed to show his wife why he had been acting so strange.
@ Vanessa
ReplyDeleteJust as clarification Montag isn't the only fireman is he? Otherwise, who would burn his home?
@Drew
ReplyDeleteto your response to Arman. I don't think he actually does but I think he is trying to make other people believe that he is a normal person and doesn't read even though he actually probably does.
@Lexi
ReplyDeleteYou said that Montag's biggest fear is getting caught but watching that old lady being burned alive was what influenced him to take out the books. Maybe his fears are what pushed him to finally take out the books, not keep him from doing it.
@Eliza
ReplyDeleteMontag and Mildred seem to really just be room mates instead of husband and wife. They just live together, there isn't really a relationship there. They almost seem like what strangers should be like, what Clarisse and Montag should have been like.
@class
ReplyDeleteWhat does Beatty symbolize in today's society? What does he signify?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Savannah
ReplyDeleteOf course Montag isn't the only fireman. They're are firemen all over the world and there are even many others in his department.
@ Inner circle
ReplyDeleteWhat I meant my God being involved was he was mentioned in what Beatty had said.
@inner circle i believe that Montag is against burning the books, but i also think that many people in the society are against burning books also because everyone is curious and wants to know what is so bad about the books that they must burn them.
ReplyDelete@Eliza
ReplyDeleteI really don't think the Montag and Mildred are in love. I think that maybe at one point in their lives they were in love, but I think that the government and Montag's job have forced them to grow appart rather than together. My hope is that Mildred and Montag can love each other enouh to keep Montag's secret a secret.
@Class
ReplyDeleteWhat role do you think religion might play in this society?
@Taylor--Beatty
ReplyDelete@inner circle-
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Beatty's book burning obliterates the 1st amendment of the U.S.? To prevent the freedom of press, or religion?
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right. Since Beatty is the fire chief, he can pretty much get away with everything. Since he enforces the rules, he can make it seem like he follows them.
@Katie (inner circle)
ReplyDeleteThey probably do burn the Bible as well, since they are burning all books. I really agree with what Kathryn is saying in how the government doesn't want people to think for themselves. Religion isn't really shown at all in this book. So it would be a good guess that the Bible and other religious books are all burned as well as the more common fiction books.
@ Brooke
ReplyDeleteThat's true. They don't seem mto have a real relationship. They don't even remember how they met. It's kind of like the book Matched. They didn't actually fall in love or anything. When Clarisse rubbed his chin with a dandelion,it showed that he didn't really love who he was married to.
-Casey
@inner circle i think that when it comes to burning books they burn all books. Religion could be outdata in their society. Religion could not be apart of peoples lives anymore, and the government would have no care on what they burn as long as they are burning all the books.
ReplyDeleteDo all firemen feel the same way as Montag does at one time or another? Has Beatty ever been curious about the books that are burned?
ReplyDelete@ Brooke
ReplyDeleteI agree with Montag's and Mildred's relationship. They don't symbolize the couples we know to today's standards. It's a completely different era that we're reading about, so maybe everything has changed, even marriages.
@inner circle
ReplyDeleteSince the book doesn't specify where the setting is, the reader might not know if there even is a bible where they are. Maybe that has to do with the rewriting of history.
@class
ReplyDeleteDo you think that all firemen read secretly?
I think Montag and Mildred were in love once. Now there are too many distractions for them to be in love such as the tv parlor and sleeping medicine.
ReplyDelete@Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteYes I do think that they burned bibles and other texts like that because they were burning books so that people didn't have free thought. They may have burned all of them except for one certain kind though because then people will still be able to have faith but not a decision on different faith.
@inner circle
ReplyDeleteDo we even know that religion is practiced in this time? This would potentially justify the burning of any book.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Beatty sould represent a bad character rather, just someone who is dedicated to serving and obeying the law.
@Savannah
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that there's a group of firefighters, it's not just Montag.
@Class
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think that Beatty represents anything in todays society? What did his huge speech to Montag symbolize, or what did it really mean?
