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At this point
in the book, Montag has just left Faber’s house and is preparing to leave the city. The
Hound is tight on his tail, but so far Montag has been able to avoid it. However, after
a tune-in to his Seashell radio, Montag learns that the government will be employing yet another tactic at locating and restraining
him. This new tactic involves all citizens of the city opening a window or door and
looking out at the street. This, according to those in command, will work well. It is strongly suggested that this scheme would have worked, if not for the fact that
Montag enters into the river and is concealed.
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He travels safely
through the river until reaching a railroad track. He eventually meets up with several
well-dressed old men who sit around a campfire.
They offer him coffee and also a special liquid,
which will temporarily alter his perspiration in order to prevent the hound from catching him. One of them, named Granger, also shows him, on a poor TV set, how his capture is being faked, and an innocent man is
killed on live television by the Hound.
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Granger then
invites Montag to camp with him and the others.
He explains that each of them “is”
a book-basically, they have each personally memorized a book and it is their job to remember it for as long as they live. Montag offers the Book of Ecclesiastes, which is accepted whole-heartedly by the other men. Granger also explains how important it is that they remember these books, to pass onto their
children, and so forth. |
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Eventually the
party moves south, watching as war rages in the city. Montag |
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comments about how although he knows that Mildred is there and perhaps dead, he feels no |
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sadness or regret. Granger, in an attempt to comfort him, tells Montag about the death of his grandfather. After this, Montag does seem to show some distress regarding Mildred, whimpering her name. |
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Granger continues
his story about his grandfather, but their conversation is cut short by a barrage of bombs on the city. Montag is visibly disquieted by this and wills Clarisse, Faber, and especially Mildred to escape from the city. But in Montag's imagination, and most likely in reality, Mildred does not escape. Montag is so troubled by this that he falls to the ground in anguish. |
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Finally, the
city is completely demolished. The men have a light meal and then continue on their journey,
leaving behind their destroyed memories.
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Analysis
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This section
of the book is extremely emotional and quite touching. It is here that Montag's relationship
with Mildred is shown as intense and beautiful, thus when it is lost, Montag endures extreme suffering. “The first bomb struck. 'Mildred!'” (Page 159) In this quote we see that
Montag has suddenly understood the magnitude of his relationship with Mildred. Thus,
the portrayal of Guy and Mildred Montags' marriage is closed in a somewhat nice way-Guy's love, or at least compassion, for
Mildred, is shown here, and while some may argue that Mildred never returns these feelings, another point of view is that
she does try to, in her own way, although she ultimately fails. |
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Another emotional
evolution for Montag comes when he learns to be stronger as a result of what has happened. Although
his past actions trouble him, Montag sees the good and importance in each one. |
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This comes with
encouragement and reassurance from Granger, who is an extremely significant character. Although
he only appears in this small section of the book, Granger is vital because he strengthens and helps Montag. In some ways, Granger is similar to Clarisse. Both are free thinkers, and each
of them helps Montag in his or her own way; Clarisse forces him to look at his life in an entirely new way and examine his
emotions deeper, and Granger helps him escape the city and provides him with food. Also,
both characters are represented as being kind and intelligent. |
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It is also in this section that Montag and Faber must part. Faber is portrayed as being somewhat controlling over Montag,
yet he only acts in this way to help him. In the
end, Faber |
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creates the elaborate plan for Montag's
escape. Their goodbye is surprisingly non-emotional,
although, happily, it is implied that this is not the last time Montag and Faber will meet.
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It is interesting
to note that those who have ignored the government's commands in favor of free thought (such as Granger and Clarisse) are
portrayed as being gentle, kind, and to some extent, weak, those who are part of the government or favor it are loud, boring
and powerful. Mildred is somewhere in between these two portrayals, and likewise is at
a difficult place when it comes to support vs.
rebellion against the government. |
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The way that
Granger and the others simply accept and take on Montag as one of their own is nothing short of fascinating. Here, there is this small group of men defying a huge and powerful government, and they have every reason to distrust
Montag, yet they do not. This is a beautiful example of the desparity and strengthened need for one
another that people develop in times of calamity. |
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In final consideration
of this novel, it is clear from this and other sections of the book that Fahrenheit 451 is a book about bravery and
defense of what is true and good. Even during difficult times where your life is constantly
a question, and oppressive laws forbid you of having what you need the most, there is always hope for a better world. And your only duty is to save memories of the better days, and that hope will always exist. |
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