New Beginnings

  The last section of the book begins with Montag seeing the other men's faces in daylight, and realizing that they just look like ordinary men.  "He was looking for a brightness, a resolve, a triumph over tomorrow that hardly seemed to be there" (p. 154), but he did not see it.  Instead he saw only faces of men who were unsure of anything except for the books stored in their heads.  As they walk on, Montag looks back at the city and thinks of Mildred.  He thinks it's odd that he doesn't miss her and the thinks that something is wrong with him because he says that if she were to die, he wouldn't feel much of anything.  Granger explains to him that when he was a boy his grandfather died, and he realized that he was sad because he would miss all the things that his grandfather did in the world.  Montag begins thinking about Mildred and how she never really did anything.  He think about himself, and what did he ever do… burn books.  Granger makes him realize that "everyone must leave something behind when he dies" (p.156) so that the people who are still living have something to remember them.  

  Then, Montag and the other men, in an instant, see bombs released upon the city.  In that moment, Montag imagines where Mildred might be.  He pictures her in a hotel room with the TV walls talking to her.  He hopes that maybe the first bomb would cut off all the TV connections so that "she saw her own face reflected there, in a mirror instead of a crystal ball, and it was such a wildly empty face, all by itself in the room, touching nothing, starved and eating of itself" (p.159) before the walls caved in on her a brought her to her death.  It is while picturing this that Montag remembers he met Mildred in Chicago, a long time ago.  He also remembers that part of Ecclesiastes and Revelations and repeats it to himself over and over again, until the bombing stopped.  Montag wonders if how many other cities had been attacked and how many have died?  The books ends with the men heading back into the city to help any survivors and Montag prepared with his knowledge of the books he's memorized to help the people in this disastrous time.

Reaction:

  I think this was a good ending.  The war, which was only mentioned here and there throughout the book, did end up playing a big role in the end, as that was the cause for the city being blown up.  Maybe now is the moment they have been waiting for, to bring the people out of their ignorant ways and get them to want to know what's happening in the world and in their own community.  There were a few overall messages that I got out of this book as far as applying it to the real world:  1) Knowledge is power.  Know what's going on in your community and country.  Make an effort to learn things everyday; 2) Don't let technology take over.  Don't just sit in front of the TV all day and let it brainwash you.  Go to the beach, or on a hike.  Go for a walk in the park.  Read a book.  Do activities that will stimulate your mind; and 3) Leave something behind in this world.  Make a difference somehow, no matter how big or how small, it will give the people you love and who love you things to remember you by.  This concludes this in depth book blog of "Fahrenheit 451" and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and blogging about this book.  Two thumbs up! 

Knowledge Within

  Montag walks along the railway until he sees a fire in the distance.  This fire is different than any he's ever seen, because it was being used for warmth instead of for burning.  "He hadn't known fire could look this way.  He had never thought in his life that it could give as well as take" p. 146.  The people around the fire call him to come out, and the leader of the group, Granger tell Montag to drink a fluid that will change his chemical index so that it will throw the Hound off his scent.  He finds that they already know his name since they have been watching the live feed on a portable TV.  They all watch as the TV shows the Hound heading back into the city, which confuses Montag.  Granger explains to him that they lost him in the river and they don't want to admit it so they are going to fake his death.  Sure enough, moments later, the Hound closes in on "Montag" who is really just an innocent man talking a walk, and the TV announces that the chase is over and Montag is dead.  