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI think most of them would be tempted like Montag but I think that the others would have more self control.
@Eliza
ReplyDeleteAs the inner circle noted, there probably isn't much (if any) presence of religion because we have seen no suggestion of praying or thoughts to a greater being.
@Klarissa
ReplyDeleteI also think that they are not in love, but I think that that is correct with most of the relationships in their society. Television seems to be ruining relationships with people, so that might be normal in these times
@ Gabe
ReplyDeleteOkay.I was just checking. You're right it would make sense to have firemen all over the world and not just that community Montag live .in
@ Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteI believe that Montag is against the burning of books, but how is he going to keep it a secret? Considering his wife is already suspicious of him, he shouldn't be "in the closet" reading.
@Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteThey most likely burn religious books because religions are what make people different. It gives people their own minds and beliefs. People could use the influence of their religion to rebel or question the government.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI don't think that all firemen read books because wouldn't the hound get upset at all of them then, rather than just Montag?
@ Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteIf all people in a society are forced to be equal, then how can the society progress or improve?
@blake they are going against the constution, but that's not they first time, even now people are trying to get the right to bear arms taken away from the constitution
ReplyDelete@brooke-
ReplyDeleteI think Beatty honestly portrays the government, that his control over others to do everything in his ways seems as if dictatorship
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteI think Beatty represents nothing in society today very well, but he does represent a mindset in-between wanting to destroy all books and wanting to preserve all of them.
To me, Beatty isn't a bad character either. I don't even think there is a real antagonist in the story at all except for the government which isn't even mentioned directly yet.
ReplyDelete-Casey( I had to post as anonymous because it wouldn't let me post under google acount)
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteProbably not all of them did, but there had to have been a great few since Beatty already seemed to know what weas going on with Montag when he hadn't shown upp to work that day. Even Beatty had said that he had done the same. Also they seemed to have an acception among themselves and that they let the other firefighters keep the book for a time period of 24 hours and then after that they just burn the book with no punishment towards the man who took it in the first place.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI think it's very likely. At the very least they are all curious about reading at some point, as Beatty said.
@Class
ReplyDeleteDo you think the hound knew about Montag's secret collection of books?
@ Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteIf they were burning writing they probably burned the constitution as one of the first thing. Then it was probably re-written so that nobody knew
@Class
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the peoples rights given from the Consitution have been violated?
@Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteWhen they rewrote history, they could have gotten rid of the Constitution all together. Because there was so much government influence, it would have been easier then if we were to do that today
@Klarissa
ReplyDeleteI think that Beatty is more than that. He seems able to answer questions Montag has of the past. He knows what things used to be like, but doesn't necessarily express that.
@inner circle
ReplyDeleteI think they did change the entire constitution. We already know that the government is not afraid to change the facts about the past.
@Baergen
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, television is also really pulling the relationships apart.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteI don't think religion is practiced because the government does not want it to exist. They want everyone to have one mind and think the same things. The government most likely restricts religion to make everyone the same.
@Class
ReplyDeleteWhat drastic changes has this government made to it's constitution? What freedoms no longer exist? Do some new ones exist?
I think Beatty is a bully. He uses manipulation to control every situation and keeps Montag in fear. He is a bully who uses fear to control every situation.
ReplyDelete@inner circle
ReplyDeleteHe probably doesn’t symbolize anything. He’s just Beatty.
@maggie if they are all equal in all ways then their society can't progress,
ReplyDelete..but, what if the government isn't equal to the rest of society, how would that change the way things progress?
@gabe-
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I highly doubt the constituion would have been burnt as it created the rights and rules of society, to help keep order in the nation.
Do you guys think that Beatty represents the public in general? He seems to be the perfect person through the eyes of the government. He seems to think everything that the government wants him to think. He's not trying to bring down the hammer, and he seems like a really nice guy. But it's as if he was programed to think the way he does.
