Sunday, November 30, 2014

In Farhrenheit 451, what are the symbolic meanings of the characters of Montag and Faber?I am really having trouble with this question.

Montag represents to me  knowledge and human curiosity. Montag represents every man, freedom repressed, and freedom from opression. The turning point in this novel is when Montag burns Beatty along with his own home. He is symbolically burning up the oppressive force in his life.  Montag's character shifts from being a good citizen to being in open rebellion to the oppressive regime.  Montag is now a criminal.  This brings up the question: Is there a criminal in every person?


Faber represents freedom of thought, freedom from opression, and veiled rebellion. Faber has knowledge, but he is limited in his practice of what he knows because he is living under the oppression of the current government. Faber is also a criminal, but he has managed to live in society and keep his secret.


Faber's opposite is Beatty who is also very well-read. Beatty hates knowledge, ideas and free-thought, but he is well read. This is hypocritical if you think about it. Beatty has all of this knowledge, but he's destroying it while keeping some for himself.  Faber also is well read, has stores of knowledge, but is willing to share his knowledge as long as he knows that he himself will be safe.


Faber represents selflessness and humanity. Beatty represents selfishness and the status-quo.  Beatty is a criminal, but he excuses his reading as part of his job.


This is a very subjective question. The answers that you come up with should be supported by quotes from your book.

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