D-BAND: F451 (pp. 21-40)
Continue to look closely at language as you read this next section. Choose a line that stands out to you because of the WAY that Bradbury wrote it. You can ask a question or just explain why it stood out to you. Don't forget to also respond to a classmate's comment.
"He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, two halves grinding one upon the other" (24).
ReplyDeleteI love this line because of its poetic flow and the strong imagery of a conflicted thoughts. Clarisse is opening Montag up to new thoughts and ideas, very different from the ones he held before as did the rest of their society. He has the norms that he has always conformed to, but also these fresh, colorful and innovative bursts of thought from Clarisse. In this way, Montag is like Holden, caught between two worlds. Holden was caught between childhood and the adult world, but aging was inevitable. However, in Fahrenheit 451, Montag can choose his path, either down the well-trodden road of his peers or join Clarisse in creating a new one. I found the comparisons in this passage interesting too. In class, we discussed the symbolic meaning of light versus darkness, and in this quote there is heat and the cold. Montag says, "It makes me cold" (27), referring to his disturbed suspicion of the Hound. Since coldness is a negative thing, and we decided darkness was too, so heat and light must be more positive. Heat and light are both present in fire. This appears to be contradictory to me, though, because I think of Clarisse as light, and she is most likely against the burning of the books. I hope to come across more symbolism with coldness, darkness, heat and light as the book goes on to deepen my understanding of their meaning.
I agree with you I think Montag is now starting to question certain social norms that he has been following throughout his life, but now after Clarisse brought up some new ideas to him questioning common practices in the society he has changed his attitude and feelings towards society. Also, I agree with you that Heat and fire could be two things light and dark based on how you interpret the text which can be confusing at times and contradicting.
DeleteI agree with you and I also really like that line that you chose. It's interesting to look deeper into Bradbury's portrayal of Montag as 'divided' because there are several other lines that mention that idea as well. It's as half of Montag, the "fireman" side of him, is wrapped up in this society of government-bred drones while the other part of him, the intelligent and moral part of him wants to learn more about the world and stop living such a sheltered existence. He has an internal struggle between knowing what's right and doing what's right. For instance, he knows it's wrong to burn books but he does so anyway. I think that Montag likes Clarisse so much because she brings out that better half of him that craves education and to really observe his surroundings and Clarisse is really his only outlet for that part of him because everyone else would find the idea of thinking and observing crazy. Society suffocates this good part of Montag and that's why he looks forward so much to talking to Clarisse. He doesn't have to wear a mask of happiness around her like he does with everyone else, he can be his true self.
DeleteI completely agree with this entire post and I love the quotation that you decided to use. I would also like to add something on to this post! I wanted to add on that this relates to what we were discussing in class yesterday. We were discussing how the book was all about 'lightness and darkness' and 'heat and coolness'. When I read this quote initially and then when I read your blog post, I immediately related it back to that conversation! I also enjoyed reading your insight on this quotation, Sophie.
Delete“I’m antisocial, they say/ I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it? (27)”
ReplyDeleteThis quote reveals how Clarisse defies the social norm and tries to change it by experimenting and doing something new which others in the society don’t like. She explains to Guy how all the people at her school do these really unreal stuff and putting their life in danger when doing reckless things like racing cars and trying to get near the lamp post. Also, she says that everyone in her school never asks questions and asks why, but just answers them like everyone else. All in all, she was inspired by her uncle to do things out of the social norm and question things that one doesn't agree with or is debatable.
The line "It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it?" really sticks out to me because it is all about point of view. From Clarisse's POV, their society is wrong and unrighteous, but any other citizen may believe that it's perfectly fine. I feel that Clarisse's dialogue always has some underlying meaning, and a lot of it pushes Montag to question himself and his values.
