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| from Cedar Ridge School District |
After you finish reading, read through these topics as a way to get you thinking about what you would like to write about for your entry:
1. What do you notice about this society? What stands out about its people and what they value?
2. Focus on the interactions between key characters and what we may learn from them. Consider Guy Montag, Clarisse McClellan, Mildred (Guy's wife), and/or Captain Beatty.
3. Although published in 1950, Fahrenheit 451 accurately predicts some of our current technologies. Focus on what you noticed about technology and its role in this story.
4. What passage struck you as most important or interesting? Include it and then tell us why it stood out to you.
(Your response should be in paragraph form. Feel free to write in first person: I noticed that . . . See the rubric above. It's okay if you were confused by some parts of the reading--just share one idea you have about the reading and incorporate at least one quote in your explanation.)
So far in this book I have noticed many unsettling things about their society. After reading 1984 over the summer this future seems very Orwellian. There were two quotes that really made me think that, the first: "War may be declared any hour. This country stands ready to defend itself. . .' The firehouse trembled as a great flight of jet planes whistled a single note across the black morning sky"(30). In 1984 Oceania is in perpetual war with other countries as a way to degrade their society and take away their rights in the name of fighting the enemy this is what I see happening in Fahrenheit 451. The second quote: "Established, 1790, to burn English-influenced books in the Colonies. First Fireman: Benjamin Franklin"(32). Another way to degrade society into basically nothing is to destroy everything that made it something. By burning these texts and directly lying to the public the government is suppressing thought and instilling nothing but obedience into every person, if they actually knew what really happened in the world and how america was founded they would not be this docile and submissive. What they are doing in 451 and in 1984 are basically the same thing, destroy what makes us us. These people no longer value what is naturally valued but what society needs them to value. This is truly the lowest form of human state.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Cameron
Fahrenheit 451 was published four years after 1984. Nice connections here.
DeleteOne line I found really interesting in the novel was at the bottom of 32 when the one of the other firemen with shouts "Montag, you forgot your helmet"(32). I found this moment really symbolic because I think that after this moment he will begin to forget about the ideas and values of the firemen. I think he will begin to question why they burn books and will become more curious and try to figure out why they burn books. Another thing I found really interesting was his interaction with Captain Beatty. I think Captain Beatty understands Montag's curiosity because the author describes how "Beatty stood there looking at him steadily... his mouth opened and he began to laugh, very softly". I think Beatty understands his curiosity and wants to also understand why the firemen burn houses.
ReplyDeleteDo you see Beatty as a potential ally for Montag--our an antagonist?
DeleteThe line if ound most interesting was: "established 1790, to burn English influenced books in the colonies. First Fireman: Benjamin Franklin"(32). This is extremly interesting because not only does it show that this is an alternate america, but also that censorship is a very important part of a american culture and history. It also makes you wonder what else is diffrent in this timeline? Also in this time what motivated this action to be taken. Also what books are banned/burned. In our world England is allies with us are those books still banned. Is there missing parts of history just because they burned everything. Also they themselves were created by england so what qualifies as influence by enlgand.
ReplyDeleteGoing along with George, I agree that there's a lot of unsettling things going on in the society. For example it's set much in the future and everybody does things differently than we do now - it's against the law to read books or to be a pedestrian by going for walks outside. However there is one girl, Clarisse who caught the eye of Guy, he likes her because she's not like everybody else but she's 17. She thinks outside of the box, "a long time back sometimes pictures said things or even showed people" (28). Even though that's what her uncle told her, she has influences that are intelligent and special. She said she likes to go out and watch people even though they don't talk that much about things. How will Clarisse and montag's relationship play out? Also how are these firefighters special or different from normal people? Also what is the "average" person in the society in detail? I also liked Sam's question about what books are burned and banned and why??
ReplyDeleteInteresting questions. Do you think Clarisse sparked these ideas in Montag or did he have these ideas beginning to form in his head and that's what draws him to her?