ReplyDelete-Casey
@Maggie
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good point. He could have finally been done with keeping things from his wife, after-all she is his wife.
@class
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't see Beatty as a bad character, I also think he's been given more credit than he deserves. It likely that he doesn't have a whole lot of layers. He recognizes how society is, he recognizes that some people don't like it, but he doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.
Montag can't be the only firefighter curious of the books content. I'm not sure if he's the person curious about the books. He definitely isn't the only person with books obviously. I also read a comment saying the old lady was called on because of her books. Trust seems to be an issue in this story. Montag is aware that he has more power being a firefighter, but I don't recollect him being greedy for power.
ReplyDelete@ Klarissa and Taylor
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Klarissa. If all the firemen were reading books, the hound would be turning against all of them, not just Montag. Although, there is the possibility that the hound can only detect things one at a time. We really haven't heard to much on the composition or mind set of the hound, so who knows.
@Willie
ReplyDeleteI think the main change to the constitution was the first amendment, because banning books takes away so many freedoms of the people. The only new "freedom" I can think of is the distribution of medicine, and that would probably not be in their version of a Constitution.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteBeatty is trying to get Montag to resist the temptation to read books because he has likely seen Montag reading when starting fires and suspects he's keeping books. He is definitley bullying him to stop, but it might be good as the law in concerned.
@Class
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Mildred loves Montag enough to keep his secret about the books, or is she to "sucked in" by the government to help protect Montag?
@ Willie
ReplyDeleteI think that in this government, the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press are limited as Blake said. What prevents the government from limiting other rights? Does the government have complete power?
@inner circle
ReplyDeleteMaybe Beatty doesn't seem that evil yet. But I have a feeling when Montag starts to rebel Beatty will become his biggest enemy.
@Blake
ReplyDeleteBut in the book the "norms" of society is very different form what it is now and i believe they at least re-wrote it.
@Willie
ReplyDeleteThe government has certainly changed everyones freedom of speech. This involves being able to write your ideas and have them published. Also, they are seeming to take out freedom of religion because they are burning the Bible most likely, and no one really seems to believe any dfferent than others based on the way that their society is run, so really andy freedom of thought has been taken out from society. Those that think different are marked as unsocial, like Clarisse, or they burn along side with all of the books that they had for example. It doesn't really seem like any new ones exsist.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteBeatty has an effect on Montag. I don't think he's just Beatty. He influences Montag to do different things. There has to be some kind of symbolism behind that. He could symbolize the parts of the government that restrict the freedom of the people. Like Mrs. Moritz said, he bullies Montag through fear. Isn't that kind of what the government does?
@outer circle Why do you think that the government when from how it is now, to the controlling government that is in this society?
ReplyDeleteI think that firefighters could probably get away with more then people because their neighbors and such would not expect them to have books, and neither would the other firefighters. Not that all firefighters have a secret stash of books, but it would be easier to have them.
ReplyDelete@vanessa
ReplyDeleteNo, because the hound would attack Beatty also if it somehow knew about the presence of books.
@Willie
ReplyDeletePretty much freedom of expression in all forms has been eliminated, but now, people can just run over dogs and kids and knock stuff over at 90+ MPH and no one thinks anything of it.
@MMoritz
ReplyDeleteI thinlk that if he is a bully like you think he resembles a Jack character where he is able to bully without being stopped because he has self-created power.
@gabe-
ReplyDeleteExactly, that's a good point because their society is structured so differently then, compared to now which is structured off of free thought.
@Rick
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point. What other jobs exist besides firefighters and people working for television?
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteSo then why was it growling at him? For no good reason?
When Beatty tells Montag the story of their history, do you think that he actually beleives it?
ReplyDelete-Casey
@Savannah
ReplyDeleteThat is very true. The other firefighters have, will, or are going through this stage of wanting to red for information against the law. The new ideas are to drawing to resist.
@Savannah and class
ReplyDeleteIf trust is such an issue in this book, then why do you think that Montag even trusted his own wife with such a huge secret that could destroy everything in his life that he has worked so hard to get to?
