Fahrenheit 451 Morality Essay

809 Words2 Pages

In our everyday lives, we have many choices facing us--choices that build up and make up our lives and who we are. There are many things that influence our choices, and often, fate and circumstance take our freedom of choice away from us. When society and individuality go head to head, the result is one person being pulled in multiple directions, with their heart telling them one thing and society telling them another. In Fahrenheit 451, an oppressive society enforces views unto people, taking away their choice and pulling people in directions that their heart warns them is dangerous. One character in the book, Faber, has the conflicting forces of self-preservation and doing what is right pressing on him, he can either follow his conscience …show more content…

After meeting Clarisse and reading part of a book, Montag also becomes more aware of his world, and his thirst for answers leads him to Faber. Faber is a professor that Montag previously met, and, though he is against the banning of books, Faber didn’t go against society and push for change. When Montag asks Faber to help him reinstitute books, Faber is at the center of two conflicting forces: his guilt and and sense of what is right, built over a lifetime, and his sense of self-preservation, which has kept him alive. Before Montag leaves, Faber offers him help and an explanation of his actions, stating “‘I’ve lived alone so many years throwing images on the wall with my imagination… My cowardice is of such a passion, complementing the revolutionary spirit that lives in its shadow…’” (Bradbury 90). Faber is aware that he has been shying away from taking action against the government, but after speaking with Montag, he overcomes his fear somewhat and decides that if he is to die, at least his life will have meaning and he would be remember for doing what was right. When Montag is running away and comes to him for help, Faber is excited, “‘I feel alive for the first time in years,’ said Faber. ‘I feel I’m doing what I should’ve done a lifetime ago… Maybe it’s because I’m doing the right thing at last’” (Bradbury 131). Even though if Faber was discovered to have been helping Montag he would have been imprisoned or even killed, he still sided with Montag, showing that Faber realizes that what is right (saving books and passing on knowledge to future generations) takes priority over his own safety

Open Document