DeleteTo be antisocial an to not fit in are to completely different things and it struck me a little bit off balance when they put these two together. Clarisee is definitely social, we see this through the interactions between her and Montag. But I totally agree with her not fitting in. If anything everyone else in the book is antisocial. Clarisee says later on how she notices that people talk with one another, but aren't really talking about anything. So my question is, what is "social" in a world like this? Having a conversation with someone, or THINKING about something and discussing about it
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ReplyDelete"A book lit, almost obediently, like a white pigeon, in his hands, wings fluttering. In the dim, wavering light, a page hung open and it was like a snowy feather, the words delicately painted thereon." -page 34
ReplyDeleteThis line really stood out to me because the way Bradbury described the books so beautifully was so contradictory to his descriptions of the raging fire and the chaotic burning that was occurring. The way Bradbury describes the book so tranquil and gentle as a “white pigeon” creates a very strong, poetic image in the reader's mind of the book being a symbol of a peace and a beacon of light amidst the dark, destructive fire. I also think in this line, that Bradbury is hinting at the importance of this moment for the rest of the plot because this is Montag's first real interaction with a book where he's taking the time to truly see its beauty instead of just throwing it into the fire. And the way he only gets to read one line of this beautiful book just creates a lust inside him for more; like a fire burning inside him for knowledge instead of the fire he's physically contributing to as a "fireman" that's cementing his own ignorance and burning away his chance to learn the truth about society. Furthermore, in this line the way Bradbury says the book lit "almost obediently" makes the act of burning books seem so cruel and even cowardly. When the book is in his hand, it's as if Montag is given the power between its life and death. He wants to save the book from the fire and reads one line yet in the end he still throws it in and continues to burn the books and be consumed by the chaos. Here, Bradbury reveals how Montag and the firemen accept their jobs of burning books without question because it allows them to live in ignorant bliss. In this society, people allow themselves to be sheltered by the government, to burn the books without reading them because it’s easy, and they don’t want to know more than what they’re told. They confuse a life without thought as a life of leisure.
I love that you connected all the whites and i agree with you completely
DeleteYour point is so interesting and I agree. I couldn't ignore the fact that the books were always compared to birds, a common symbol of freedom. And when Bradbury states that the book lit "almost obediently", it brought a sense of faith into the scene. It was almost as if the book fell just perfectly into the fire to enable Montag to read it. This sentence alone embodies the style of Bradbury's writing; there is a meaning to everything he writes which makes you think about what is being read.
Delete"it was like a great bee come home from poisonous wilderness of insanity....."
ReplyDeletethis line stuck out to me because it seems as if this is where he starts to consider the world as a bad place. i think clariesse got to hime and he is now overthinking it all which may be bad because the rebel is in him now. he is going to be questioning everything from now on.
I think that the rebel being inside him is a good thing. This is a good thing because he can be the person to actually make the difference. Maybe that's why Clarisse stopped and talk to him because she knows he can actually help. Now that he is questioning how his life is he would want to make a change and it will most likley be for the better.
DeleteWhat do you mean by he's going to question everything from now on? What will be questioning? Why and what does Clarisse have to do with this?
Delete“Beatty arranged his cards quietly. ‘ Any man’s insane who thinks he can fool the government and us’ ” (33).
ReplyDeleteI love the language used in this simple line because it reveals something so dark / controlling with such simple words. Beatty has no stress, and as he is “quietly" arranging the cards he has the audacity to say that anyone who thinks they can fool the government is insane. This is something so absurd yet so simple and I love how Ray Bradbury says “any man” because it goes to show that NOBODY is more superior then the government or police. Also the fact that he uses “fool” makes it seem a lot more casual then if he would've said “tricked” or “lied”. It just amazes me how Ray Bradbury can really capture the “fireman” character and reflect his ego through the language he uses.
I find what you're saying about Beatty is being very cool and together when he talks about a man being sent to asylum because he though that he could trick the goverment interesting. I think you could really ellaborate more on Beattys character! How this line and what he says really carries through to what the character is doing in the rest of the book. I liked how you included how Beatty used the word fool when talking about a really crazy situation... I think that you have an really interesting point going here about a character I'm sure we will see more of in the book I think theres a lot you can write about here!
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you, when I read this quote it made me think about how we talk to each other when we text and when we speak face to face. When we are speaking face to face their is more of a personal connection. We actually are forced to think about the conversation at hand. When are texting however we are also surfing the web, on social media or doing something else. We don't give the same amount of respect to texting as we do when we are face to face because with the technology, we don't have to. We are just absent-minded filling in the silence and 'not talking about anything' as Clarisse says.
