Notes

Of course in this novel the knowledge that gives power comes from books, which is why the firemen are so keen on burning every book they can come across. Two key quotes that explore the reasons for this policy are as follows: Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. This quote is said by Faber to Montag to justify why books are so important. To Faber, books contain quality - and more importantly, "texture", which we can take to mean authentic experience. Books contain that essential human experience of reality and emotions which the contemporary entertainment of the shells that people put in their ears and the screens simulate in a false and dumbed-down fashion. People need to have quality information, the time to digest it and the ability to act on what they have read. We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal . . . A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind. This quote is said by Beatty to Montag at the end of his review of the history that has brought about the existence of the firemen and the book burning policy. Beatty from this quote associates books with making man un-alike - the thoughts, ideas and themes contained in books allow man the opportunity to be different, to disagree, which runs counter to the philosphy of the government. Of course, Beatty's whole speech is rather ironic which makes us question his position, for he is happy to use his loaded gun to manipulate Montag.