DeleteThe society of Fahrenheit 451 seems to be almost opposite of what the American society originated as. People are controlled by the government and are stripped away of many of their rights that were specifically outlined in the Constitution and more specifically the Bill of Rights. One of the key components of Being a Fireman is to “burn everything” (32). This alone violates; the right of freedom of speech because the books people have published to spread their ideas are being destroyed, and the right of no unreasonable searches and seizures. The flip-flopped society in fahrenheit 451 takes another odd turn when Benjamin Franklin is said to be the founder of the Fireman Organization especially when he was an author himself, as well as a printer, postmaster, politician, and scientist along with many more. These occupations rely heavily on books and the spreading of ideas so I was very interested that he was chosen out of all the other forefathers. Will he have some significance later in the book? Or am I just looking to far into this? The Interactions between Guy and Clarisse are also very interesting. He is mesmerized by her and the ideas she has. It seems as though she is almost trying to make him obsessed with her and pulling on his emotions. She has talked about things that he has never really talked about with another person and that puts him almost under a spell. I am very interested in seeing how their relationship furthers.
ReplyDeleteQuinlan Kelly
It's interesting, too, because we don't have too much information about the government: how it is structured, who leads it, etc.
DeleteThis book has been very interesting so far because of its odd society. Everything seems to be the opposite of our society. Nobody is able to talk against something, there is no reading, the fireman kill people and burn houses instead of helping people and putting them out and people can't even be a pedestrain on a sidewalk. Instead of uniqueness, this society values rules and uniformity. Guy Montag is very suprised with Clarisse because she is so different then the usual norm and is very wise. She understands and decipers his traits by just monitoring him, and she points out what his weaknesses are, like how he is not really in love with his wife after all. I think she is really important to the story already because she is secretly convincing Guy to break out of the norms and how you need to be free and happy in order to enjoy life. One quote that stuck out to me was when Clarisse talked about the schooling system. She said, "It's a lot of funnels and a lot of water poured down the spout and out the bottom, and them telling us it's wine when it's not" (27). This quote is interesting because it shows how the school system is lying about the things they are teaching. My guess is that she is talking about history, and since they are trying to remove the old history, they are teaching new history which is untrue.
ReplyDeleteThe interactions between Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellan are very interesting. The firemen are generally feared people. They don't have relationships and don't talk about their personal lives. We see this when Clarisse approaches Guy and starts to ask him personal questions. He clearly is caught off guard, we can see him laugh awkwardly, like he does not know how to react to this situation. We can understand from this that the firemen live secluded lives away from society, they do not have much interaction with the people. Or all people don't talk much to eachother. On the other side, Clarisse shows no fear towards him. She explains to him that firemen used to put out fires. Guy denies this, he believes that things were just like they are now. We can learn that somehow information of the past was destroyed and altered. Instead of stories of firemen saving lives and preserving valuables and homes, people think that firemen are supposed to destroy. I am very interested in seeing how this relationship growing between the two influences Guy's decisions and view of their world and the past world.
ReplyDeleteYes, Clarisse seems to be unlocking ideas that Montag had been slowly processing about his life and occupation. She might be acting as a catalyst for thoughts that he had held back.
DeleteThe first thing I noticed about the book was the unsettling atmosphere that was presented at the start. A fireman enjoying burning down where a family had probably lived in or is living in for years, but then on his way home we are presented with the light that is Clarisse. She doesn't care about who he is, which is weird because he seems to think that she should fear him due to his position in society. It starts off in a backwards society, that is turned even further in by Clarrise, who doesn't seem to think she's living in a time different to our own. What I especially noticed was the weird thoughts that guy had when he was crossing the corner. As if he was expecting Clarrise for a while but didn't know it. It describes how he always notices something there but now there is something there he confirms it wasn't just a piece of his imagination. When Clarrise mentions the fact that firemen used to put out fires instead of make them, Guy puts it off, almost struggling inside to figure how that could be. Guy is thinking like a society that raised him to think these firemen create fires, but is told by someone who seems much younger than him he is wrong. Where did Clarisse get these facts is one of my first questions? Is it from books and if so why hasn't she been found especially with a fireman living next to her?
ReplyDeleteThis book is unsettlingly easygoing in the very beginning. The part that we listened to in class showed Montag peacefully describing how firemen had always started fires instead of putting them out. Another thing I've noticed is that firemen in this book are like a weird mixture of "reverse" modern day firemen and modern day policemen. They are called firemen (because they produce fire) but clearly expect the same amount of respect as a policeman. Like when Montag asks Clarrise to show him some respect (referring to his 451 logo). I'm very interested to see how this book pans out for Montag. Obviously (since there's one major rule that makes books illegal) he's going to break the rule making for a dramatic inner turmoil of a "fireman" doing what he despises so much with a mixture of him being hunted down by the authorities.
