Friday, January 17, 2014

What does Faber tell Montag about books in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury?

When Montag visits Faber at his apartment, he expresses his newfound belief that books might be the answer to his (and society's) miserable state. When Montag says this, Faber is quick to point out something important about books:



It's not books you need, it's some of the things that once were in books.



In other words, the book, as a physical object, is not important; a book is nothing more than paper and ink. It is the words written on the paper which really matter. These "pores of life," as Faber calls them, encourage the reader to think and question the world.


Moreover, for books to achieve their potential, people must have enough "leisure" time to digest their message. They must also have the intellectual and social freedom to "carry out actions" based on what they have learned from reading.


For Faber, then, it is not the books which are important but rather the ability to read and absorb the information without interference from the rest of society.

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