Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Evolution of the Mayor

In The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, I was able to see major growth of character in the mayor of the town. This was very interesting seeing how the mayor rose to occasion and grew as a person after the soldiers invaded his town. At the beginning of this story the mayor is kind of portrayed as a little silly and not someone you would think would be a good leader. In fact when the first time the mayor walks into the room he has his finger in his ear scratching around or something, and was late because his wife was trying to make him look presentable (Steinbeck 6). At the beginning of the story he admits to the colonel that he is deeply confused by the sudden occupation that has happened in his town (Steinbeck 15). This makes the mayor seem slow to take action. He also does not put up much of a fight when Colonel Lansing wants to put his headquarters in the mayor's house (Steinbeck 17). I think the mayor would have tried to refuse if he realized this action was taken to keep an eye on the mayor. The colonel probably only lets the mayor keep his job because he doesn't seem like he will put up much of a fight. The colonel, the reader finds, ends up being gravely mistaken. The mayor cares for his people and is dedicated to them. He hates knowing the people think he is involved in the soldier's plot. (Steinbeck 42) This and the cruelty the soldiers have shown move the mayor to action, and he decides to fight with the people. He is the mastermind of getting explosives from other countries and begins to lead the people in their rebellion (Steinbeck 78). This is a far cry from the person he used to be and has rose to the occasion of helping his people. This causes the army to take the mayor captive in return for the stopping the bombing (Steinbeck 97). The mayor will not agree and gives his life so the villagers can keep up their fight (Steinbeck 98).

Bibliography:Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Molly's Role in The Moon is Down

In The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, the readers are introduced to a character in the middle of the story named Molly. Molly is a lovely villager and is married to a man named Alex. Tragedy soon strikes after Alex attacks one of the soldiers when he decides he does not want to work in the mines anymore (Steinbeck 52). This soldier dies and Alex is soon tried and convicted of killing an officer (Steinbeck 52). Molly pleads with the mayor to save her husband, but he cannot (Steinbeck 44). This leads to his death by firing squad, and leaves Molly a widow (Steinbeck 54). When Molly was pleading to the mayor he said, "Do they know how to go about it? Do they know what methods to use against this armed enemy?"(Steinbeck 44). Molly says to this, "No sir, But I think the people want to show these soldiers that they aren't beaten."(Steinbeck 44). This shows that Molly is the epitome of the people. She represents and knows how the general population feels and shares this with the mayor. This is her major role in the book and can be seen later in the story when the Anders brothers, the mayor, and Annie all meet at Molly's house (Steinbeck 78). All of the villagers trust Molly and make her a mediator between the people and the mayor. She also helps plan a rebellion at this meeting. Another time we see Molly act as the epitome of the people is when Lieutenant Tonder comes to her house (Steinbeck 72). This scares Molly because she thinks that he will try to take advantage of her, but underneath the fear is boiling rage (Steinbeck 73). She hates him (Steinbeck 74). She hates what he and the other soldiers have done to their town. He hates that they killed her husband. This hatred and fear is what it seems most people in the town feel and her anger shows this to the reader. The hatred she feels even leads her to kill him with a pair of scissors at her front door (Steinbeck 81).

Bibliography:Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Monday, July 30, 2012

The advantages and disadvantages of writing The Moon is Down as a play

When I first received my copy of The Moon is Down I was very surprised to see that it was written as a play to be acted out on stage. I had been expecting just a regular novel, but was astonished to find that it was not written as prose. While reading The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck I noticed that there are several advantages and disadvantages to writing the story as a play opposed as to a novel.
While reading The Moon is Down I noticed one major advantage John Steinbeck created for the reader in writing this as a play. This advantage was the scene directions on each page. Since I was able to read the scene directions I was able to get a much clearer picture of the setting and the way the characters were moving around the room. For example, at the beginning of the book the directions were able to describe the grandeur and warmth of the mayor's living room (Steinbeck 1). Throughout the book the scene directions began to indicate the room losing its warmth and luxurious feel as the soldiers took over (Steinbeck 57). Without these directions I would not have been able to notice how gloomy the mood in the story had become. The scene directions also gave important character descriptions on a few of the soldiers (Steinbeck 21-24). These descriptions were vital in helping me keep straight which character were which and their personalities.
Not only were there advantages there were also a few disadvantages to making this story into a play instead of a novel. One of these is that the reader does not really know what the characters are thinking in this story. All the reader has to rely on is what the characters say. While a few say exactly what they are thinking, it is hard to gain insight into characters that do not. Another one of the disadvantages of this book being written as a play is that often a scene will end and leave the reader wondering what was going to happen next. An example of this is when Molly goes to open her front door for Lieutenant Tonder armed with a pair of scissors (Steinbeck 81). The reader can guess that Molly will maim or kill Tonder with the scissors, but the curtain comes down before the reader can find out for sure (Steinbeck 81). This makes the curious reader wait till one of the other characters says what happened at Molly's house that night.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Colonel Lanser