  Granger introduces everyone to Montag.  When Montag says that he doesn't belong, because he's "been an idiot all the way" (p.150), Granger assures him that they have all made mistakes that led them to where they are, hiding along the railways.  Montag tells Granger that he has part of the Book of Ecclesiastes and a little of Revelation memorized in his head.  Granger tells him that this is perfect because this is the very way that they have learned to carry on the knowledge of books.  Each person memorizes a book, then burns it.  That way, if anyone every stops them, they have nothing to incriminate them, but the knowledge is still there in their mind.  They can pass on the knowledge to future generations and it will never get lost.  They realize that "a lot will be lost that way, of course.  But you can't make people listen.  They have to come 'round in their own time" (p. 153).  The plan is that one day, maybe when the war is over, or whenever people begin coming around, they can call in all the people who have memorized the books and put into print whatever can be remembered.  Granger says that the cycle may even continue after that to where the day comes when books are being burned again, "but that's the wonderful thing about man; he never gets so discouraged or disgusted that he gives up doing it all over again, because he knows very well it is important and worth the doing" (p. 153).  

Reaction & Questions:

  I'm not surprised that the government tried to cover up the fact that they lost Montag, but I did not realize they would go so far as to kill an innocent man just to prove it to the public.  I think this idea of keeping the books memorized could work, although, I imagine that it would be difficult to memorize a whole book!  I don't think that I would be able to.  Although, I do see that it would make sense to do it this way, so that they don't have to be so paranoid about hiding the books when they are in public, or stopped by authorities.  How will the book end?  Maybe it will flash forward several years and Montag will get to see the world coming around?  Or maybe it will just end with him waiting, memorizing new books?  Perhaps it will end with Montag meeting up with Faber as they talked about earlier in the book.  

Revelations of Montag and Also of Myself

  In this section, the Hound reaches the river, but seems to have lost Montag's scent since instead of following the river, the helicopters and the Hound go back toward land in the opposite direction of Montag.  Montag uses his time floating the the river to think and reflect on everything that's happened.  He has a revelation that he must never burn again because "The sun burnt every day.  It burnt Time.  The world rushed in a circle and turned on its axis and time was busy burning the years and the people anyway, without any help from him" (p.141).  He also realizes that burning books is not the only issue and that someone needs to start "saving and keeping, one way or another, in books, in records, in people's heads, any way at all so long as it was safe…The world was full of burning of all types and sizes" (p.141).  Montag is seeing the bigger picture now of his corrupted world.  

  Montag then decides to get out of the river and as soon as he does, he sees two eyes peering out at him and he immediately thinking it's the Hound!  He can't believe after all of that, the Hound has still managed to find him, but when he shouts in exasperation, the eyes run away, and he realizes that it's just a deer.  Montag relaxes and takes in everything pleasant about nature, "the more he breathed the land in, the more he was filled up with all the details of the land.  He was not empty" (p.144).  Montag finally seems to be filling the void and emptiness that he felt in his old life.  He's beginning to find the things that he always felt was missing from his life.  This section ends with Montag finding the railroad track and for reasons he can't explain or prove, he just knows that Clarisse had been at the exact spot once upon a time, long ago.  

Reaction & Questions:  In this short section, although not much happens physically, a lot is explained about Montag's emotions.  I loved the revelation about the sun burning time.  He's having the realization that life is short, and he must live it to its fullest.  Since Montag has found the railroad tracks, does this mean he has escaped?  Will he reunite with Faber somehow?  Will he find people on the tracks like Faber said he would?  Will the reader get to see/find out what is happening in the town or will we stay with Montag until the end of the book?  

Reaction - A Text-to-World Connection:  In the homework done class this week, I had a text-to-world connection regarding this book overall that I want to include in this week's blog.  We learned about spoof ads, which use humor and satire to try to show the world what's really happening, similar to what Montag is trying to do.  This ad in particular is what made me have the text-to-world connection:  

  After seeing this ad, I immediately thought of "Fahrenheit 451" and how everyone follows the TV walls and practically lives by the TV walls.  This ad is aimed at our current world in 2013.  This book was written in 1953.  I'm not sure how much TV influenced America in 1953, but obviously enough for the author, Ray Bradbury, to see where it was leading our country.  I think I was too wrapped up in the story of the book to really think beyond it.  After seeing this ad though, I now completely see the parallels in the book and the world that I live in.  I can't believe that I didn't see it before.  Very interesting and sad stuff.  Hopefully our world does not get as bad as it does in the book, but I see how we could be heading down that road.  

