Jazmyn Rivera
L.A.-6th hour
1-5-12
In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the main characters, Guy Montag, and
Faber, are very different because of the way they express themselves, the way they think, and
willingness to overcome an obstacle.
Guy Montag expresses himself through loud actions and words, thinks slow, and is quick
to overcome obstacles. Guy Montag works at the Firehouse, the group that enforces the law that
one cannot read books. If the Firehouse catches a person reading a book or has suspicion that
they were reading, they will go to jail, and their house will be burned down. Guy Montag refused
to continue burning books after realizing his love for them, and how much knowledge one can
learn from them. When Montag owned the books, not only was it illegal, but after revealing his
ownership of the books to his community, it shocked his friends and family. This is a very loud
action in the quiet city of Montag’s neighborhood. One example of Montag’s resentment toward
the firehouse is,
“Montag said, ‘It’s only a step from not going to work today to not going to work
tomorrow, to not working at the firehouse ever again.’
‘You are going to work tonight, though, aren’t you?’ said Mildred.
‘I haven’t decided right now. I’ve got an awful feeling I want to smash things and kill
things.’” (Bradbury, 68)
Montag, several times throughout the book, goes to Faber, his ‘partner-in-crime’, for help
because Faber is smarter than Montag. Montag often goes to Faber for advice, instead of
thinking for himself. Faber’s house is Montag’s ‘get-away’ from his life. Faber’s house is the
one place Montag can ask for an understanding of their books, without anyone arresting him for
reading them. Faber gives him help, and offers his services as a ‘side-kick’ to Montag, because
he believes that reading books should not be against the law.
*****Faber expresses himself quietly, thinks fast and clever, and takes time to overcome
obstacles. Montag plans to run away from the government and the life he’s come to know. For
Montag and Faber to keep in touch, Faber gives Montag a miniature hearing device similar to a
hearing aid. When Montag goes to his house for the green bullet (the hearing aid), he sees that
Faber has tablefuls of gadgets he’s afraid to show off to the rest of the world. Faber is afraid to
express his knowledge to the world, because he fears of being arrested for thinking ‘outside the
box’. Faber thinks fast and clever because he is the mastermind behind Montag’s plan to get
back at the government for depriving them of the lost knowledge in books. When dealing with
Montag and Faber’s government, you must work faster and smarter than the government, or else
they will outsmart you. "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."
(Bradbury, part 2) This quote shows how Faber thinks outside of the box. He thinks different
than what others choose to be believe. Faber takes time to overcome obstacles because he takes
time when deciding major things. He will not make a snap decision because unlike Montag,
Faber considers the consequences before the actions.*****
Guy Montag and Faber are best friends in this novel by Ray Bradbury, but have different
viewpoints on a lot of aspects of life. This is what makes them friends. They say, opposites
attract, and it proves true in Farenheit 451. Guy Montag and Beatty are different because of the
way they choose express themselves to the public, the way their minds think, and how fast they
respond to a challenge.