Foil Characters: Captain Beatty and Faber

In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Mildred and Clarisse are not the only foil characters, but Captain Beatty and Faber are as well. In this novel the use of foil characters were used to heighten the differences between two characters. In Fahrenheit 451, Captain Beatty is portrayed as the antagonist to Montag. He is intimidating and uses his eloquent words to confuse and manipulate Montag (Bradbury 58). He is also a well-read individual and is not afraid to use all of his power to make sure books are destroyed (Bradbury 58). Faber is Beatty's complete opposite in that he is a timid old professor that doesn't take action (Bradbury 80). For the most part he hides in his house and awaits the day literature comes back into society, but like Beatty is willing to manipulate Montag through speech (Bradbury 90). The only similarity between Faber and Beatty is their conviction in what they believe is the greater good. Beatty thinks books only cause trouble and even says, "Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with." He thinks life should be easy and smooth. Beatty believes that books only lead to confusion and thought, which should be avoided at all costs. Faber disagrees with this philosophy and says in the book, "So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people only want wax moon faces, pore less, hairless, and expressionless." (Bradbury 83) He thinks that books are good for society because they are not perfect and promote something the reader does not want to hear. It seems more often than not, the readers and world as a whole need to hear what books have to say. A little confusion and lack of understanding is good for the mind. These two opposing ideas make the reader and Montag really think and consider the importance of thought. The use of foil characters in this instance give us views and insight into both Faber's and Beatty's sides.

Bibliography: Bradbury, Ray. Farenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1953. Print