DeleteI agree with your point, Pat, that there is more respect and thinking involved when you are with a person and having a conversation with them as oppose to texting them. I like the fact that you said you have to think about the conversation on the spot, not 10 minutes later when you feel like it because you're done surfing the web. When you are talking to someone, it's usually your first priority to respond to them. When you are texting someone, it's most likely your third or fourth priority to the internet, social media, and games.
Delete“They name a lot of cars or clothes or swimming pools mostly and say how swell! But they all say the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else…” (30).
ReplyDeleteI love the words that Ray Bradbury used for this line in the book because it not only shows Clarisse’s character but it shows the character of a curious teenager. Most importantly, I think this quote is trying to show or portray how Clarisse even though she doesn’t want to interact or be involved in the social norm right now, wants to investigate what the regular person does in her society. I think she really wants to compare herself to a normal person in her society so that she can see what different tendencies the normal teenager and her have to see if they compare. I feel like Clarisse wants to be what people call an outsider but at the same time contradicts with that opinion and wants to do some of things normal teenagers do. I think this because she seems so trapped in one world and even though it’s fun for her, she wants to do things differently and I think that’s when her opinion about variety of choices comes into play here. I think that in this sense as well she compares to Holden because Holden wanted to see how social people are and how they do certain things. I feel like both characters want to find a middle somewhere, where you can be yourself and still be adjusted and comfortable in their societies. Clarisse isn’t quite at the step where Holden took but she has the potential to really adapt to her society and figure out how to still be herself.
"The women knelt among the books,touching the drenched leather and cardboard, reading with her gilt eyes accusing Montag. You can never have my books." (pg 38)
ReplyDeleteIn common society we find books to be very insperational and is something that people read to enjoy and learn. Its crazy to think about a society where books were outlawed but it seems to be like that this in this society. Yet people still hold onto there books as if they are the most sacred thing even in this society. If people didnt still hide and read there books there wouldnt be these firefighters who would have to burn these books. I think in this part of the book you can really see how people are still attached to there books. The women says in this part that "you can never take my books" I just find it interesting how people are still so ready to fight to keep something that has apparently been outlawed forever. You also start to see Montags reluctancy to start taking books he looks almost with pity... he says "please do what he says" to try and help the women. I think that the reason that the 17 year old girl clarise finds Montag so interesting is because she sees him as someone who does a job that people do something so cold in her opinion but Montag she feels has a goo heart and has good intention for people. I think therefor she finds Montag such an interesting character to talk to. I have to agree with her.
I think that Montag is a interesting character because his thoughts and the way he acts really do contradict with his job. I think that Montags good intentions will appear in much of the book to come.
I agree that it is interesting that the woman wants to hold on to her books even though she knows she will die if she does. I think that the reason why she holds on is because the books gave her some identity and personality. If she let them burn she would lose her identity so she decided she would die with her identity instead of living a life that is the same everyday. I think that books were banished because it gave people identity and caused them to act differently which is hard to control, like the woman who wanted to die with her books.
Delete"It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it?"
ReplyDeleteClarisse’s definition of being social is talking to someone or having a conversation, which is what Clarisse has been doing with Guy Montag. The other people at Clarisse's school think that being social is discussing things that they like and everyone agreeing that they like it too.
The reason that Clarisse is called antisocial is that she likes to question people when she talks to them. When people socialize, they all agree but she expresses different views and is left out. She also likes to do things that they might not find interesting. Since Clarisse tries to live a more traditional life and not by what other people do, she is called "antisocial" and is told that she "doesn't mix." Clarisse tries to go against all of the stereotypes and norms because she believes that she is the one who is social and everyone else is antisocial.
I really like what you said Az, I agree with you. The society in "Fahrenheit 451" has so many different standards people are expected to meet, like the way people are expected to agree with everything everyone else says because that's the definition of being social. Their society I feel lives strictly off of definitions, and if anyone tweaks the definitions in anyway, or doesn't oblige to their every requirement, they will be viewed as an outcast, like Clarisse. She enjoys keeping a conversation going with contrary opinions and topics and quirky ideas that no one else would really think of. She does this because it is enjoyable to her; she doesn't care if anyone else she's talking to finds her strange because of the way she unfolds conversation! Clarisse is a person who doesn't listen to social norms because they are plainly boring to her, and if she decides that she's going to do something another way, she doesn't think its a bad thing. She thinks it's a good thing, and if someone disagrees, they can address her about it, just as she would address them for saying something she doesn't feel the same about.
