Fahrenheit 451 Notecards
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches, fitting nuts and bolts?'" pg 53
Captain Beatty and Montag are talking in Montag's house and Beatty is talking about the way people are taught to do basic things in school and are neglected from being taught things like philosophies and histories. The government has changed the school system to make sure that people don't learn things that would go against their policies. They only teach them enough so they can get jobs and be happy.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... It didn't come from the Government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God. Today, thanks to them, you can stay happy all the time...'" pg 55
Captain Beatty is at Montag's house and Beatty is saying how society itself was the one that ended the reading of books. He says that it wasn't the government that started banning books but society that lost interest in what books had to say. This can be used to show that society may have naturally stopped reading books, but it was still the government that stopped those that still wanted to read from doing so.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'At least once in his career, every fireman gts an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh to scratch that itch, eh? Well, Montag, take my word for it, I've had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing! Nothing you can teach or believe...'" pg 59
Captain Beatty is at Montag's house and Beatty is telling Montag that every fireman reads a forbidden book once in his career because it is natural to be curious. He then assures Montag that whatever he reads in the books will be meaningless nonsense. Beatty is trying to preset Montag's mindset into thinking that books are nothing so Montag will burn his books after he has read them. This can be used to show authority manipulating people into thinking that they have their own ideas when in reality authority is putting the ideas there.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... Ten minutes after death a man's a speck of black dust. Let's not quibble over individuals with memoriams. Forget them. Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean.'" pg 57
Captain Beatty is at Montag's house and he is discussing the reason for banning books. Beatty talks about the distant nature of people now and the disregard for the importance of human life. Society has been taught that other lives than themselves are not important and to not get attached to anything.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don't let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world...'" pg 59
Captain Beatty is talking to Montag about being a fireman and is telling him that they are the ones that keep the rest of the people happy. The authority took control of what the people know in order to keep them happy, but they are ignorant as well as happy. This can be used to show the way the government and the firemen manipulate society into thinking that books are a bad thing that need to be burned.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind...'" pg 55, 56
Captain Beatty is talking to Montag at Montag's house and talking about how the government made everyone equal. Beatty says that people who read books feel superior to those who don't so the government made it so everyone was equal by getting rid of books. This can be used to show the way that the government tries to keep everyone happy by controlling those who can feel superior.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord... it's a small sideshow indeed, and hardly necessary to keep things in line. So few want to be rebels anymore. And out of those few, most, like myself, scare easily...'" pg 83
Faber is talking to Montag and they are discussing how to bring books back to society. Faber is telling Montag that even if they did put their plan into action, society has stopped reading because they don't want to, not just because the government says they can't. Also they would have a have time finding support because the people who do still love books are too scared to do anything about it. This can be used to show the mindset of the public against reading and the fear that the government has instilled in readers.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority. Oh, God, the terrible tyranny of the majority. We all have our harps to play. And it's up to you now to know with which ear you'll listen.'" pg 104
Faber is talking to Montag through the earpiece and Faber is speaking of Beatty's place in the majority that is against books. Those that do want books are a minority and Faber is telling Montag that he will have to be careful not to fall into line with the majority. This can be used to show the way that society that follows the majority is tyrannical against the minority that wants books just because they have the numbers.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moonfaces, poreless, hairless, expressionless...'" pg 79
Faber is telling Montag the reason that society stopped reading and the government took control of the burning of books. He tells Montag that society only wants to experience pleasure through television and media while books provide disparity that society fears. This can e sued to show the bland life that society has learned to prefer over the different ideas and philosophies that books can provide.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "Her face grew amazed and then horrified. 'He might come and burn the house and the 'family.' That's awful! Think of our investment. Why should I read? What for?'" pg 69
Millie and Montag are arguing about keeping the books in the house. Millie realizes that continuing reading books could put her 'family' in danger and she gets angry and confuse by Montag's obsession with reading. Society has made Millie more obsessed with her fictional 'family' than the possibility of reading something that could be of importance as Montag is trying to show her. This can be used to show the way society over time has manipulated the average person's views on what is important.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... You get it up around ninety-five and you feel wonderful. Sometimes I drive all night and come back and you don't know it. It's fun out in the country. You hit rabbits, sometimes you hit dogs...'" pg 61
