How To Conquer The World - Step 1: Get A Cape

Guy Montag is a fugitive, but it wasn't always like that. He used to be a fireman; he would burn books, and then he would burn the ashes. Now, he hides books; and runs away with them.

Guy is on the run, the government is persecuting him and they have got another Hound after Guy too. He luckily escapes from the city and manages to circumvent the televised chase. He ends up in the river and jumps inside, Guy just lets himself flow downstream. When Montag finally gets out of the river, he finds the old railroads and not much later, finds the walking camps. These are people that are also fugitives for hiding books, their leader is a man named Granger. He tells Guy that all of these people memorize a book so that they can pass the knowledge to other generations without getting caught. Watching the chase on T:V., Montag finds out that the government killed someone who looked like him in order to make citizens believe that crimes were not taken lightly. In the distance, the city Guy just escaped from ends up destructed from bombings. War had been declared days before and now, everybody was surely dead. Guy hoped that professor Faber had been able to leave the town before the bombing took place. Although the group of exiles were a bit shocked because of the bombing, they are not incapable of continuing their path. Granger tells the other exiles about how before Christ, existed a phoenix that every hundred years would burn itself up and would sprang up from the ashes right after. He compares the phoenix to mankind since men tend to start again over a failure. They continue their path to the poor excuse of what used to be a city so they can help rebuild society.

“ ´There was a silly bird called a phoenix back before Christ, every few hundred years he built a pyre and burnt himself up….But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing, over and over, but we’ve got one damn thing the phoenix never had. We know the silly thing we just did. We know all the silly things we’ve done for a thousand years and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, someday we’ll stop making the funeral pyres and jumping in the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember every generation.´ ” (163)

This movie is about how we should keep
moving forward even if it looks like we´ve
already lost.

 This quote is said by Granger to all of the exiles when they are about to go back to the city. I find it quite interesting how the author compares mankind to a mythological bird associated with rebirth. I agree with the author though, there have been countless of times when humanity had no other choice but to rebuild themselves due to past nonsense they had committed. For example, Germany had suffered heavy losses during World War II but were able to rebuild themselves as a country. About 7.5 million Germans had been killed and most of its cities were damaged due to bombing but Germans still managed to keep moving forward and, by 1991; Germany was allowed to become fully sovereign. This is why I think that, as a whole, humanity does resemble a phoenix and that its values have not perished totally.

“ ´He was a part of us when he died, all the actions stopped dead and there was no one to do them just the way he did. He was individual. He was an important man. I've never gotten over his death. Often I think what wonderful carvings never came to birth because he died. How many jokes are missing from the world, and how many homing pigeons untouched by his hands. He shaped the world. He did things to the world. The world was bankrupted of ten million fine actions the night he passed on.’ ” (156)

This quote is said by Granger to Guy just before the city is bombarded. Turns up that Granger´s grandfather died a long time ago but his actions still have an impact on Granger's life. I think that all of us should make an impact in the world or in someone. I think that we should all accomplish something in our lifetimes that we are proud of and can look back to. I also think that if you want to do something then you should do it right and hopefully be remembered for it. I hope that stuff that I do won´t be replaced in the future since the way I do things is unique and different from everybody else and I hope that what I do won't be forgotten forever.

So, I finished the book. First of all, I would like to say: WOW! I wasn't expecting the end, but truth is, I don't know what I was expecting. Fahrenheit 451 has taught me a lot of things but the main one is that our own willpower can do great things if it's strong enough. This novel taught me that even the people who look the happiest might be hiding something and that there will always be people who will see a brighter future while living a gloomy present. Also, I really, really hope that this book does not become reality because I would not like to see a reality where mankind has failed as a whole. Anyway, I don't know what to do now since the book is over, but I'll figure something out (I always do).

Don´t Trust What You See, Even Salt Looks Like Sugar

Guy Montag used to be an ordinary fireman; he used to burn books, and then he burned the ashes. But things changed when he stole a couple of books, met a professor who taught him to understand the words in the books and together, they formed a plan. They figured out that if they were able to hide a couple of books in the fire station, the firemen would be forced to burn down the station.  If the fire station collapsed, people could no longer call firemen to burn the books found in the city.