Delete"What do you do, go around trying once?" he asked.
ReplyDelete"Sometimes twice,"(21)
This stand out to me because I feel like I'm the type of person to try something at least once. Clarisse try somethings twice just to make sure. She is a very unique person she try's everything to see if she would like it. Like some people just wonder what if I did this or this but they never actually try it. Clarisse on the other hand if she thinks of something she will probably go out and do it. I think that is a great characteristic for a person to have. Anything she puts her mind to she can accomplish because she will work hard to do so. This line really stuck in my head during the reading and this is why.
"The Mechanical Hound slept but did not sleep, lived but did not live in its gently humming, gently vibrating, softly illuminated kennel back in the dark corner of the firehouse." (24)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is indirectly is referring to Montage. In the society they are living in, they have become so disconnected from the natural environment and human emotions. Montage on the outside argues that he is alive and knows he is not really and is actual feeling sad, confused, and a little scared by the thoughts he is thinking. In this society the people are alive. They are not however living, because they have replaced all the objects and needs that humans have that makes us feel like we are living. Although Guy Montage is alive and feeling, he has lost the ability to think and experience.
I didn't even realize this before and now that I think of it, its true. Bradbury's writing style is vague but yet it's so deep, you have to read it very thoroughly. This quote does indirectly refer to Montag. He is in the presence of his society but deep inside he's mind drifts to the natural world.
DeleteI definitely agree with you and your point about the disconnection with the natural environment is really interesting. I think that the only person in the novel so far that is connected with the environment is Clarisse because she is always giving Montag gifts like nuts from trees and leaves. She is also in contact with her feelings because she is always saying that she is "insane." In addition, she knows when one is in possession of feelings such as being in love and happiness.
Delete"They hurried downstairs, Montag staggering after them in the kerosene fumes." (38)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is significant because it reinforces the idea that Montag secretly does not fancy the society he lives in. The word used, "staggering" shows that he is struggling to follow his fellow firemen. This is important because it shows that he has no dedication to his job or interest, therefore he does not enjoy his job and would rather not do his job. This leads into the huge contrast between Montag and his wife. Montag does not enjoy modern society while his wife, Mildred, loves the walls and technology all around.
"He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other"(pg 24)
ReplyDeleteI have both a question and an answer on how the this quote stood out to me. My question is why does Montag feel so put down when him and Clarisse talk about choices and there world/society? This quote stood out to me because it shows how Ray Bradbury uses this quote as a way of showing a body dividing in the conflict of the person Montag used to be with the person he is now becoming. This also shows how Clarisse is teaching him on how to see people for who they rrally are. Basically one side of himself is describing how he knows that everything that he is standing for is wrong and the other being that he doesn't want to go againsy his government and wants to follow the rules making sure that things are safe and alright. The words in the quote shows this because, the words in the sentence are opposites from each other. It shows us how Montag is struggling from different emotions or feeling. For example, 'two halves grinding one upo mm the other' the word grinding tells him how painful this inner conflict is for him.
“One two three four five six seven days” (31)
ReplyDeleteBradbury’s constant repetition of the days shows a negligence of enjoying life. The tone displayed behind the words seem to portray an unstable state mind in addition to that. I can’t help but wonder if Montag has been keeping track of the days that go by before he met Clarisse. And if this awareness is truly awakened by Clarisse, then why does Bradbury want to insinuate that Montag is beginning to drive himself crazy? If anything, I think that this society believes that they are in fact keeping their civilians in check by limiting their knowledge. A lot of dystopian societies try to prevent the problems of the past by taking away a previous freedom. All of this new knowledge must be a distressing matter for Montag and Bradbury’s tone definitely portrays that.
I'm a little confused by what you said towards the end. But I disagree with you when you said the constant repetition of says was to count how many days it has been since Montag met Clarisse. I think its more like a countdown of his emotions after Clarisse left. He felt so disconnected to the world. He even says, "Something was the matter, his routine had been disturbed" (32). It just shows how Clarisse has become a part of him and his time and that with her he was able to see things has never seen before.