While reading the book The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, I found the character Colonel Lanser very ironic and important to the plot of the book since he is the antagonist. The reader is first introduced to Colonel Lanser at the beginning of the book when the army begins its occupation of the town in this story. The colonel is described as carrying out his orders now matter how he personally feels (Steinbeck 24). The reader is told that Lanser has been involved in a war before and has served in the military long enough to know how horrible war truly is (Steinbeck 23). He is also very weary throughout the story, and knows through his own experience that the occupation will not last and that the townspeople will rise up and try to defeat them (Steinbeck 41). The character of Lanser is important because it makes him a very reluctant antagonist. He even tells the mayor, "I'm very sorry about this. I have a job to do. You surely recognize that. We don't act on our own judgment. There are rules laid down for us. Rules made in the Capitol." (Steinbeck 47). He clearly respects the mayor and is even apologetic for what he must do. This makes the reader kind of sympathize with Colonel Lanser even though he is supposed to be the enemy. He doesn't want to be there, but is bound by his orders, sense of duty, and dedication to the army. He is just a part of the military machine that has taken over. It also makes me curious as to what would happen if Colonel Lanser decided to give in to his personal morals and thoughts. Would he be able to change the cruelty of the soldiers in the town? Would he fight along the people for their freedom? I think that if he was able to find his identity and escape the tyranny of the army he could have a positive impact. This makes the Colonel seem very weak because if he could only find the power within himself to fight for what he believed instead of just following orders he could help someone as opposed to be helping with a war.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Lieutenant Tonder

In The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, the reader is introduced to a very unique character when the army begins their occupation of the village. His name is Lieutenant Tonder and he is one of the soldiers that work closely with Captain Lanser. When Tonder is first introduced he is described as a man who joined the army for the glamorous aspects of it and is like a little kid playing soldier (Steinbeck 23). It also mentions that he dreams of a glorious death fighting for the army and being memorialized (Steinbeck 23). The description even mentions that Tonder has his last words picked out (Steinbeck 23). As he occupies the town he decides that he wouldn't mind living there with a small farm and thinks that the townspeople are friendly (Steinbeck 30). This attitude changes and just in a few months he begins to hate the town and says, "I'd like to get out of this Godforsaken hole!" (Steinbeck 61). He hates the town because all of the people are cold and full of hatred, and this hits Tonder hard because he was led to believe that the townspeople would welcome the soldiers with open arms (Steinbeck 61). His hatred of staying in town is very important to the story because it leads to his descent into loneliness and insanity. He begins to become paranoid and starts to think that the servants are poisoning his coffee (Steinbeck 61). This instability in Tonder leads him into a rant about how he dreamt that "the Leader" is crazy and that "Flies conquer the fly-paper" (Steinbeck 68). Tonder's rant signifies a chink in the armor of the army. It shows that they are not all confident in their conquest and think that the townspeople may defeat them after all. This chink in the armor grows in size when Tonder decides to take comfort in a beautiful villager named Molly (Steinbeck 72). Molly understands that Tonder is lonely, but she still hates him since he is a soldier (Steinbeck 72). This hatred leads Molly to kill Tonder with a pair of scissors on her front porch, which is ironic because Tonder wanted some grand demise (Steinbeck 81). This is the second time a soldier is murdered and it shows that the townspeople that the army is not invincible, but very vulnerable.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

What techniques does the author use to engage the reader of The Moon is Down??