After leaving the house of the professor with an earpiece to communicate with him, Guy gets home and makes the mistake of reading a book to his wife and her friends. He leaves the house and goes to the fire station with some books in his arms but turns one into Captain Beatty (so he doesn't raise suspicion) and when Guy is about to hide the rest of the books, an alarm goes off indicating that the firemen should leave to burn some books somewhere in the city. Guy is surprised (to say the least) when they arrive at his house. It turns up that Guy´s wife was the one who called the fire station and then left the house with all of her belongings. Guy is forced to burn down his own house with a vacuum that ejects some type of liquid fire. On the communicator, Faber tells Guy that he should try to get out of that house as soon as possible if he doesn't want to go to jail. Guy can't get out of there though, “The Hound” is in his neighborhood. Unfortunately, Captain Beatty discovers the communicator in Guy's ear and takes it away. Worried that the captain might discover Faber, Guy burns (and kills him in the process) the captain with the vacuum but is attacked by “The Hound” that injects Guy in his leg with a liquid that makes his leg go numb. Then, Guy destroys “The Hound” and retreats from the crime scene with a few books he was able to save in his hands (and a couple hundred dollars just in case). Montag becomes a fugitive, he can hear alarms going off in the city and announcements for the citizens to look out for a man with books in his hands that is running on foot. He later arrives at Faber´s apartment and tells the professor that he should take all the money since he could be dead by noon. Faber tells Guy about the “walking camps” that live past the river and the railroads, they are people just like Montag that broke the law because of reading books and now live with other people just like themselves. Montag leaves in search for these people.

“´This is happening to me,´ said Montag. ´What a dreadful surprise,´said Beatty. ´For everyone nowadays knows, is absolutely certain, that nothing will ever happen to me. Others die, I go on. There are no consequences and no responsibilities. Except that there are. But let’s not talk about them. eh? By the time the consequences catch up with you, it's too late, isn't it, Montag’ ” (115)

This quote is said by Captain Beatty to Montag while Montag is burning down his own house. I think that what he is saying is completely and utterly true. I think this because Beatty killed people when he burned down their houses, yet he thought no one will ever kill him or that he would never die. His consequences did catch up with him and he ended up being murdered by the one thing he loves the most; fire. Not to mention that he was killed by his own coworker (which is a bit sad to be honest). But something that I will never understand (and neither will Montag), is that Beatty wanted to die. He didn't even move out of the way when Guy pointed the vacuum to him, he stayed in his place and kept talking nonsense to Guy (he definitely had a death wish). Montag, on the other side, was open to  the idea of death. He knew that nothing lasts forever and that one day he would be nothing more than a heap of ashes, but he never thought that his own house would have to be destroyed because he owned books. He was always the one that burned the books along with the houses in which they were hidden, yet now, he is burning down his own house and trying to save the books that were hidden inside of it.

“‘I feel alive for the first time in years,´ said Faber. ´I feel I'm doing what I should've done a lifetime ago. For a little while I'm not afraid. Maybe it's because I've done a rash thing and don't want to look the coward to you. I suppose I'll have to do even more violent things, exposing myself so I won't fall down on the job and turn scared again. What are your plans?´ ” (131)

Faber was scared, but he's not anymore. Why? Because he is not alone anymore. He's got Guy now, and together they can do the things that neither of them would've done alone. I don't think I've ever been scared enough so that I regret my choices like Faber. I like to think that there hasn't been anything in my life so far that prevents me from making the right choices. Faber on the other side, had the government against him since he believes books shouldn't be banned (and I completely agree with him). He doesn't go with the flow and maybe that is the reason for his fright or cowardice. Maybe I am going with the flow and that is why I'm not afraid of making choices.

So this is almost the last post and there are still things happening in the book that surprise me. For example, Mildred is a traitor. She just told on her husband and left the house they lived in together! But I guess you can never trust anyone these days. Anyway, I really, really hope that Guy can get to meet the “walking camps” before the book ends or before he ends up dead (which can always be a possibility). Also, I'm very happy due to fact that “The Hound” is officially dead (was it alive in the first place?). Captain Beatty is also dead so that was astonishing to me but I can't say that I'm not relieved because he literally screamed trouble. I have no ideas on how the book will end so I can't make a guess like I usually would but I just hope that it doesn't end in disaster.

And On The Seventh Day, God Made Change Possible And All Was Well In The World

Guy Montag doesn't go back to being a fireman (like he usually would) after reading some books with his wife. He doesn't understand the books he reads, he wants to though. Guy then leaves the house in search of a professor that once read and wrote and was free to think it was right. Montag had met Faber (the professor) a long time ago in a park. They had talked for awhile and Faber eventually gave Guy his phone number and address even though Guy was a fireman. Guy takes the train (which is a type of aircraft that elevates from the floor and flies) and arrives at Faber´s place with the book he stole from the old lady's house which just happens to be a Bible. In Faber´s apartment, they both come up with a plan to stop books from being ignored and banned by society. The professor gives Guy an ear-piece communicator so they can stay in touch while Guy goes home. Once Guy gets home, he finds his wife and some friends watching the “parlor walls” (some type of televisions that cover the walls completely). One of Mildred's friends starts talking about how her husband was called to war and that he should be back in two days since it's going to be a short war. Guy gets tired of all the nonsense his wife´s friends are saying and lies about how once a year, firemen are allowed to read a book to others. He gets a poetry book that had been hidden behind the air conditioner and reads them a poem called Dover Beach (He is still mad about the womens´nonsense) .