Delete"And then, Clarisse was gone. He didn't know what there was about the afternoon, but it was not seeing her somewhere in the world. The lawn was empty, the trees empty, the street empty, and while at first he did not even know he missed her or was even looking for her, the fact was that by the time he reached the subway, there were vague stirrings of un-ease in him. Something was the matter, his routine had been disturbed. A simple routine, true, established in a short few days, and yet . . . ? He almost turned back to make the walk again, to give her time to appear" (32).
ReplyDeleteRay Bradbury is very descriptive in his writing. He describes everything on a different level. For instance, he doesn't just say Clarisse was gone and that left Montag depressed and empty. He put it how everything around Montag was hollow, the trees, lawn, and streets were empty. It shows how Montag was yearning for Clarisse. Bradbury phrases everything in such powerful terms that show the characters feelings on such a high scale. Bradbury shows how lost Montag is without Clarisse by showing how Montag didn't even realize that he missed her until he went to the subway searching for her. Bradbury is very vague but yet he is able show his intentions on such a deep level. For example, when he says "... there were vague stirrings of un-ease in him...Something was the matter, his routine had been disturbed" I understand the deep hollowness that Montag felt when Clarisse left him. Clarisse has been with Montag for a while now and has become a part of his time and schedule. Without her, a piece of his time is gone.Bradbury is so descriptive that I was actually able to imagine the scene. Bradbury's writing style is very unique and different that it gives you a different experience when reading his books.
I agree, Clarisse was the one to actually make him think and realize, which made him get used to her in such a short time period. She was the piece that he finally found as you said. I said before that Clarisse actually let out the real Montag since she "took off the mask that he had on." She is the only one that he can actually enjoy talking to and the one that actually helps him, since his wife Mildred is nothing but "empty" and the dandelion scene proves he is not in love. The question here is what happened to her? Do you have any predictions?
DeleteI strongly agree with you that Ray Bradbury is a descriptive writer. I also agree with how he writes but takes it to another level and it shows the charters feelings with power.
DeleteI strongly agree, Clarisse's absence disrupted Montag's schedule, his routine. Bradbury has a way of describing scenes where you could almost place yourself in it. The mood is tangible and readers could clearly see how Montag was affected by her disapperance.
Delete"A book lit, almost obediently, like a white pigeon, in his hands, wings fluttering."
ReplyDeleteRay Bradbury is a beautiful writer. His words flow together really well; everything connecting with ease and giving off a great sense of feeling. I found the line I chose really interesting, because it revealed a lot about the way Montag views his profession as a fireman. Before meeting Clarisse, he hadn't questioned the rightness or morality in his job; he thought he was doing the right thing, since that's what the government and everyone else told him: Books are bad. Clarisse really opened him up to a lot of things, even when she didn't specifically talk to Montag about burning books. Just how quirky she was made him realize that he should begin to question things, just like she did. In the line I chose, he compares the book to a white pigeon, struggling to get away. He views the book as something completely helpless, abiding the fate it was given, because it knows it has no say in what happens afterward. Montag feels destructive because of this--he kills this white pigeon, who has never done him a wrong. Montag feels genuinely bad, shown from only this one line. When one line can reveal this much about a character, or about a story, that's when you know the author is a really good one. Ray Bradbury packs so much meaning into such small phrases, making the reader truly think. He does this with only his words, which is so fascinating to me. The combination of a few letters can lead to so many powerful thoughts and feelings, especially in a story.
I also like this line. Most writers use metaphors, but ray bradburys metaphors have deeper meanings- as you said, the white pigeon represents the innocence and hope that montag is burning up.
Delete“And she ran off and left him standing there in the rain. Only after a long time did he move. And then very slowly, as he walked, he tilted his head back in the rain, for just a few moments, and opened his mouth…”(24)
ReplyDeleteThis part stood out the most to me because Montag was taking a walk in the rain with Clarisse and she brings up this conversation about how interesting he is as a person. Montag also asked her if she tries to do everything twice and she does; like testing the dandelions on their chins to see if they are in love or not. Also the most interesting part was when she turned around to walk with Montag in the rain because she says that she enjoys the rain. Clarisse says something quite peculiar, “Rain even tastes good.” Which is what Montag tested after she left him to go to her appointment. I wonder why Montag hadn’t tried doing that when Clarisse was walking with him.