Millie is talking to Montag about relieving stress and talks about driving over 100 mph and hitting animals on the highway. This can be used to show how people have a disregard for life and there are no consequences because the government just wants to keep everyone happy.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can't have our minorities upset and stirred. Ask yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right? Haven't you heard it all your life? I want to be happy, people say. Well, aren't they? Don't we keep them moving, don't we give them fun? That's all we live for isn't it?...'" pg 56
Montag and Captain Beatty are talking at Montag's house and Beatty is discussing how minorities used to make trouble because they felt they were treated unfairly. That is why the government started trying to make everyone equal so nobody would be unhappy. This can be used to show the way the government tries to keep people happy just so nobody will cause any problems, because if everyone is having "fun" nobody has any time to complain.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'I rarely watch the 'parlor walls' or go to races or Fun Parks. So I've lots of time for crazy thoughts, I guess. Have you seen the two-hundred-foot-long billboards in the country beyond town? Did you know that once billboards were only twenty feet long? But cars started rushing by so quickly they had to stretch the advertising out so it would last.'" pg 7
Montag and Clarisse are talking and Clarisse mentions that billboards used to be shorter because the cars went slower. This shows that the government has enabled people to continue moving faster through their lives and become impersonal. The long billboards represent the speed that people pass things by and have a hard time noticing.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'Sometimes I'm ancient. I'm afraid of children my own age. They kill each other. Did it always use to be that way? My uncle says no. Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of them died in car wrecks. I'm afraid of them and they don't like me because I'm afraid...'" pg 27
Montag and Clarisse are walking together and are discussing the way that Clarisse is different from the kids her age. In this society the kids do whatever they want because there are no consequences and Clarisse is hated because she is different and afraid. This can be used to show the things that society has deemed okay and not okay. It is not okay to read certain books but there are no consequences for acting reckless and getting people killed.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "They walked still further and the girl said, 'Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?' 'No. Houses have always been fireproof, take my word for it.' 'Strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames.' He laughed." pg 6
Montag and Clarisse are walking together and they discuss the history of the fireman. Clarisse says she heard that firemen used to put out fires but Montag just laughs and says that houses were always fireproof. This shows how much society has been manipulated into thinking specific things that don't go against their way of life. This can be used to show how overtime society has been manipulated into taking the word of their superiors and a person is strange if they question things.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'I'm not worried,' said Mrs. Phelps. 'I'll let Pete do all the worrying.'She giggled. 'I'll let old Pete do all the worrying. Not me. I'm not worried.' 'It's always someone else's husband dies, they say.' 'I've heard that, too. I've never known any dead man killed in a war. Killed jumping off buildings, yes, like Gloria's husband last week, but from wars? No.'" pg 91
Montag and Millie's friends are discussing the coming war, and the women talk about how they are not worried about losing their husbands. This is a good example of the detached way that the average citizen thinks of themselves compared to the rest of the world. They believe that nothing can hurt them and they live in the moment so society doesn't make them take anything seriously.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'Now, let's get on upstream,' said Granger. 'And hold onto one thought: You're not important. You're not anything. Some day the load we're carrying with us may help someone...'" pg 156
Montag and the group are about to leave down the river and Granger speaks to the group. He reminds them that they are just vessels for the books they carry in their heads and they have to keep a low profile so those books survive. This can be used to show the sacrifice that these people make to hold on to something that could help the world in the future.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'See that?' whispered Granger. 'It'll be you; right up at the end of that street is our victim. See how our camera in coming in? Building the scene. Suspense. Long shot. Right now, some poor fellow is out for a walk. A rarity. An odd one. Don't think the police don't know the habits of queer ducks like that, men who walk mornings for the hell of it, or for reasons of insomnia. Anyway, the police have had him charted for months, years. Never know when that sort of information might be handy. And today, it turns out, it's very usable indeed. It saves face...'" pg 141, 142
Montag has found a group of wanderers in the woods by the river and they are watching the pursuit of Montag on the mini tv they have. Since Montag lost the Hound in the river the authorities use a scapegoat that just happens to be on a walk. This can be used to show the way the authorities have to save face and are willing to kill an innocent man in order to keep control and not accept failure.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'Silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words,' said Mrs. Bowles. 'Why do people want to hurt people? Not enough hurt in the world, you got to tease people with stuff like that!' 'Clara, now, Clara,' begged Mildred, pulling her arm. 'Come on, let's be cheery, you turn the 'family' on, now. Go ahead. Let's laugh and be happy, now, stop crying, we'll have a party!'" pg 97
Montag has just finished reading poetry to some of Millie's friends and the women start crying. The women don't know what the poetry means but it is something that they do not understand and it scares them. Society has been taught to react negatively towards anything they don't understand and naturally reach towards comfortable things that have no meaning like their 'families.'