The River

  Montag finally makes it to Professor Faber's house, where he fills Faber in on everything that's happened in the past few hours.  Montag can't believe what he's done and how in one night, everything has changed.  Faber reassures him saying, "You did what you had to do.  It was coming on for a long time" (p.131).  Montag agrees, knowing that the feelings that he is acting upon have been inside him for a long time.  Faber tells Montag to head for the river until he reaches the old railroad tracks.  There are camps along there that Montag may be able to survive in while hiding out.  Before he leaves Faber's house, they decide to get an update on the search for him and turn on Faber's tiny TV, which is the size of a postcard.  Faber explains that the TV is so small because he didn't want something that would take over his life, like how it does for the others.  While watching the live news broadcast, they learn that the city has borrowed a Mechanical Hound from another city and are about to release it on the hunt for Montag.  The two become very nervous as they watch the hound discover Montag's scent from the flame thrower and head off, following the scent.  Montag instructs Faber to burn everything that Montag touched and turn on his sprinklers so that the hound doesn't track the scent into his house.  Montag takes a suitcase full of Faber's clothes and a bottle of whiskey, in hopes of trying to drown out the scent the hound has stored in its memory, and heads for the river.  

  Montag stops to catch his breath and peers through peoples windows to follow the live feed of the hound.  He watches the hound stop in Faber's yard and hesitate… but then follows Montag's scent back into the alley.  Montag is relieved that Faber was not discovered, but quickly realizes he needs to get a move on, since the hound is heading his way!  Montag decides to listen to his Seashell again to keep posted, and hears the radio saying the police want, "Everyone in every house in every street open a front or rear door or look from the windows.  The fugitive cannot escape if everyone in the next minute looks from his house" (p.138).  They then give a countdown of 10 seconds.  Montag runs faster and faster, so close to the river.  Just before the TVs shout "Ten!" and doors everywhere open, Montag makes it to the river and into the darkness.  He jumps in, takes off all his clothes, and bathes himself with the whiskey.  He then puts on all of Faber's clothes and lets the river whisk him away downstream.  

Reaction & Questions:  While this section of the book was short, it was pretty intense.  Montag is still a fugitive on the run, and of course they have brought in another hound!  I should have thought of that.  I felt like the "battle" scene between Montag and the first hound was a little underwhelming based on the foreshadowing of the hound in the beginning of the book.  I should've known there would be another one involved.  Thank goodness that the hound didn't detect Montag's scent at Faber's house, because then killing Beatty may have been in vain.  The main reason Montag killed Beatty was to protect Faber.  If they found him out anyway, then what would be the point?  Although, there is also the fact that Montag was able to escape, at least at that moment.  I thought the police and news getting all of the townspeople involved in looking out the window was very smart on their part.  Guaranteed every single house was watching and was happy to participate in the exciting chase.  As a reader, while the counting to 10 goes on, I kept thinking, he's gotta make it, he's gotta make it!  Sure enough, just in the nick of time he does!  I'm getting so near to the end of the book, that I just want to jump ahead and see what happens in the end already!  Will Montag have a face-off with this new hound or will the whiskey and clothing-change end the trail and the river?  At this point, I am wondering how the book will end.  Will Montag just be running for the rest of his life?  Or will he be able to make a new home for himself in one of the camps?  Or perhaps he will get caught by the hound and go to jail, but Faber will continue to fight for the both of them?

