Post #2

Journal Entry #2 - The relationship between Montag and Mildred
I'm still not sure if this post counts as a post from the 'beginning' of the novel. I'm still confused.

Even though I'm full aware that we're on topic of Fahrenheit 451, not Macbeth, I must make a brief reference to Macbeth and his wife. Bare with me.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were an odd couple (which is an understatement) They were together, became evil, drifted apart, and soon they both died. We know the story.

But is it fair to compare Guy Montag and his wife to the tragic couple mentioned above? I'll come back to the comparison later.

When I was first introduced to Mildred, she was not conscious; apparently she had overdosed on sleeping pills and had almost killed himself. This made Montag to call the paramedics, until two rather awkward men used a strange machinery (described by Montag as the Snake) to replace Mildred's poisoned blood with fresh blood. Such thought disturbed Montag. However, when Montag questioned Mildred of such acts, Mildred denied everything; she did not remember a thing. Then she resumed to watch her programming on her beloved parlor of three walls - which she calls her 'family.'

The question is: does Montag love his wife?

During the nights, Montag finds Mildred listening to a radio lodged in her ears - Seashell. This also disturbs Montag, because he makes yet another animal reference in calling the radio a praying mantis. So one night, he asks Mildred if she remembers where and when they had met for the first time. To Montag's dismay, Mildred does not remember. She doesn't even seem bothered by the fact that she doesn't know. This puts Montag into a state into misery, as he feels ever so distant from Mildred. The quote, "And he remembered thinking then that if she [Mildred] died, he was certain he wouldn't cry. For it would be the dying of of an unknown, a street face, a newspaper image, and it was suddenly so very wrong that he had begun to cry , not at death but at the thought of not crying at death..." (Montag, page 44) describes how Montag feels saddened by the distant relationship he shares with his wife. He would not cry if Mildred dies, and is saddened by his non existent care for her.


The barrier between Montag and his wife is the technology of entertainment used by Mildred: the first example is the Seashell - the radio plugged into her ear. She listens to distant voices rather than hold a conversation with her husband. (which is not uncommon in this society) Another example is the three walls of programming Mildred watches. "Well, wasn't there a wall between him and Mildred, when you came down to it? Literally not just one wall but, so far, three! And expensive, too!" (Montag, page 44) describes the three walls of programming that Mildred always absorbs herself into. Everyday she seems eager to get to her programming, and she gets so absorbed she doesn't even remember which program she's watching!

"I had a nice evening," she said, in the bathroom.
"What doing?"
"The parlor."
"What was on?"
"Programs."
"What programs?"
"Some of the best ever."
"Who?"
"Oh, you know, the bunch."
"Yes, the bunch, the bunch, the bunch..."
(Montag & Mildred, page 49)

This doesn't sound like a spirited conversation between a couple.

It is also fair to say that a loving couple should care for one another, which in this case, is non existent. Especially when Montag tells his wife that he is not happy, Mildred suggests him to take a hundred miles per hour ride with the car - which is not what Montag wants. Also, when Montag tells her that he has been thinking a lot lately and is not happy, Mildred simply replies by telling that she's happy and proud of it. This point and the idea that Montag will not cry if his wife dies added results in a speculation that they do not love each other.

Also, another example is when Mildred finally realizes that her husband is hiding books in the air vents. Mildred does not want to cooperate, and does not seem to understand Montag's reasoning when he describes the house and the woman he had to burn the previous night. Of course, Mildred, absorbed so much into the society's custom and meaning of happiness, does not understand the thinking of Montag. After all, she had never met Clarisse, and does not see what she's missing out on.

Montag, when he stands before the bedroom where Mildred lies with her Seashell, explains the room as not empty but indeed empty. This means that Mildred is actually there, so the room is technically not empty. However, she is so distant and absorbed into the radio that her mind is elsewhere.

So let's make a comparison: just like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Montag and Mildred (that's a lot of M's) are very distant with one another. The barrier is evident everywhere - radio, the walls... Also, both couples do not cooperate with one another; it is true that Macbeth and LM were a team once, but we know that they acted independent later on. This is the case with Montag and Mildred, as Mildred is not willing to cooperate or even listen properly to Montag. For example, when Montag feels sick she doesn't even want to turn off the three walls to listen to him. So the separation is evident; care and love for one another cannot be established with certain barriers.

In conclusion, Mildred seems unaware of the distance between her husband and herself; she is too absorbed by the technology. She is left disconnected to other people, just like what the society expects everyone to be. A contrasting character against Mildred would be Clarisse - Clarisse seems more mature as she sounds deeper and more thoughtful. On the other hand, nothing really crosses Mildred's mind except what is planted there by the media. (Which is censorship, fully intended by the government)

Let's finish this off with another reference to Clarisse, because we realize that the seventeen year old girl had died after a car crash (How sad, as she was very against driving a hundred miles per hour) When Montag finds Clarisse standing in the rain, she is holding a dandelion. She claims that if rubbed under the chin the pollen will rub off. Clarisse seems to be in love, as pollen rubs off her chin. But when test on Montag, nothing happens. Montag is embarrassed.