ReplyDeleteBen,
DeleteI'd like to make sure you are listed by name rather than as "unknown." Please check in with Ms. Wilson to see if you can get that fixed.
The society described so far in the novel is a lot different and more odd then our typical American society that we live in today. In this society, people are very private and independent. There is a lot less interaction between people because they're either watching tv or listening to the radio from their earpieces. In this society people don't value being someone of high character or helping others. Instead these people value needless things. I thought that the interaction between Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellan is very intriguing. In this society firemen, such as Guy Montag, are very private and feared people. They focus on their job and only their job. They don't talk about their personal life at all, so therefore people do not bother talking with them and don't have the courage to either. Clarisse on the other hand had no fear that Guy Montag was a firemen and went right up to him. She began to ask him very personable questions. Guy Montag was shocked and just laughed it off because he didn't know how to react since he had never been in this situation before. This shows a connection between the two and how Clarisse isn't afraid of any firemen. A passage that struck me as being important was "No one has time any more for anyone else. You’re one of the few who put up with me. That’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman. It just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow.” (23-24) This shows that Clarisse is in shock that Guy Montag is indeed a firemen talking like this to her with open feelings and discussing private life with her. She is also in shock that he is so nice from being a firemen, which shows the fearful reputation firemen get in this society.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about this society: People keep to themselves and are distracted by technology--the parlor walls, the Seashells, etc.
DeleteThe society in Fahrenheit 451 is dependent on technology. The people revolve around the newest technology and they continue to expand and make new improvement. When Clarisse said, “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). This shows that the technology and the people in the society are becoming more and more advanced. They went from small 20ft billboards to 200ft billboards, because they needed the technology to fit with the drastic change of the people. The people also had televisions that went from the ceiling to the floor and they covered an entire wall. Montag had three of the televisions that cover an entire wall. If three televisions was not enough Montag said to his wife,“How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall put in? It’s only two-thousand dollars”(18). This not only showed that the people of the society needed more than one television and that their society had very advanced technology, but also it showed that they did not treat money like it was money. It seems like two-thousand dollars is not a lot to them.The society is depicted as an advanced, technological, rich environment, where literature was banned so the people turned to electronics.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most notable things I noticed about Montag's behavior after burning down the woman's house is how curious he's become. He says "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?"(49). I found this really significant because it's something Clarisse would ask. I think Ray Bradbury might be trying to convey the message that knowledge is power. I think he's trying to demonstrate the idea that curiosity is inevitable. I think something has sparked inside of Montag and now theres a growing fire inside of him. I think this fire represents his growing curiosity for the world. And eventually this curiosity will lead to him getting answers and once he receives these answers he's going to have knowledge that will soon become very powerful.
ReplyDeleteCan you submit this with Post #2?
DeleteThe society and its people in Fahrenheit 451 is much different than what we see today in our society. Their society is much more technologically advanced, and more dependent on technology, but the people seem as if they are less educated then what we would see by the way they talk, and work. The interactions between Guy and Clarisse show that they have a connection, one that two people who are very different would not be likely to have, they are kind to each other, and enjoy speaking with one an other, and in a way seem dependent of each other. Guy and his wife Mildred have interactions, but there is not much to go off of, from what I can tell, they love each other, and are happy together, but they seem very different from each other personality wise. The interactions between Guy and the Captain show how Guy almost seems like an outcast among the firefighters, because like Clarisse had said Guy is different then the rest of them. One thing I noticed about the technology is that it is very doable in our society, such as a toaster that butters our bread, and the hand scanner to get into a house which is much like the finder print scanner to get into a phone, also the large wall TVs are very common among our houses in today's society. A quote that I really found interesting was "It doesn't like or dislike. It just 'functions'. [...] Its only copper wire, storage batteries, and electricity." (24). This was interesting to me because it was talking about how they can program the brain of the Hound, to control what it does, and how it reacts. F
ReplyDeleteI agree that Montag feels like an "outcast" among the firemen. In terms of Montag's relationship with Mildred, he admits to himself that he's not happy in this life, in this marriage. I think meeting Clarisse is a reminder that he has wanted something more in his life.