What do you think happened to Clarisse?
ReplyDelete@ inner circle
ReplyDeleteBeatty may not be an antagonist now, but you never know what intentions he has. For all we know as the readers, he could be tricking Montag so he could get a higher position in life.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI don't see him as a bully, per say. I definitely think he's a little intimidating, but he really just seems to be enforcing this society's laws. Over all, I don't think he's too bad a guy, he's just something of a follower.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Clarisse was really hit by a car. I think the government took her and her family away. Beatty did talk like they are a problem that needed to be fixed.
@Blake
ReplyDeleteExactly, that was what I was trying to say. Sorry for the confusion.
@inner circle I think that the government does not have to follow the all equal rule so then, the what th government does is the only way things can progress. So now the government controls everything that happens and changes in this society.
ReplyDelete@ Class
ReplyDeleteMaybe Beatty had something to do with the disappearance of Clarisse. He had knowledge of Clarisse and her family. Maybe he wanted to remove Clarisse and her ideas from society.
@Baergan
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. The firefighters are also government workers so the government probably gives them a little more wiggle room when it comes to the rules.
@ Vanessa
ReplyDeleteI think that it was growling at him because it could tell that Montag feels guilty.
@ class:
ReplyDeleteI realize we are questioning if the Constitution was burned or even the Bible or any religious book. This is a completely different society. Yes, the Constitution is the list of rights for the society, but who knows if the "government" has created a different way around the Constitution.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteShe could have actually been hit by a car (possibly Mildred's car), or she could have been killed or taken away by "the government" for being a radical. I might just be reading to much in to this though.
@ Brooke
ReplyDeleteThat is a really good point. This kinda goes back to his relationship with her. To me, she doesn't weem like the kind of person that can keep a secret. I wonder why Montag would trust her.
-Casey
@Class
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that the firefighters can get away with reading books while if anyone else in the society does, they suffer death?
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI think that Clarisse definitely was not hit by a car. Whether it was because of the government, or her own choice, it was because of society. She would not have been in the story just to die in a car crash. I think that if there is a rebellion, Clarisse will be a part of it.
@Joe
ReplyDeleteThis government has already shown their violence by the firefighter's burning or material, so they could very well have simply taken her and her family away for thinking differently.
@Maggie
ReplyDeleteI think that is a very good idea because Beatty probably didn't want Clarisse to dirty Montag's perfect mind like she has been doing throughout the book.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteClarisse could have been hit by a car. If you consider how fast people are driveing, the driver would have had a hard time seeing her.
@drew w. yeah they probably do let them wiggle when it comes to little laws, but a the law about books I don't think that they would be having it.
ReplyDelete@inner circle
ReplyDeleteI believe that it was the hound hanging around outside the house.
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteI think he told her because, as he said, she is his wife. Their relationship is rocky, but perhaps he is trying to strengthen it by including her in his secret.
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteI think it is because if firefighters were punished for having books, then society would think that it is okay. They are the ones who are supposed to control the books, so if they have them, it makes it seem like no one is agreeing with the government. That is why they may be able to get away with having books. If they were punished, it would start even more of a rebellion.
@ Brooke
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll find out if Mildred can be trusted with Montag's secret. I meant, the neighbors are practically tattle tailing on each other.
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteThe firefighters can use the cover story that they are going to burn them and can hide their secret from the government well.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that Clarrise isn't dead. It doesn't make sense. I wonder if she was forced to move by this elusive government. Did she have to do this with other towns too?
Casey S
@class
ReplyDeleteDo you think it was Beatty who came to the door a second time? Or someone else?
@Moritz
ReplyDeleteI think that Clarisse could have been taken out by the government. In the last chapter of reading that we did she had mentioned that "they" made her go to theripy and in this section Beatty had mentioned that the odd balls of society are often taken out. This is shown often with how the owners of books are burned. Or maybe Clarisse was hit by a car because she was talking about how kids were killing kids, and that everyone just kept on dying from the high sppeds, no one cared if someone got hurt as long as you had insurance.