John Steinbeck's The Moon is Down uses many different techniques that keeps the reader reading and is engaging. One of the techniques that the author uses is suspense. The suspense in this book mostly surrounds the question of whether the people will be successful in their rebellion. An example of this is when Will and Tom Anders set out to sail to other countries to find support against the villager's plight (Steinbeck 78). This causes the reader to wonder whether the brothers will be able to spread the word about the villager's situation. The reader is also wondering at this point whether the army will catch the boys before they begin their journey. Suspense is also used when Lieutenant Tonder returns to Molly's house a second time (Steinbeck 81). As she runs to get the door the scene directions indicate that Molly picks up a pair of sharp scissors before heading to the door (Steinbeck 81). Before the reader can find out for sure what Molly is going to do the curtain closes (Steinbeck 81). This makes the reader curious to know what happens. While it seems that Molly will kill Lieutenant Tonder, the reader does not know for sure. This loose end leads to much speculation on the reader's part to what happened to both Molly and Lieutenant Tonder.
Not only does John Steinbeck use suspense to make the book The Moon is Down more engaging, but he also makes the townspeople of this story underdogs. By making the townspeople underdogs the reader cannot but help to root for the villagers to succeed in their rebellion. This also makes the reader sympathetic to the people's cause. In this story the villagers are underdogs because they are all civilians and have had all of their weapons taken away by the invading army (Steinbeck 5). They also sent out a group of men to fight the army, but they were badly defeated (Steinbeck 14). The people though do not let this defeat them and they continue to fight the occupation that has taken over almost every aspect of their lives.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

What responsibilities does John Steinbeck believe exists between various groups in society by his book The Moon is Down?

After reading the book The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, the reader can tell that the author believes that certain roles exist between politicians and the people they serve and represent. The reader can see that the author strongly believes that the politician should be dedicated to the people they serve, and represent them to the very best of their ability. The reader can determine this from the views and personality of the mayor of the town in this book. At the beginning of the book when the soldiers start to invade to town, the Captain of the army hints that it would be beneficial to the mayor if he chose to cooperate with the army (Steinbeck 19). The mayor is confused still from the sudden invasion and tells the captain that he will do whatever his people want him to do, and that they have the real authority of the town (Steinbeck 19). The mayor knows that his only job is to represent the people and their best interests. The mayor's actions are very admirable because some politicians would not do what he did. It seems that some politicians today use their positions for gain whether it be monetary or something related, but the mayor in The Moon is Down is not like this at all. Many would probably decide to cooperate with the soldiers because that it easier and safer than not. They would also try to work in their best interests instead of the peoples, and believe that they are the authority. The mayor could have agreed and made things easier on himself, but he did not. This shows that the author believes that politicians should be more like the mayor in this story He shows this by making the mayor the ideal politician and not someone who uses their position for gain. From the mayor's actions the reader can see that the author thinks that politicians and leaders should truly serve their people and be their voice.


Bibliography:Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

What is the thematic and symbolic significance of The Moon is Down?


The book The Moon is
Down
by John Steinbeck possesses both thematic and symbolic significance.
The thematic significance of this book is its theme that the general public is
more powerful than an army. This theme is reinforced by all of the rebellious
acts of the people against the soldiers that occupy them, such as attacking the
soldiers and using explosives to destroy the supply routes of the army to drive them away(Steinbeck 84). It also shows that they can use emotional warfare as well as physical.
For example, in this book one of the soldiers goes crazy due to all the hate
the civilians feel for them (Steinbeck 61). He had been mentally exhausted by
always having to watch his back and not trusting anyone (Steinbeck 61). By the
success of the people in wearing down the army, it shows that the soldiers are
not all powerful. This theme could influence other people that are stuck under
military occupation, and inspire them to have acts of rebellion against their
oppressors.

Not only does The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck have thematic significance,
but it also has symbolic significance. The symbolic significance of this comes
from the stage setting conditions in the book. At the beginning of the book,
the mayor’s living room is described as being warm yet elegant (Steinbeck 1).
This is when the army has not yet fully taken over. Yet, as more time passes
the room slowly begins to change. As the soldiers set up headquarters in the
living room, the beautiful furnishings are taken away along with the people’s
freedom (Steinbeck 21). The room becomes littered with the army’s technology
and weapons (Steinbeck 21). Slowly the room begins to be described as cold and
unwelcoming, a far cry from what it once was (Steinbeck 57). This change
represents the army’s takeover and general mood around the town. The people too
have lost their warmth and happiness. In addition to this, they have also lost
their grandeur and pride.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Why do we still read The Moon is Down? What can we learn from this book?