  

On the Run

  So Montag is now on the run.  He was able to find a few books that Mildred missed in the yard, though.  He can't believe what he's done and begins to break down crying when it occurs to him that Beatty wanted to die.  "He had just stood there, not really trying to save himself, just stood there, joking, needling…How strange, strange, to want to die so much that you let a man walk around armed and then instead of shutting up and staying alive, you go on yelling at people and making fun of them until you get them mad, and then…" (p. 122).  After coming to this realization, he begins to keep moving, finding a Seashell radio in his pocket, he listens, and there is a police alert out for him.  He also learns that War has been declared, but cannot really think about it since he is occupied with his own escape.  

  Montag decides to head to Faber's house.  On his way there, he tries his best to stay in the shadows, but he finally must cross a road.  As he begins to walk across the road, he hears a car coming straight for him and he thinks it's the police.  As the car gets closer, speeding up faster, he begins to run.  As the car is within feet of him, he trips and falls and thinks it's all over and they've got him, but then the car swerves and drives away.  He looks up and it's a bunch of kids just being punks.   "The driver of the car, seeing Montag down, instinctively considered the probability that running over a body at such a high speed might turn the car upside down and spill them out" (p.129).  Had he not fallen, they probably would've hit and killed him for no reason.  Montag felt sadness as he wonders if these were the same kids who killed Clarisse.  

  This section ends with Montag creeping into a house from the back door.  At first, I thought it was Faber's house, but then it says, "Mrs. Black, are you asleep in there?"  Then, I remembered that Black was the name of one of Montag's coworkers.  The books confirms this saying "now since you're a fireman's wife, it's your house and your turn, for all the houses your husband burnt and the people he hurt without thinking" (p. 130).  Montag places the books in the kitchen and calls in an alarm from the pay phone.  He can hear the sirens heading toward the house as he walks away.

REACTION AND QUESTIONS:  Hmmm… Beatty wanted to die?  That thought never occurred to me.  Is that really the case, or is that just what Montag tells himself to justify what he had done?  OR did the author include this so that the reader would feel better about it, maybe?  I still don't know if I buy it, but it's definitely a possibility.  Throughout the book, there have been mentions of this War that is taking place, but it has never really been discussed fully.  Will the War play a bigger role in the end of the book?  Will the police find Montag?  They have already announced that he is wanted, so they aren't trying to cover it up.  What will the government's reaction be to the alarm at Black's house being called in?   

Breaking Point

  Some pretty intense things happen in this section of the book.  Montag learns that Mildred turned in the alarm, although Beatty also received two more earlier from the other ladies.  Mildred ends up running into a taxi cab, without saying a word to Montag, and just rides off.  They were together for so long, and she just leaves?  Clearly she did not really love him, if she even knows what love is.  As upsetting as it is that she turned on Montag and just left him in the dust, it is not surprising at all.  Beatty tells Montag that since it's his house, he needs to be the one to burn the books, which Mildred found in the yard and brought back into the house, placing them in a pile in the middle of the room.  Professor Faber tries to tell Montag to run, but Montag is afraid because the Hound is on the loose.  There is a line that I really liked in this section.  The author says, "There was a crash like the falling parts of a dream fashioned out of warped glass, mirrors, and crystal prisms.  Montag drifted about as if still another incomprehensible storm had turned him" (p.114).  I felt that this line gave me insight to how Montag is feeling, and I really connected with him and could understand the feeling of pure disbelief and shock the author was trying to get across. Shortly after this, instead of burning the books, Montag beings to burn "everything that showed he had live here in this empty house with a strange woman who would forget him tomorrow" (p.116).  Beatty reminds him to burn the books, and he does, but continues burning the house by burning down the TV walls that he hated so much.  