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "Established, 1790, to burn English-influenced books in the Coloniess. First Fireman: Benjamin Franklin." pg 32
Montag is at the fire station and questions the history of the fireman. One of the firemen then recites a piece from the firemen's history book that says that people started burning books in 1790 and that Benjamin Franklin was the first fireman. Authority and the government has manipulated society by rewriting history to fit their way of ruling and help enforce their laws. This can be used to show a way that the government has manipulated society.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "And suddenly she was so strange he couldn't believe he knew her at all. He was in someone else's house..." pg 39
Montag is in his home and is about to go to sleep when he starts to think about Millie and her Seashell Broadcasting earpiece. He is beginning to realize that there is something missing from his life, and Millie is someone he barely knows because she is so detached and only interested in her 'family.' This can be used to show Montag slowly realizing that his life is not perfect and there is something missing.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "And if it was not the three walls soon to be four walls and the dream complete, then it was the open car and Mildred driving a hundred miles an hour across town, he shouting at her and she shouting back and both trying to hear what was said, but hearing only the scream of the car." pg 43
Montag is realizing the distance between him and Millie, and the 'family' that keeps them apart. The speed that Millie goes through life is so fast that Montag can't have a real relationship with her.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "They would have killed me, thought Montag, swaying, the air still torn and stirring about him in dust, touching his bruised cheek. For no reason at all in the world they would have killed me." pg 122
Montag is running from the Hound and almost gets run over by a group of kids in a car. If he had not fallen the kids would have run over him just for fun and wouldn't have given it a second thought. This can be used to show how society has been taught to show no regard for human life.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... The poor girl's better off dead...' 'Luckily, queer ones like her don't happen often. We know how to nip most of them in the bud, early...'" pg 58
Montag is talking to Captain Beatty about Clarisse's death and Beatty says that she is better off dead. The government and society think that those that they deem atypical don't belong and try to make them comply to their rules by teaching them at an early age to follow them. However if the person dies nobody is bothered by it because society doesn't think that they should dwell on someone who is different.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'Let you alone! That's all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?'" pg 49
Montag is talking to Mildred and he is trying to show her that the life she is living now isn't real or important, that there are other things out there that are important. He realizes that the way society works keeps everyone happy but in a state of false reality. This can be used to show a moment when Montag realizes that the books are important.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'You weren't there, you didn't see,' he said. 'There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing.'" pg 48
Montag is talking to Millie about what happened at the house that burned with the woman still inside. He is trying to explain to her that there must be something important in books for a woman to lay down her life for them. Montag is continuing to question why the firemen burn books and begins to realize that they are important though he doesn't know why yet.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'... It's not pleasant, but then we're not in control, we're the odd majority crying in the wilderness. When the war's over, perhaps we can be of some use in the world.'" pg 146
Montag is traveling with the group of men that memorize books and is told that after the war, they are going to see if they can bring books back to society. This group spends their lives on the run just so they can keep the books in their head in case they need them in their lifetime. This can be used to show how a small minority of people are able to spend their lives dedicated to a cause that society has rejected because they know that they can do some good when the time is right.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "The woman on the bed was no more than a hard stratum of marble they had reached. Go on, anyway, shove the bore down, slush up the emptiness, if such a thing could be brought out in the throb of the suction snake. The operator stood smoking a cigarette." pg 12
Montag is waiting while the sleeping pills that Millie ingested are cleared from her system. The operators that are helping her are very impersonal and distant. This can be used to show the way that people are detached from others in this society and unemotional when it comes to another's life.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "'What's going on?' Montag had rarely seen that many house lights. 'Oh, just my mother and father and uncle sitting around, talking. It's like being a pedestrian, only rarer. My uncle was arrested another time - did I tell you? - for being a pedestrian. Oh, we're most peculiar.' 'But what do you talk about?' She laughed at this." pg 7
Montag is walking home with Clarisse and he notices that her house lights are on which is unusual. Clarisse mentions that things like talking with family and her uncle walking outside is "peculiar." This can be used to show the things that society deemed strange in their detached way of living that enforced the negative attitude towards books.
Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 "I remember. Montag clung to the earth. I remember. Chicago. Chicago a long time ago. Millie and I. That's where we met! I remember now. Chicago. A long time ago." pg 153
The city that Montag just left has just been bombed and the city is ruined. It is during this moment that Montag remembers where he met Millie. This can be used to show a change in Montag's view towards Millie because he finally feels like he knows something about her other than her 'family' and Seashell Broadcasting system.