The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
is still read today because of its timeless message that readers can still
learn from. This message is that no one can break man’s spirit. This is shown
when the army invades a country and occupies a group of people. The soldiers
come into the town thinking that the people will not resist and that it will be
an easy job. They soon find however that this is not the case. Problems arise
when the town folk begin to shake off the confusion of their homeland being
occupied by soldiers. The first incident happens when a coal miner named Alex
decides that he does not want to work in the mines anymore (Steinbeck 38). The
soldiers will not allow this because they want the coal (Steinbeck 16). This
makes Alex go on the offensive and he attacks a soldier (Steinbeck 38). Another
soldier interferes, however, and takes the blow from Alex (Steinbeck 38). This
soldier ends up dead and Alex is sentenced to death for killing an officer
(Steinbeck 54). This outrages the people and they start to fight against the
soldiers. The people are willing to do anything to get rid of the soldiers
including murder and using explosives to mess with the supply routes of the
soldiers. The army ends up prosecuting many of the people, but this does not
stop them. If anything they become even more rebellious. The townspeople also
use their hatred against the soldiers. The soldiers know how the people feel
about them and know that they cannot trust them and have to watch their backs
at all times. This begins to exhaust the soldiers and even causes some
psychological problems. An example of this is Lieutenant Tonder, who begins to
ramble and laugh hysterically about the mistake the army has made in occupying
the country (Steinbeck 68). The whole rebellion of this group of people against
the soldiers, shows that anyone can fight back and stand up for what they
want. It also says that no one can break
your spirit if you let them.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Who is the hero of The Moon is Down?

Most books have one defined hero, but the Moon is Down by John Steinbeck is an exception. The hero of this book is not even a few people, but a whole group of them. The main heroes of The Moon is Down are all of the townspeople that fight the soldiers. I believe that every single person that helps in the rebellion in some way is a hero in this novel. These people are heroes because they decide to stand up for their freedom even though they have no weapons and are outnumbered. The civilians also do not let the soldiers break their spirit. I think that this shows real heroics because it would be much easier to surrender their homeland to the invaders and go along with them peacefully, but the townspeople will not. This strength is not something everyone has, or would bother to wield. In this book the townspeople's accomplishments include blowing up bridges, letting their enemy know that they will not go peacefully, and doing anything they can to get rid of them (Steinbeck 86). The most important accomplishment though of these heroes is what they inspire in the people reading the book. The civilians give the reader a sense that anyone can do what they did because they are just normal people. The heroes in this book includes a doctor, mayor, a servant girl, a coal miner, and many more. They show that anyone can rise up and stand up for what they believe in and protect their homeland from invaders. They show that even the best soldiers cannot fight human determination and spirit. This message of regular people doing extraordinary things shows the reader that you can do anything you put your mind to, and that no one can ever hold you down if you decide to stand up for what you believe in. An example of this is Alex, who is the first person to act out against the soldiers and rebel (Steinbeck 38). Even though he pays for this rebellion with his life, he emboldens the other people to do the same and starts a full-scale rebellion against the soldiers (Steinbeck 54).

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Saturday, July 21, 2012

What universal theme does The Moon is Down address? What does the author understand about human nature?