@Casey
ReplyDeleteI think that Clarrise is dead because the only point of her being in this story is for her to start a fire inside of Montag.
@inner circle-
ReplyDeleteArman brings up a good point that the foreshadowing in the beginning with the hound could then conclude that the hound could be trying to hunt down Montag, that the hound knows that Montag is breaking the law without anyone knowing besides Mildred.
@DREW w
ReplyDeleteWe have no idea of knowing but if I had to guess I would say it was Beatty again.
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteWait, do we know that everyone suffers death. I thought that the houses were burned out and the people were taken away, but I'm not sure they die. The only exception of course is the woman who was burned alive.
@Drew
ReplyDeleteBeatty wouldn't have any reason to come back after his insanely long lecture to Montag, so it was ssimply a solicitor or someone wanting to talk to Montag and Mildred.
@class
ReplyDeleteIf Clarisse is really dead, what do you think Bradbury was trying to say by killing off such an influential character so early on in the book? Was it because she had served her purpose, or do you think her death is even more symbolic?
@Lexi
ReplyDeleteThey do have wiggle room even when it comes to the books. Beatty said himself that firemen could keep the books for 24 hours. Regular civilians don't have that kind of lenience.
@Casey--as far as we know, there are no other towns beyond the one where Montag lives. If there are other towns, I would guess they are under the same pretenses as this town.
ReplyDelete@ class
ReplyDeleteThe hound doesn't seem to be fallowing orders or doing its "job." Do you think that it has a mind of its own?
@inner circle the government may not need her but I do think that they do see her as a threat to society. When one person speaks out, then it could cause a large number of people to stand up against the government.
ReplyDelete@ Klarissa
ReplyDeleteYou are right. You are not sentenced to death when you are found with books. It says they are taken away to some sort of insanity house.
@ Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteMaybe Clarisse is being held by the government. Whether she is dead or in a prison of some sort, the government can't afford to have Clarisse's ideas out there. I definitely think the government had to do with Clarisse's dissapearance.
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Beatty would come back a second time?
@ Eliza
ReplyDeleteI think Bradbury was trying to show what society will do to people like that. He put her in there as a representative.
-Casey
@ Willie
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with you on that. I do think that it wasn't Beatty for that reason, but the author would have no point in writing that if it were just a solicitor. I think it definitely is someone of some importance to the story.
@Casey
ReplyDeleteThis all depends. If you look at the world today some countries are doing things like this today, look at China a few years back or North Korea. The world could be extremely different outside of the area he lives in.
@ Class
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Clairesse will ever make a reapeerance?
@Drew
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that the hound was at the door. Maybe Beatty sent the hound, because Beatty suspected that Montag might be hiding something. I'm not sure, but I think that this could be a reasonable guess.
If she was killed by a car, how incredibly sad. She definitely foreshadowed her death by talking about being afraid of kids her age and how fast they drive. Plus, it isn't really a surprise considering she said that 10 of her friends had died in car accidents. So sad. :(
ReplyDelete@Klarissa
ReplyDeleteIt had also said that many of the people that had the books and they were burned were suicidal, which is a form of death. Whether its from their own will of doing this or for causes like that woman, they all seem to suffer death. The death could also be a mental death, where they really seem to conform to the government and they dont have their own thoughts anymore.
@Blake
ReplyDeleteIt also seems to me that the hound has a built in camera or an information storing system of a sort that Beatty has access to and is therefore able to know what is going on. I'm not sure how else he would show up with such timing as he did.
@drew but don't you think if they firemen can take the books how does the government know that they are not sharing the books with others in the society. Then wouldn't burning the books would become a lost cause.
ReplyDelete@Drew
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is that much of a significance that he comes back, he is just an important character in the book.
