Post #6

(whoooooo final post :D)

"When we reach the city."

This quote is the very last line in the book. So it should hold some significance.
I think this quote is important, not only because it's the last line, but because I think this represents the 'new' future for Montag and his new friends.

They are heading to the city to look for survivors and rebuild civilization.

What does this mean? What does it mean by rebuild civilization?

I think this last portion of the book reflects on a slight flicker of hope in the world; note that just before the quote mentioned above Montag recalls a quote from a book he had read before.
Then he says that he will save the quote for the city.
I think that represents his future actions; maybe he will spread the word. Maybe he will try to change the ways of the former society.

Maybe the destruction of the city was a good thing.

As Granger had previously said, there are a massive number of refugees like themselves - ex professors with literature and books engraved in their heads.
This could mean all those refugees can reach the ruins of the city and re-civilize everyone.

Another thing to mention here is the discussion between Montag and his friends previously; when Montag insists that he had forgotten about the books he had read before, Granger explains that books always remain in their minds - even if the actual books are burn to ashes.
So yes, the books may be burn and destroyed along with the city. But these refugees represent books because they carry the meaning of the books which is the most important.

Books are more than just papers, words, ink, and covers. They carry meanings. The meanings are most important, and they stay engraved in these people's heads.

They will reach the city.

They will have the books with them, not in their hands, but in their heads.

They will remember.

It will last forever.