The universal theme of The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck is that the general population has more power than the armed soldiers that oppress them. This theme can be seen through the struggle between the townspeople of a country and an army that occupies them. The soldiers have sent out to break the people's spirits, but they soon find that this is an impossible feat. Even though the soldiers have guns and have taken away the public's weapons, the soldiers are still in grave danger (Steinbeck 12). This is due to the determination of the civilians to get rid of the soldiers. These people are so determined to get their lives back; they will do anything including murdering the soldiers and blowing up supply lines (Steinbeck 86). This makes the soldiers have to watch their backs day and night because they cannot trust any of the people. This exhausts the soldiers and confuses them because they were led to believe that the civilians would welcome them (Steinbeck 66). Soon the soldiers discover that they will not be able to hold these people down forever, and a soldier named Lieutenant Tonder even starts to ramble insanely (Steinbeck 68). Part of his ramble is that, "the flies have captured the flypaper" (Steinbeck 68). This means that the soldiers have captured and oppressed a people that will kill the soldiers before they give up and accept the occupation.
From reading the Moon is Down it is clear that John Steinbeck understands that people under oppression will never stop their struggle to be free. They will do anything and they can only be discouraged, but not broken. This can be seen in the way the civilians in this book fight against the soldiers. For example, a woman named Molly exploits a soldier's loneliness and kills him when he comes to her house for comfort (Steinbeck 81). Another thing that the author understands about human nature is that people under oppression do not need a leader. They do not need someone to give them a directive because they will fight hard and fearlessly while their freedom is at stake. This is seen when the mayor finds out that he will die if the people do not stop blowing things up (Steinbeck 97). He knows that the people do not need him to lead them and will be better off without him if they can still fight (Steinbeck 99).

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print.

What are the gains, losses, and causes of the conflict dealt with in The Moon is Down??

The conflict in the story The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck is that a country has been invaded by a group of enemy soldiers creating resentment in the people who are being occupied. Like many conflicts of this intensity, there are many causes, gains, and losses dealt with in The Moon is Down. The conflict is mainly caused by another country that wants to expand and take over the land that the townspeople live on (Steinbeck 12). The invading country decides to take this land for a show of power and expansion. By taking over new land, the invading country gains new power and wealth. Power comes from the fact that their territory has greatly increased and wealth comes from the new natural resources at their disposal. For example, in this book the army comes to the town to take over the existing coal mines and ship it back to their homeland (Steinbeck 15).
In The Moon is Down, the townspeople gain things that are both good and bad. They gain a new enemy in the soldiers that come to occupy their land (Steinbeck 15). They also gain a new sense of determination and resilience as they try to quietly fight back against the enemy that has taken over their lives. Through this newly gained determination they are given the strength to fight back when hardly anyone else did in their country (Steinbeck 98).
This conflict not only has gains, but also a lot of losses. The most important loss for the townspeople in this book is the loss of their freedom and happiness. They now have to work under the soldiers and their new rules (Steinbeck 15). Sadly, many of the characters in this book also lose their lives due to the conflict. These people include the mayor, Dr. Winter, Alex, and countless others that were not named and tried to fight against the soldiers. In addition, some of the soldiers such as Lieutenant Tonder and Captain Bentick lose their lives as well.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Friday, July 20, 2012

What does the author reveal about his values in The Moon is Down? What perspective is this novel written in?

In the novel The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, the author reveals that he believes that people whose homeland is being occupied during war have the true advantage. The reader can see this through the soldiers' reactions to living with the people that they are trying to control. Many times in this book the soldiers remark at how much they hate being there (Steinbeck 66). It takes a toll on them that everyone hates them and the native people never show any happiness or joy (Steinbeck 66). It is especially taxing on the soldiers because they were promised that they would be adored and that the people throw flowers at their feet, but this does not happen (Steinbeck 30). The occupying soldiers also meet resistance in almost everything they do and the people are willing to do anything to get rid of them. This includes murdering the soldiers and bombing the army's supply routes and bridges (Steinbeck 84). The reader also learns that Steinbeck thinks that trying to occupy a people is hopeless and truly dangerous for the soldier. This is made clear to the reader when one of the soldiers say that "flies conquer the fly paper" (Steinbeck 68). In this metaphor the flies are the soldiers and the fly paper is the occupied area. This metaphor means that the soldiers are trying to take over a people who are willingly to kill them or anything else to get rid of them. The army is also trying to take over a land that they know next to nothing about. The village people in this book are given a huge advantage over the soldiers because they have the home field advantage.
The Moon is Down is written in third person. Since this story is written as a drama and was meant to be acted out on stage, the reader is aware of everything the characters are doing. The fact that this book is not written in prose made this book impossible to be made third person omniscient, so the reader must rely on heavily on the characters' dialogue.