@Eliza
ReplyDeleteBradbury wanted to solidify the reader's hate of the government and catalyst Montag to be a book-lover.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Clarisse will make another appearance. She had already served her purpose in this book it seems.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Eliza
ReplyDeleteI think Clarisse's purpose was to plant the seed. She caused Montag to start thinking these rebellious and questioning thoughts. She planted the seed and now it's time for him to take charge and challenge.
@Taylor
ReplyDeleteI tend to think that she will not reappear, because she is what caused Montag to start thinking outside of the box. She basically has served her purpose and that she has motivated Montag.
@ mmoritz
ReplyDeleteThat's true. They only know what they've been told. For all we know, there might not even be a government at all. It hasn't been mentioned directly. There is only this one town and what goes on in it is all that we know.
Do you think Montag will look for someone to fill Clarisse's role? Do you think he will seek another person to talk to?
ReplyDelete@ Lauren
ReplyDeleteI think the hound may have recieved orders from Beatty to hunt Montag. When Montag told Beatty about the hound, Beatty did not act surprised.
@ inner circle
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ellen. Why kill off such an important person? She had already started Montag into rebellion, her death only made him upset.
@Class
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think was breathing outside Montag's window that one night? Was there even anything there?
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI think he is trying to find that Mildred, especially by sharing his book secret with her. I think he wants it to be his wife, but they are two very different people at this point.
@mmoritz
ReplyDeleteMontag will likely look for someone with the same thought process because he needs to come to terms with himself about the whole issue of hiding and reading books.
@Brooke
ReplyDeleteOk, I do agree with that. I like your point on "mental death". I think that your right, all people do die in some form or another. I also think they die at heart. They people have lost their houses, and they have lost the ability to read. Essentailly- people have lost their education.
@Lexi
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good point. Maybe the government doesn't know that firemen are taking books. Maybe this 24 hour rule that Beatty mentioned is actually just a rule established by the firemen.
Do you think that Montag will be able to get Mildred into books as well or will she turn against him?
ReplyDelete@ mmoritz
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. I think that he isn't the kind of guy that would go looking for someone like that. I think that he would come upon another person.
Even if Clarisse was just a catalyst she was to important in the story to die that quickly. Montag will have to find someone to vent to and express himself with. He is trying to use Mildred to be that person which I do not think will work.
ReplyDelete@ Inner circle
ReplyDeleteBut he had also trusted Clarisse who was a complete stranger to start out with.
@inner circle-
ReplyDeleteThe pressence and fall out of Clarisse really creates the "social change" that Mongtag was missing in his life, that he needs to change the way he is and how society is developed.
@ Maggie M.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the hound may have gotten orders from someone. Especially Beatty, he wansn't suprised when Montag told him about the hound. Is it possible that Beatty is out to harm Montag?
@Inner circle
ReplyDeleteShe's probably never even seen or felt a book before, and she seems to simple minded that any sort of surprise would be exciting to her.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteI think that Montag will convince Mildred to help him because when challenging the system it's almost always necessary for the main person to have someone backing them up.
*so
ReplyDelete@Brooke
ReplyDeleteOh man, that is a good question. Again, it might be the hound. (He's hunting down Montag!) However, it could just be a part of Montag that was fearful because he had the books, and so his imagination made it up.
@ Inner Circle
ReplyDeleteI dont think that Mildred can take the place of Clarisse in Montag's life. Clarisse truly cared about Montag, but Mildred cares more about television than her husband.
@Klarissa
ReplyDeleteJust like Macbeth with the dagger?
@ Eliza
ReplyDeleteDo you think she knows its a book? She's never seen one before, so how would she know.
@Arman
ReplyDeleteI think that this will all depend on if they can grow in their relastionship. Yes, she cares about her house, but does she care enough about Montag? This I'm not sure on.
@Vanessa
ReplyDeleteI think that since Montag may be bound to fail from the start he might not ever got that other person to help him.
@Lauren
ReplyDeleteI don't think she even knows what it is, all she knows is that it's something new.
