Fahrenheit 451: Journal #3 Quote Analysis
Journal #3
May 5, 2013
“So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life… We are living in a time when flowers are growing on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam.” (Pg. 83, Fahrenheit 451)
In the quote above, Faber describes books and their content to Montag, who as started to rebel against society through books. Faber was a very special and memorable person Montag met in a park a few years back. They had a conversation in which Faber recited some poems to him and because of that, Montag knew he was a rebel; a reader. He was the only person Montag could think of that would help him in his situation.
Faber is the one that uttered this quote and is, by far, my favorite character in the book. The way he describes books is so unique. He uses many figures of speech to explain books and even society. Because of this, what he says usually has indirect meanings. Take this quote for example. This quote contains metaphors and personifications that describe Montag’s society and why books are burned. “Pores in the face of life” is a personification that represents the “problems in life.” Pores on our faces are unwanted, ugly, problematic. Same with the issues in our lives. It makes people unhappy, and brings torture in their lives. People are afraid of this; therefore, they are removed, avoided. Books reveal these “pores in the face of life,” so they are removed as well. That’s how Montag’s government controls Montag’s society. Through fake, hollow happiness. The government digs a hole and buries the locked treasure box filled with everyone’s emotions (excluding happiness) and issues deep inside the hole. Heck, they even teach society to do that themselves! For the next sentence, “flowers” is a metaphor for ideas. “Good rain” and “black loam” represents creativity and imagination. “Flowers” need Good rain” and “black loam” to blossom into something grand, special, unique. But, because
May 5, 2013
“So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life… We are living in a time when flowers are growing on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam.” (Pg. 83, Fahrenheit 451)
In the quote above, Faber describes books and their content to Montag, who as started to rebel against society through books. Faber was a very special and memorable person Montag met in a park a few years back. They had a conversation in which Faber recited some poems to him and because of that, Montag knew he was a rebel; a reader. He was the only person Montag could think of that would help him in his situation.
Faber is the one that uttered this quote and is, by far, my favorite character in the book. The way he describes books is so unique. He uses many figures of speech to explain books and even society. Because of this, what he says usually has indirect meanings. Take this quote for example. This quote contains metaphors and personifications that describe Montag’s society and why books are burned. “Pores in the face of life” is a personification that represents the “problems in life.” Pores on our faces are unwanted, ugly, problematic. Same with the issues in our lives. It makes people unhappy, and brings torture in their lives. People are afraid of this; therefore, they are removed, avoided. Books reveal these “pores in the face of life,” so they are removed as well. That’s how Montag’s government controls Montag’s society. Through fake, hollow happiness. The government digs a hole and buries the locked treasure box filled with everyone’s emotions (excluding happiness) and issues deep inside the hole. Heck, they even teach society to do that themselves! For the next sentence, “flowers” is a metaphor for ideas. “Good rain” and “black loam” represents creativity and imagination. “Flowers” need Good rain” and “black loam” to blossom into something grand, special, unique. But, because