Bibliography: Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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

Foil Characters: Mildred and Clarisse

In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist Guy Montag, interacts with two very different women. One is his wife named Mildred and the other is his teenage neighbor named Clarisse. Mildred and Clarisse are foil characters in this novel. Foil characters are used in a story to emphasize the differences in characters and exaggerate certain traits. Clarisse is a young girl that sees the world around her what it is and enjoys thinking (Bradbury 23). Through her deep and profound thoughts she strikes Montag as being ancient and someone that he has known for a long time (Bradbury 23). Mildred on the other hand can only keep her attention on her television (Bradbury 20). She hardly talks to Montag and when she does its to whine about not having a fourth television like a petulant child (Bradbury 20). I think that the author used the age difference to show how much mature Clarisse is compared to Mildred. Clarisse is just a teenager and seems to be ancient and wise while Mildred is an adult but still comes off as a spoiled child. This shows how much more Clarisse has mentally developed compared to Mildred due to thought.
In this novel these two characters are used to contrast the differences in lifestyle between the people like Clarisse who still bother to engage in thought, and the people like Mildred who are attached at the hip to their technology and do not want to think at all. Clarisse seems happy and fulfilled in her lifestyle of enriching thought (Bradbury 9). Mildred on the other hand tries to commit suicide at the beginning of the novel with a bottle of sleeping pills (Bradbury 13). This difference shows that people like Clarisse who think and really live life are much happier and adjusted to life than the people who are like Mildred and do not think. I think the differences in Mildred and Clarisse even helps Montag make his choice about whether he should try to revive books. He sees that Clarisse was happy and that Mildred was not.

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

Monday, July 16, 2012

What is the thematic and symbolic significance of Fahrenheit 451?


The thematic significance of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
is the dire warning that the book preaches for future generations. In this
novel, society has gotten rid of books and relies completely on technology.
Even those people who want books are not allowed to have them and fire fighters
burn down houses where books are suspected to be (Bradbury 37). Without books,
the population has become mentally lazy and does not bother to think. In the
novel society has become attached to adrenaline and leisure activities. Without
knowing it they have given up their intellectual freedom. A good example of
this is Montag’s wife named Mildred. Mildred spends most of her time watching
television or listening to her radio. She even calls the people on the
television affectionately her family, but does not seem very happy or fulfilled
(Bradbury 49). When Montag begins to read to Mildred in the novel she cannot
take the thought that the book provokes and starts to freak out (Bradbury 68).
This shows us that we need to keep our intellectual freedom for happiness and
sanity sake.

The symbolic significance of Fahrenheit 451 was the fire symbolism that appeared
throughout the whole novel. The fire in this novel represents both destruction
and creation. At the beginning of the novel Montag revels in the pleasure of burning
and destroying books (Bradbury 3). In the middle of the novel, fire turns into
something that burns and devours and cannot be stopped. This represents the
course that Montag is on. He has begun to rebel against his society and has
chosen to revive books (Bradbury 86). Once he chooses this course of action he
cannot turn back and he seems to be racing towards fate. It seems that his
choice to lead a life of knowledge destroys most of the life that he has known
for such a long time. Near the end of the book, fire once again takes on a new meaning . As the city gets bombed and consumed by flames at the end of the
novel, Montag realizes that this destruction will give way to creation as the
city rebuilds (Bradbury 160). He realizes that this is the chance for the world
to change and that the destruction of his old life now gives him a chance to
start over.
Bibliography: Bradbury, Ray. Farenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1953. Print