  After Montag is done burning the house, Beatty asks him why he did it, but "Montag did not hear, he was far away, he was running with his mind, he was gone, leaving this dead soot-covered body to sway in front of another raving fool" (p. 118).  Beatty notices the seashell in Montag's ear and hits him hard so that it falls out.  Beatty tells Montag that he will trace it and find his friend.  This is when Montag snaps, and points the flame thrower at Beatty!  I was completely shocked when the author gives away what is about to happen before it has actually happened.  Right after the author explains that Montag points the flame thrower on Beatty, he writes, "Thinking back later he could never decide whether the hands or Beatty's reaction to the hands gave him the final push toward murder" (p. 119).  My immediate thought was, "What?!  He kills him?!" Then the book goes on to explain that Beatty tries to intimidate Montag into giving him the flame thrower, and sure enough, Beatty goes up in flames!  Montag then knocks out the two other firemen, and finally has his face off with the Hound.  The Hound is able to strike him with his needle in the leg, but Montag is able to take him out too.  This section ends with Montag fleeing the scene, one leg paralyzed, thinking, "You always said, don't face a problem, burn it.  Well, now I've done both.  Good-bye, Captain." (p. 121). 

Reaction & Questions:  Holy Moly!  I am so shocked that Montag killed Beatty!  I definitely did not see that one coming.  Was Montag really justified in doing that?  I mean, maybe it would've been more feasible had Beatty been trying to kill Montag, but he was only trying to arrest Montag right?  Unless maybe the plan WAS to kill Montag, then I could see how the murder could be justified.  I'm not really sure how I feel about this.  I have been supporting Montag throughout the book, but murder?  That just seems extreme.  Although, I'm sure Montag's mental state at the time was not stable at all, so he probably just thought it was the best and only way to get himself out of there.  Will he go to Professor Faber's house?  What will Faber think of Montag's actions?  Will the government make a big production and try to find Montag, or will they want to keep things quiet and sweep it under the rug and pretend like it didn't happen?  The latter would seem more likely, based on the way this world works, but we shall see!

Busted

  After the incident with Mildred's friends, Montag decides to hide the books outside the house while Mildred is in the bathroom, since he has noticed that some were missing and thinks that she probably started burning them on her own.  Then, he heads to the fire station, with Faber in his ear.  Faber scolds him for acting that way with the women, telling Montag, "Don't haggle and nag them; you were so recently of them yourself" (p.103).  Montag begins to feel guilty and thinks maybe it would be better if he just went back to the way he was before, but Faber assures him that he must keep fighting.  When Montag arrives at the firehouse, Captain Beatty is waiting for him with the other men.  Beatty holds out his hand and Montag gives him the book that he has brought with him.  Beatty doesn't even look at it, and throws it in the trash to burn.  Montag sits at the table and Beatty begins talking to him, quoting several contradicting sayings from various books, trying to show Montag "what traitors books can be.  You think they're backing you up, and they turn on you" (p.107).  Faber, listening to all of this through the earpiece, tries to tell Montag that Beatty is just trying to confuse him.  After Beatty is done talking, Faber tells Montag that he's heard both sides of it and it's up to him "to know with which ear" he'll listen to.  Then, the fire station bell rings with an alarm of a reported house with books.  I had guessed that the call was for Montag's house, and was even more convinced when Captain Beatty tells Montag that he'll be fine to ride along since "this is a special case."  Montag is so wrapped up in his thoughts about being able to burn again, he's not even paying attention to where they are going, and when he looks up, he realizes that they are indeed at his house.

Reaction and Questions:  How the heck does Beatty know so many quotes?  He did mention in this section that he had been through what Montag was going through, but I feel like there is more to the story with Beatty.  I mean, Montag is just scratching the surface with books, and trying to read them right off the bat, he cannot make sense of them.  Beatty is able to not only quote books, but to understand their meaning by using them.  How did he attain this knowledge, and why does he use it for "evil" instead of "good"???  I'm pretty sure Mildred's friends turned in Montag, but they only knew of the one book, unless they knew he had more?  Since the books are hidden outside, will the firemen find them?  Or maybe the Hound will find them?  What will Mildred think of the firemen coming to her house?  Will she fight for Montag or just give up?  If they do find the books, what will happen to Montag?  And also, how will Professor Faber help?  Will Beatty discover the earpiece?