Friday 28 February 2014

in Fahrenheit 451 what are some quotes that use power?

I am not sure if the question is asking for quotes that contain the word "power," or if the question is asking about quotes that show a theme/message of power in the book. 

There are not that many uses of the word "power" in the novel. The first three uses occur during Montag's early conversation with Clarisse:



One time, when he was a child, in a power-failure, his mother had found and lit a last candle and there had been a brief hour of rediscovery, of such illumination that space lost its vast dimensions and drew comfortably around them, and they, mother and son, alone, transformed, hoping that the power might not come on again too soon.



This quote contains two uses of the word power, and both are referring to electrical energy. The next time that "power" occurs in the text is about a page later:



How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to you your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?


What incredible power of identification the girl had; she was like the eager watcher of a marionette show, anticipating each flicker of an eyelid, each gesture of his hand, each flick of a finger, the moment before it began.



This is a much better quote because it uses the word "power," and the quote fits more in line with a thematic approach to power. From talking with Clarisse, Montag is astounded by her uniqueness. She is absolutely like no one else that Montag has ever met. She likes nature and is averse to violence. She asks him tough questions about his job and his happiness. Montag is absolutely drawn to this girl, and he recognizes her power to do this.


Fahrenheit 451 is about a lot of different ideas, but central to the entire book is the power of books and reading. When readers are first introduced to Montag, we see a man that loves his job and does not question his role in burning books:



IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BURN.


IT was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.



That changes dramatically over the course of the story, and the following quote is a great quote that shows Montag beginning to understand that books hold more than just words on a page:



"You weren't there, you didn't see," he said. "There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing."



Montag does not know what is in the books yet, but he realizes that there must be something very powerful in the pages. This sentiment is echoed in a very powerful quote that Beatty says while talking to Montag:



"Knowledge is power!"


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