DeleteAfter Guy montag and the fireman burn down the womans books and kill her, he has a different reaction then he usually does. He has been doing this for a long time and nothing has seemed to get to him, but this particular time he got very upset. This is because he talked to Clarisse before he went to burn the books. Even if it just was a conversation, she still talked about many valuable things that got him thinking about himself and the society that he lives in. Since he never really thought about the society, he never really had a problem with burning the books, but since he talked to Clarisse, he became more conscious about the problems with society, so this led him to being really upset and sad when the lady and her books were burned . A quote that I was interesting is on page 49 when Guy says, "And I thought about books. And for the first time I realized that a man was behind each one of the books." This is important because it shows how he is finally being rationale and thinking about how every book was written for someone else to read. He thought about how the authors had an idea so they wrote about it to share it with others, and since they are burning these ideas no one can develop new ones and everyone will think the same. In a way this relates back to history when the church was making everybody think the same but some people evenutually broke out of this norm and began developing their opinions, so I think this relates to the reformation of europe and the scientific revolution a little.
ReplyDeleteCan you submit this entry with Post #2?
DeleteThe main character in the story is a firefighter named Guy Montag, his job is to start fires and burn books. Not what you first think of when you hear the word firefighter. He has had his job at the station for 10 years and takes pride in his work. As the story progresses we see him begin to experience change in his life, the lives that all the character live in the story are ones that do not change. The repeat the same thing day in and day out. There thinking does not changed, it is viewed as differently to think. The first shift we see with montag is when he encounters this girl on the way home from work. He say “I don't know. He started to laugh again and then stop.” when question about why he had laughed at what she said, she made him think in conversation. The second shift is when he finds his wife overdosed on her meds she takes. She has to recollection of it the next day and carries on with her life like it never happened. Even when montag brought it up to her, she still denied that it ever happen.
ReplyDeleteMontag now is beginning to become a different person in himself, he now is putting thought to his action. Montag is distancing himself from the mechanical way of life. The last call he responds to, is where he starts to have trouble with job. He has been burning books for ten years and never broken the rules, that night he took a book. that one act goes against the basic building block of there society. later on in the story this book beings to make him think. He questioned and wonders to himself before realizing. "And for the first time I realized that a man was behind each one of the books." His one act of taking a different path could cost him so much but open his mind to far more. Montag has set in motion something even he will need help to understand and grow with.
ReplyDeleteHe is starting to thinking differently about society. While burning down the house Montag grabs a book which I think is extremely symbolical about his opinion on society and the path of the book. By talking to Clarisse his mind was in a way opened to what is really happening, thus creating a lust for knowledge. "Montag's hand closed like a mouth, crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest"(34). This quest for knowledge and what is forbidden is what makes us human and though society had reduced to almost nothing but a fireman, that lust remains. I think that the fact he does this shows the society is not too far gone, if someone that represents the new society and social corruption can do this it gives hope that maybe there is someway to reverse all of the damage. Though I am pretty skeptical because of what happens in the end of 1984, there is a point were it is impossible to turn back.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWithin a few pages of reading Fahrenheit 451 I've gathered in this distopian society technology is essentially the center of this fictional universe. As Clarissa points out at many different times, devices and technology in this world are more important than social interaction and authentic human connections. For example Guys wife mildrid is so connected to the technology in her world, she hardly notices what's happening around. The technology is so prominent in this world that the people have lost, awareness of what's going on around them as well as basic human interaction. The world of Fahrenheit 451 is almost a forshawoding of Whats to happen to our society is we keep barring technology to a such an unhealthy standard. The role technology plays in this society is so harmful and powerful that its destructing its own people, and almost making it so it's people can't live without their daily dose of someone kind of device or screen. The people of the society are almost like leeches so dependent on their technology, it begs the question what would they be without it?
ReplyDeleteWhen Guy and Clarisse are speaking she demonstartes in a vague way how unaware people are becuase of technology, "Bet I know something else you don't. There's dew on the grass in the morning."
ReplyDeleteHe suddenly couldn't remember if he had known this or not, and it made him quite irritable.
"And if you look"—she nodded at the sky—"there's a man in the moon."