@Klarissa
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that the hound would be hunting Montag down? How would it know if he had books to even be suspicious about?
@ Klarissa
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying I'm right, but Clarisse is a stranger, but she seems a better choice as far as trusting people. It seems like strangers might be better to trust rather than people you know.
@ VAnessa
ReplyDeleteMildred is not stable enough to back up Montag. She is to busy watching tv to help.
@ Rick
ReplyDeleteDo you think that she is really just facinated by the drama of it? Because I'm hoping that she might start to worry about her husband instead of focusing on her programs and the law.
@lauren
ReplyDeleteShe probably has some idea that it could be a book. Why would he be hiding something from her, if it wasn't a book?
@Baergen
ReplyDeleteExactly like the dagger in Macbeth. Good connection, I didn't think about that one.
@class aren't books and televisions very similar...Why is the goevernment not concern for t.v. and movies, but they are extremely concern about books?
ReplyDelete@inner circle-
ReplyDeleteThe book doesn't just have to do with television, it has to do with technology and anti-socialists in the society, that all technology is changing people's minds.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteMildred does seem to be obsessed with the stage and television.
I don't think that Mildred is very worried about being caught. Mildred is more worried about her belongings being burned. She does not want her beloved televisions to be destroyed.
ReplyDelete@Maggie
ReplyDeleteI don't think Mildred can take the place of Clarisse either, but I think Montag is going to try to make her do it. Montag realizes that he needs support in order to undergo this rebellion. He is going to try and trust Mildred, but I think it will end up backfiring on him.
@Taylor- I think that Montag was hiding the book first off cause he knew that if he didn't hide it, he'd get in trouble, but I think that he had the book in the first place because like Vanessa said, he was curious about why they had to burn these books anyway. @Arman-I think that Beatty's speech as a whole showed how society worked. He was almost telling the story of how fireman were once this but now are that and what they are expected to do, but I think he what he was trying to get at was the fact that all of society is supposed to/expected to do certain stuff, as well. @Drew-hmm...good question about why he hasn't read them yet. I think maybe it's because of the obvious-he hasn't had time, or that maybe he was very afraid that he was going to get caught and he was very afraid of the punishment if that happened. @Arman-I kinda do think that Beatty knew about those books because in his 'speech', it almost seemed like he was being so deep and respectful of fireman that he was trying to get Montag to cough up the book and confess. You know, when someone tells you how great you are and you are feeling guilty about something, you don't want them to be saying all this great stuff about you and so you confess. I think it's almost like that. @ Brooke- I think Beatty represents the really naive people in society. He's not naive naive. He's naive in a smart way. Confusing, I know, but he's not dumb. He's just so convinced that his way of life (burning books) is correct that he won't give any other way a thought. @Brooke- I don't think it's fair to assume that in this setting in this book there is a Constitution. Who knows if there is one? Who knows if there are laws like today? Maybe that's the reason all these books are being burned...there are restrictions like that in the 'constitution'.@class- On the discussion of Clarisse getting "hit by a car" or "kidnapped by the government", I don't think we will ever really know. I may be wrong, but I don't think we should assume anything at this point. What if we are totally wrong? We might just be skewing our view on this book because of this topic. Maybe she did get kidnapped, maybe she got hit by a car. Who knows.@Brooke- Montag trusted his wife because even though this book was written in the past and set in the future, I still think marriage is the same...you marry someone because you love someone. I think that he really did love her and trusted her, but just like everyone else, the government got a hold of her and turned her loose. But obviously, she didn't rat him out with Beatty and the book, and so I think she is respectable in that sense and deserves his trust until proven otherwise. Why shouldn't he trust her? @mmoritz- I don't think that Montag will find another person to fill Clarisse's role. Either she will come back, or he will sit there feeling sorry for himself or he will do something about the government, but he will not find someone else to replace her. I think she was too irreplaceable and he couldn't find anyone quite like her. Also, he is not a doer, he is a follower.
ReplyDelete