I think that Montag doesn't want Clarisse to know that he listens to her and tries what she tells him to do because he wants to look like he's sticking to the norms. If he had tasted the rain with her there, that would have opened her up to wanting to tell him more and speak with him more, which he doesn't feel comfortable with.
Delete"I've tried to imagine," said Montag, "just how it would feel. I mean to have firemen burn our houses and our books."(33-34)
ReplyDeleteComing towards this quote, Montag says the world, "think," and now says, "imagine" which I believe to be key, since that is what is lacked and is almost unspokenly a sad reality, a norm in that society. The fact that Montag actually is taking the time to think and imagine, how he would feel if people did what he has done to others. This shows how Clarisse has affected him, or better well said, has unveiled his true self. She stated how he is different from the other firemen, on page 23-24 how when she talked about something, he would observe it, while other firemen ignored her, didnt look or threatened her. JUst like said in the beginning, its as if he is an actor, playing a role, or that Clarisse, as Montag described, took away the mask he was wearing.
He also becomes more emotional, since he also says, "feel" (another thing lacking), and he also seems to be hiding something:books. He even took one when he was at the woman's house. I wonder how these acts of going against his expected principles will lead to.
One interesting thing i noticed while reading, on page 34:
"First Fireman: Benjamin Franklin"
he actually was the first one to make a library, which comes to show how the government has tried to erase and rewrite history and make people think the way they want them to.
This is a really interesting point. I agree with all your points but i wanted to add that the way Montag writes these words and orders them really contributes to your idea of how sad their world is. The sentence is very wordy and it is like you said one of the first montage is really thinking but its also really sad how it seems like it takes him forever to realize that maybe what he is doing is actually hurting other people.
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ReplyDelete"They name a lot of cars or clothes or swimming pools mostly and say how swell!" (31)
ReplyDeleteHere, Clarisse is telling Guy that she listens to people talk, and she has realized that they never really talk about anything. Bradbury words in it a way that shows how intelligent Clarisse is. On the other hand, you can tell she is a teenager through the sarcastic tone she uses. Both sides can be seen in the way Bradbury writes her speech. In addition, this pessimistic view of people reminded me a lot of Holden, along with the words used (like swell). Clarisse discussing people's shallow, meaningless conversations was very much like Holden. The two question the world around them very frequently.
This was a very interesting interpretation of the quote. I didn't really see any similarities to Holden through this quote until you pointed them out. But, now that you pointed them out I totally agree with you. Even if Clarisse isn't as judgmental or negative as Holden is in the Catcher in the Rye, they both have a very different outlook on life and society compared to the people around them. And I feel that the way you interpreted the quote above, reveals a lot about that.
DeleteI was able to see and connect how these two novels are alike, but did not see how these two characters were alike until you pointed it out. Just like you told me, I do not think that Clarisse is as extreme as Holden, there are definitely the similarities between the two. Giving an other example to how they both question the world around them: Clarisse, just like Holden, feet kids her own age. Although it might not be for the same reasons, I think that it is good enough to just leave it at that.
Delete"'I am, very much in love!' He tried to conjure up a face to fit the words, but there was no face. 'I am!'" (22)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it shows how Guy tells people things but maybe doesn't actually mean it, or doesn't realize he's not actually telling the truth. It also shows how sad he is on the inside, because he doesn't love anyone. He claims that he is in love with someone, but maybe he just says he is to follow the 'rules of society.'
I agree that guy doesn't love anyone and that he is sad on the inside. In addition to wanting to follow the rules of society, I think that he actually wants to love someone. He wants to love Mildred, but he wants her to be different: "If only someone else's flesh and brain and memory. If only they could have taken her mind along to the dry cleaner's and emptied it and reblocked it and brought it back in the morning".