" Faber held his hand over his left coat pocket and spoke these words gently, and Montag knew if he reached out, he might pull a book of poetry from the man's coat. But he did not reach out. His hands stayed on his knees, numbed and useless. 'I don't talk things, sir,' said Faber. 'I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I'm alive' " (75)

Faber told this to Montag when they were talking about books on the professor's apartment. I think that this quote states not only Faber´s personality but also his opinion towards books and freedom. Unlike Montag's usual thirst for fire and destruction, Faber is more of an intellectual and observant type of person (not to mention peaceful). They are both hungry for a change and would start a revolution if it was possible (which I hope will happen at some point in the book).

“ ´Every hour so many things in the sky! How did those bombers get up there every single second of our lives! Why doesn't someone want to talk about it! We've started and won two atomic wars since 1990! Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten the world? Is it because we're so rich and the rest of the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are? I've heard rumors; the world is starving, but we're well fed. Is it true, the world works hard and we play? Is that why we are hated so much?’ ” (73-74)

I think that what the author was trying to tell us in this quote was that problems like world hunger probably won´t disappear in the future. Reading this made feel guilty and thankful at the same time, it made feel guilty for not being thankful. I realized that I'm part of those people who are rich because of someone else's poverty, I'm well fed since someone else is starving and I'm part of those people who are hated for these reasons. This will change though, I'll make sure of it.

I'm really, really anxious about what will happen next in the book. There are so many possibilities and so many scenarios for this book that it would be impossible to make an educated guess at this point of the book since it has been far more astonishing than I thought it would be. I initially thought this book would not be so challenging but it turned out to be the exact opposite (I like challenges so it's fine). Also, I'm optimistic about Guy´s change in morals since he no longer finds burning books logical (It started once Faber made him understand the meaning and purpose behind the words written on the pages). I wonder where his ideas for innovation will take him, I wonder where it will take the story.

The Future Started Yesterday But I´m Already Late

Guy Montag continues to be an ordinary fireman; he finds books and burns them, and then he burns the ashes. One day at the firehouse, Guy and the other firemen receive a call to go burn some books at the ancient part of the city. What was weird about the woman who lived in that house, was the fact that she didn't fight back against the firemen (like people usually do), and refused to leave the house. She was later burned with her books. (Creepy. This woman was, in my opinion, some type of martyr since she worships books like a religion) Guy was really disturbed because of this and was beginning to question if books had something that was worth dying for, so he stole a book from the house and took it with him. That night when he got home, his wife told him that Clarisse had been run over by a car and her whole family moved away afterwards. (Surprise!) Since Guy didn't go to work the next day, he is surprised when his boss knocks on the door to have a talk with him. Captain Beatty (the weird boss with the weird car) tells Guy the reason for which the world is how it is and Guy is taken aback when he mentions books. Captain Beatty explained that once upon a time, people read books for fun.Then, there was less words and more pictures in the books, school was shortened and soon it was turning out more runners and jumpers than scientists and imaginative creators, the word “intellectual” lost it's meaning, the population became bigger and minorities were controlled. It was technology and mass exploitation that made books disappear so people could stay happy all the time; firemen kept the peace. Beatty explains that if, out of curiosity, a fireman was to take a book home and did not burn it in 24 hours; the other firemen would just burn it for him.

Guy realizes that he can't keep his secret forever and shows his wife the books he has been hiding behind the air conditioner for over a year now.They agree on reading some of the books and deciding if they are worth keeping or not.

“ “Ask yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right? Haven't you heard it all your life? I want to be happy, people say. Well, aren't they? Don't we keep them moving, don't we give them fun? That's all we live for, isn't it?” ”(59)

This quote is said by Captain Beatty to Guy when he is explaining the reason for why society is where it is. Of course, this is a futuristic and post-apocalyptic world Beatty is describing but what he is saying is not completely false after all. Lucky for me (and you), I can read books and be happy at the same time. But on the other side, I fear that one day, society is going to be so messed up and helpless that there will be people who need to keep us happy. I fear this because I should make myself happy, and keep it like that.

“ “Let you alone! That’s all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in awhile. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?” ” (52)

This quote from the book is said by Guy to his wife the morning before Captain Beatty´s visit. I find it strange that Guy wants trouble or worries in his life (or at least that is how I see it). I mean, no one´s life is perfect and we all have troubles and have been really bothered once in awhile, but what throws me off is that Guy willingly wants to be bothered. Why does Guy want to be bothered? Is he normally bothered by things that are not important, that are not real? Is he really bothered at all by anything?

This book has left me surprised, to say the least. It has been far more mysterious than I thought it would be.I was definitely surprised when Clarisse died because her character was funny. I just hope that Guy keeps the books even if it brings him trouble, I hope that he and his wife get to see the good side of books before it's too late. Maybe they will find out that if something is worth your time, it won´t be easy. I think that, so far, the author is trying to teach us about the little things that we have because they might be gone in the future. I seriously don't know what will happen next since there is a thousand possibilities running through my head (and yes, a few include “The Hound”).