He hadn't looked for a long time." Technology has such a hold on people in this world, even Guy Istnt aware of basic knowlegde of his own world.
After the fire claims the life of the woman Guy Montag becomes very flustered and frustrated with anything and everything. This is very evident when Montag is talking to his wife. In all of the conversations they have Mildred either forgets what they have just talked about or is not 100% invested in the conversation she and he are having. From experience this is a very frustrating feeling, to have to repeat or remind someone of something that was just said and the frustration and fluster that he faces is completely relatable. The anger that Montag is feeling must be multiplied when the conversation shifts towards the girl he had befriended, Clarisse. His wife tells him that she was, “Run over by a car. 4 days ago. I’m not sure. But I think she’s dead” (44). She then justifies not telling him this by saying she forgot. If I was Montag I would have completely lost it there. She treats this poor girl dying as if it’s nothing. It is almost like the people living life do not appreciate the fact that they are actually living. They treat death as if it is no big deal, but it is in fact a big deal. His conversations with Beatty however are very different. He seems to almost seek advice from Beatty and wants Beatty to show him the way. Beatty feels like the kind of guy that knows a lot and has seen a lot and Montag will turn to him for advice and guidance with his upcoming troubles and encounters.
ReplyDeleteMontags behavior starts to change from when we first met him in the beginning of the book. In the beginning he thought that burning book were great. He never actually looked at one of the books he burned. This time however, his opinions change. This could be due to the fact that the woman in the building was about to be harmed. Before this “you weren’t hurting people, only things… this woman was spoiling the ritual”(34). This is different from all of the other times because before he never had to witness the death of somebody in a fire. He begs that the woman would go with him. She denies this and wants to be with the books when they burn. For the first time he begins to look a the books. He reads a line, and decides to save the book. This is illegal and before this one burning he never even thought of looking at them. We can clearly see a large change in his thinking. I wonder if this will lead him to get in trouble with the firemen and maybe even the government?
ReplyDeleteMontag seems like he's changed ever since he had his conversation with Clarisse. After Clarisse is outside with the raindrops, catching them with her mouth, montag also later did the same thing. Important quote : “I haven't seen her for a few days---four to be exact”(44). Clarisse is missing and Ray Bradbury is trying to tell us to hold on to what we have because it could leave us at any moment. Also after the fire, montag threatens Mildred with telling Beatty about it. I don't think that the relationship between montag and Beatty is completely transparent because of this. Mildred and montag’s relationship seems rocky at this time too because they keep fighting and threatening and questioning each other for example, “let me alone…..and then he shut up” (49).
ReplyDeleteThe woman is either totally devoted or totally nuts. Or both. Honestly, I've never stood up for a person breaking the law of a dystopian society of such irrelevance. But this woman kind of got to me. Its not that she wanted to die with her books. She wanted to prove a point. That the firemen are ruthless murderers who will not let anyone or anything stand in their way. She died for those who's eyes were not yet open to the realization that the firemen aren't doing what's truly right for society. Also, there's been a lingering thought of mine that did the Germans win WW 2 in this reality? Because the nazis used to burn books in bulk. And if they did in fact win the war, is that why this dystopian society exists?
ReplyDelete"You can come with me." "No," she said. "Thank you, anyway."
DeleteThis shows that Montag is the only fireman who cares even a little. The others just backed out of the house without even thinking twice. However, this woman refused Montag's hand-up because she wanted to prove her point.
During and after the fire montag's thoughts were much diffrent than before. He found himself questioning what the firemans point was. during the fire he was questionign many things. number one why the woman had chosen to die and what books were. He was wondering why someone would choose death over losing books. This single thought led him to question everything he knew, about people, the past, everything. One of the most dramatic things it led to was him thinking about when he actually met his wife. The answer was, he couldnt remember, chilling when it was just 10 years ago. he started to realize how strange his life really was, all becuase of that woman from the fire
ReplyDeleteThe book seems to take place in an alternate America, seeing as how on page 32 it says "First Fireman, Benjamin Franklin. I also find it interesting how everyone seems to forget things. I think that the Firemen were established recently and the "serum" given to them as shown with Montag's wife is something to keep them forgetting. Montag's wife forgot everything that happened to her the night before. I think this is the reason that nobody can remember anything that happened 10 years before.
ReplyDelete