"What a shame", she said, "You're not in love with anyone."
"Yes I am!"
"It doesn't show."
"I am, very much in love!" He tried to conjure up a face to fit the words, but there was no face. "I am!"
(Montag and Clarisse, page 22)

Later Montag makes an excuse that it did not work because Clarisse had already used up the dandelion. Clarisse agrees and let's it go. But the above quote explains that Montag tried to make a sincere expression when claiming he is, in fact, in love, it did not work because he is not in love!. He cannot make a sincere face because he knows he's lying!

So dandelion proved it. The answer is many evidences prove that Montag and his wife are not in love. Case closed.

Post #1

Journal Entry #! - The customs of society in the setting....
I'm not quite sure if this qualifies as a post from 'beginning of the book.' But here's a post anyways.

In the very first scene we are introduced to Guy Montag's profession; a firefighter who burns books (as well as houses) instead of putting out the fire. This may seem odd, but we realize that the setting of this novel is in the distant future where certain peculiar customs are practiced. For example, cars drive over a hundred miles per hour, people listen to their radios (Seashell) rather than hold conversations with others, and owning books are considered illegal. Another evident custom is alienation of others - a great example being Montag and his wife. Mildred is always absorbed in her radio plugged in her ear and the three walls of programming parlor she calls 'her family.' Where is Montag in all this? Well, he is absorbed in mass unhappiness, and wonders of certain encounter with a strange girl - Clarisse McCellan. Clarisse surprises Montag by her abnormality, by holding conversations, asking why rather than how, and pursuing happiness in ways others do not consider. (Hiking, catching butterflies, tasting rain) So Montag finally discards his 'mask of happiness,' that is, the way the society expects everyone to behave like. He questions his own unhappiness and how Clarisse stays happy despite being so out of place.
A question is, how did these people obtain such custom of life ? What is the true meaning of 'happiness' in this novel?

First of all, the population of the setting were planted with ideas of 'acceptable life in society' since young age. The quote, "That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle..." (Captain Beatty pg60) explains how young kids were to assimilate the ways of society since young age. "We've a record on her family. We've watched them carefully..." (Capt. Beatty, page 60) also describes the authorities' influence on keeping everyone orderly.

Second of all, the expectations and rules of society; one of the law states that all books must be disowned. This is an act to keep everyone happy and maintain peace; the books are against sustainability of peace because they contain philosophy and ideas rather that facts. This means that one may be proved wrong and one may be proved right. So Captain Beatty explains that to keep everyone happy, they must have facts. If they have facts, they have a sense of knowledge, and they will be happy. However, if the facts are questioned why, and other sides of opinions are thrown out there, one may not feel so happy. So it's as if people are living in a world of only facts, not opinions because people are bound to contradict with one another, causing conflicts. "Cram them full of noncombustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information...Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy and sociology to tie things with." (Capt. Beatty Pg. 61) explains the idea of only facts, but not opinions. So basically this can be an act of censorship, as books are forbidden and people are not allowed to express their opinions.

Thirdly, another reason why the books are forbidden because straightforward facts are facts - they do not differ from different perspectives. The society is designed to make everyone feel equal. (Montag realizes this when he observes that all the other firemen look exactly like him.) Ideas and philosophical views make everyone unequal, and by providing facts no one shall differ and contradict with one another.

These ideas are very important because it is evident that Guy Montag changes after he meets Clarisse; before he enjoys book burning, and considers the smell of kerosene to be like perfume. But after he questions the act of book burning, obtains a book himself, admits that the smell of kerosene makes him vomit, and promises he will not be a fireman again.
So it is important to note why Montag has changed; it's also important to know what effect Clarisse had on Montag. Clearly Clarisse had influenced Montag with her own ways of life - and made him question the lives of their society. So we must be able to know the background knowledge of their society (the setting), what situation Montag is facing (the conflict) and finally what he will do to pursue happiness and relinquish his uneasiness (the overcoming of conflict)

The quotes mentioned above are important because they give an explanation of the setting and the conflict Montag is in.

The quote, "That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle..." (Captain Beatty pg60) is important to me, because this brings up my previous knowledge about assimilation of young minds. I can relate to actual events learned from history of the past, and understand the intention behind such acts.

The quotes and the ideas which describe everyone's equality (facts, not opinions) are important because I can relate this to nowadays' issue of equality. In our current lives people are meant to be born equal, with equal rights to learn and prosper. However, in the novel the acts to keep everyone equal are extreme because people are rather made equal if not born equal - people are limited to what they know and the influences of the government is massive. This completely contradicts to what our meaning of equality is: we have a right to learn and reach our full potential. However, in the novel censorship is used and people are only fed facts, establishing learning barriers.

Now the final question is: despite all these censorship and expectations of life set by the society in the novel, what would Montag do to establish happiness? Can he overcome living in a life where his own wife drifts ever so distant everyday? Is Montag left to stay unhappy whilst other people of living population live in a society full of censorship? Will Montag only live to succumb to everyday life of disconnection?

Anybody wanna tell me what were gonna do?

Test

Testing, just checking where this post goes to