Delete"I--I've been thinking. About the fire last week. About the man whose library we fixed... (33)"
ReplyDeleteI found this quote really interesting in the language that was used. Instead of saying "the man whose library we burned," Montag said, "the man whose library we fixed." This interests me because it shows how ignorant Montag and the firemen are to what they are actually doing. They are mindlessly serving a corrupt government and the way they talk about their job shows it. It's also interesting in that Montag is saying that he is thinking about something in a society where thinking isn't encouraged. Further, he is thinking about something that most people believe should not be questioned and take for granted. In summary, the way Montag speaks contributes to his blindness to what the he and the firemen are really doing.
"One day it was raining, the next it was clear, the day after that the wind blew calm, and the day after that it was mild and calm, and the day after that calm day was a day like the furnace of summer and Clarisse with her face all sunburnt by late afternoon"(28).
ReplyDeleteRay Bradbury is an outstanding writer, his use of descriptive and figurative language really add an affect to the stories he create. This line stood out to me because of how Bradbury chose to describe the days that had passed by. Instead of explaining the events that happened on each day, he chose to contrast each day with the next, alternating the weather-calm, rainy, clear, windy. The alternating days reflect Montag and his emotions, his inner conflict. Clarisse opened his eyes to a world he wasn't seeing before, and now Montag makes decisions influenced by her. He questions his happiness and tries drinking the rain. What will he do next?
I like how you said that Bradbury is an amazing writer because he is! He describes many things without even saying them. I like how you also showed his foreshadowing in the context. He's the kind of writer who likes to put a message between the lines. I see how you are tying to say that with his foreshadowing, so I think you could add a little bit more onto that as well.
DeleteI like how you connected the description of the weather by Ray Bradbury to how Guy Montag eventually uses the weather in the things he does. I agree that the weather reflects on Guy's moods. I also agree that Clarisse opens his eyes to a world he hasn't seen yet. After having these late night conversations with her, it seems to change in the way he does things. He starts to question more with things that he comes into conflict with, and he does things that he's learned from Clarisse. I think that Clarisse is going to make a big difference in the way that Guy Montag lives, both positively and possibly negatively.
Delete“Why is it i feel like I’ve known you so many years?... You make me feel very old and very much like a father”(26).
ReplyDeleteMontag and Clarisse have a very special connection and they now seem to be very comfortable talking. They got to know each other very quickly, and that can make Montag feel like he has known her for longer because he seems to know her better than his own wife, who he has known for much longer. Clarisse also makes Montag feel old. Clarisse, even though she is living somewhat in the past, is very new to Montag. To him, SHE is modern and futuristic, which makes him think he is old fashioned. Also, Montag has a very unhappy relationship with his wife. After this quote, he ends up telling clarisse that Mildred doesn’t want kids. I think Montag, knowing what his wife wants, treats Clarisse the way he would want to treat his daughter. Yes, Clarisse teaches Montag about a world he has never known, with would usually be the other way around in a father daughter relationship, but I don’t think Montag knows he is being taught and how much Clarisse has influenced him. So, because he feels old fashioned and is chronologically older in general, he thinks of himself as her fatherly figure.
"Im afraid of children my own age... Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of the dies in car wrecks... My uncle says his grandfather remembered when children didn't kill each other" (30).
ReplyDeleteThis quote stands out to me because of the different this seems to me. Throughout the novel, I have noticed how far Ray Bradbury goes to make the world the complete opposite from ours. Children are usually thought of as cute little innocent people, not murderers. Just after this quote, Clarisse says that before, when kids did not kill other kids, it was because they had something to do. This shows the large and negative effect on burning all the books. Reading is supposed to be a fun, entertaining thing to do. Without the ability to read, the children must find something else to entertain them; they chose killing. I am not saying that the only reason that they kill others is because of their inability to read, however I am willing to stand up for my argument that it is a very large reason.
Nice analysis Liron! It's definitely a point you could use for an essay!
DeleteI wonder if this example of killing was taken from adult behavior, what with household violence and the like probably still being relevant in this future. The kids saw the adults hurting each other in wars and relationship struggles and said, "Ooh, let's do that."
"Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine" (37).
ReplyDeleteAfter looking through all the quotes on today's blog, I was intrigued by the fact that no one had analyzed the quote that Montag reads in the burning house. So, that's exactly what I decided to do.
This quote is from an essay titled Dreamthorp, written by Alexander Smith in 1863. The essay describes a mystically beautiful village in which the author has found a home. It's very old (the buildings are in ruins) and strange (lions wander around everywhere) but the author loves it. He says that people can do whatever they want there, and that acting outside of society's regulations is the norm. I found that Dreamthorp is very similar to Clarisse and her personality, how she lives outside of society's rules and has strange mannerisms. I predict that since Montag has taken a copy of the essay home, he's probably going to read it. As he reads the essay, he'll find out more about Clarisse in her absence. When she comes back, he can greet her like an old friend from reading the entire essay, and learning about how being weird is normal.
On another note, the quote itself is about time stopping, and I like the parallel between this and the fact that history is being manipulated to prove the government's point. The best example of this is when they mention Benjamin Franklin as the first firefighter and reference his rules. It shows how everything is skewed toward the opinion of those in power.
That's my two cents.
"But they all say the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else" (31).
ReplyDeleteThis quote was really struck me because it reveals a lot about what we as a class were talking about on Monday, about people having no individuality or creativity because of the society they live in. I think this is a very important quote to look at because this the point in the book where I feel that Clarisse has finally convinced Montag to start questioning society. Right after this converstion with Clarisse, Montag starts asking his co-workers about the books they burn. This quote represents the turning point in Montag's mentality about society in my opinion.
"He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other."
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, Montag is talking to Clarrise again. At this point in their conversation, Clarrise is asking Montag how he got into being a fireman. She says she finds it unusual that he is a fireman because all of his features don't give off the same sort of image as many other firemen. She says that when she mentions the moon to it, he looks at it, as appose to many of the other firemen who would disregard her observation. This makes Montag very confused in the way he's feeling, This quote shows how he's split between two opinions. Bradbury doesn't just say how Montag is confused between his feelings, he describes in the most detailed way how Montag is split between two sides of feeling. One being if he knows what kind of person he is or not, and the other denying all that Clarrise has said, and disregarding her suggestions and observations. This one passage shows the two sides of his feeling, what they are, and the amount of confusion Montag has in this situation, without even mentioning a word of it.
Quote is on page 24
Delete"Sometimes I'm ancient..And I do all the shopping and housecleaning by hand." (36)
ReplyDeleteThis line didn't catch my attention because of what was being written but rather how it was written. In this passage Bradbury did something I noticed he has done not only in Fahrenheit 451 but also in the Veldt. He always adds futuristic things very discreetly so the reader doesn't always notice that its different than our world today. For example, this line clearly shows that in this society all cleaning and shopping isn't done manually- it isn't described how it is done but one can infer that it probably uses some sort of futuristic power or technology. I've just found that interesting because it brings you into this world without you noticing the differences from the real world.
"People don't talk about anything."
ReplyDelete"But they all say the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else"(31).
I like how Ray Bradbury included this to show how Clarisse personally feels about other people. It shows that she doesn't engage herself to the social norms and I think that will help Guy Montag because he seems mildly depressed and seems to have some desire to escape reality. She will show him how to think outside the box and to open his mind. It relates to Catcher in the Rye, when Holden despised the social norms and wanted to be different. This quote also stood out to me because the author is showing us how the social norms of society had taken over everyone, even when Clarisse overhearing conversations of strangers.
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ReplyDelete"People don't talk about anything" (28).
ReplyDeleteFor this blog post, I chose to use a quotation, and this is the one that I chose. This was said by Clarisse on page 28 (not in the class set of books). This quotation really stood out to me for a couple of reasons. One reason, as we discussed in class yesterday, is because it raises the question 'Do we really talk about anything realistic through texting and social media'? When I thought about this, I realized that most of the time Clarisse is right. We usually ask are friends how they are doing and get a simple response. This is not a real conversation, this is technology taking over our emotions that we cannot express through a keyboard or from behind a computer screen. Another reason that this quotation stood out to me is because the way I interpreted this, Clarisse is implying that technology is taking over society. Even though their technology is much more advanced then ours, I think it strongly relates to the society we are living in today. We depend on our smart phones instead of books, we try to use emoticons instead of expressing our emotions face to face with others, we play video games and watch TV instead of going outside and appreciating nature and the world around us, and so much more. These are the reasons that I completely agree with Clarisse's point that "People don't talk about anything" (28).