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Captain Beatty

In Fahrenheit 451, the antagonist of the book is a man named Captain Beatty. Captain Beatty is the head firefighter and Montag's boss. The reader is first introduced to Captain Beatty when he finds Montag cowering away from the Mechanical Hound (Bradbury 27). He is a very intimidating figure and we later see that his way with words is his favored tool of intimidation. An example of this is when Beatty comes to Montag's house and says "I have to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing.... all of them running about, putting out the stars and extinguishing the sun. You come away lost." (Bradbury 62). This verbal attack confuses Montag and it also gives the reader some insight into Captain Beatty. I find that the metaphor that he uses is pretty significant. Fire is used in the book is a way to destroy and by using a metaphor that involves putting out fire may mean to stop destruction and doing the impossible. It's also interesting that Beatty admits to have read a book. Even in the novel, Beatty will often quote books and seems to be incredibly well read. This leads to me to think that perhaps Beatty found himself unhappy with the world, much like Montag, but he did not try to change anything and accepted his society. Maybe this is why he is now so against books because he once put his faith in them and feels that books have failed him. This theory could be backed up by events later in the novel when Montag's house is on fire (Bradbury 119). When Montag turns the flamethrower on Beatty, the captain never once backs down or seems to register the threat (Bradbury 119). He just continues to stand there and mock Montag while quoting literature (Bradbury 119). Any other person would probably beg for their life at that moment, but not Beatty. It is almost as if Beatty wants to die and is unhappy.

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

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Clarisse McClellan

At the beginning of Fahrenheit 451, readers are introduced to a character named Clarisse McClellan. While Clarisse is not in most of the novel, her influence on Montag and the events in the story is profound. The main role that Clarisse provides in this book is that of the martyr. Clarisse first appears in this novel when Montag is walking home from work (Bradbury 5). At first Montag is not sure what to think of this teenage girl with curious sparkling eyes that seem to notice everything (Bradbury 5). Yet, as they talk he begins to warm up to her spirited personality, and he knows that she is one of a kind in their society. She talks of the world and all of her observations, and enchants Montag because she does seem to care about him in a world where everyone is indifferent (Bradbury 8). The most significant trait of Clarisse is that she actually thinks about things in a world where serious thought is frowned upon (Bradbury 9). The way she talks about thinking causes Montag to wonder if he is missing something in life. Clarisse eventually inspires Montag to seek out books and thought. Tragedy strikes though when a group of teenagers hit Clarisse with their car. This is ironic because at one point in the book Clarisse tells that Montag people her own age terrify her (Bradbury 30). While it was never said whether her death was an accident or not, I believe that she was targeted in some way or another since the government knew her "strange" tendencies. The death of Clarisse severely impacts Montag and convinces him to take action and bring books back into society. I think part of this is done in the name of Clarisse, so Montag can believe that she did not die in vain and it would have made her happy. Later in the novel when Montag is in the country, he begins to believe that Clarisse took the same path through the country as well (Bradbury 145). This means that Montag is continuing what Clarisse started and inspired. A path of thinking that Clarisse paved the way for.

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

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

What events, people, or ideas probably influenced Ray Bradbury while writing Fahrenheit 451?

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury may be set in the future, but it was influenced by the time period that it was written in. This novel was published in the 1950's and the reader can see some of the issues that the people of the 50's worried and felt uncertain about. For example, in this book people have stopped reading books. Books in this alternate society have been replaced by technology, such as television. The loss of books have a very negative impact on the society that Montag lives in and a majority of the population no longer cares to think at all. This shows that some people of the 1950's were frightened that we would become mindless and watch television all day, because television had just been introduced to the world. Another way that this book reflects the time period is because of the mentions of war and air bombing. During the 1950's the Cold War was going on with Soviet Russia and many people were afraid that the United States and the U.S.S.R. would destroy the world with their atomic weapons. The fear of the Cold War is represented in the airplanes that are flying overhead in the novel. At the end of the novel, the city in which Montag had lived is burned to the ground by bombs (Bradbury 160). Overall, this novel represents the advancement of technology, whether it is television or atomic weapons, and the uncertainty that surrounded it. The reader can tell that the author worried that the world would become attached to technology, and in some ways we have become the society that Bradbury seems to fear. For example, Mildred always has an earpiece in that talks to her, and hardly takes it out (Bradbury 18). This can be compared to the iPods and other music devices that we have today. Many people seem to be always listening to music like Mildred, and this has cut down on communication just like it did in Fahrenheit 451.

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

Friday, July 6, 2012

What techniques does the author use to engage the reader of Fahrenheit 451?

Ray Bradbury uses a variety of literary techniques that makes Fahrenheit 451 an engaging novel. One of the elements that he uses is suspense. The author uses suspense to make the reader keep reading and sit on the edge of their seat to see what becomes Montag. The reader is kept in suspense over whether Montag and Faber will be caught to whether or not Captain Beatty will burn down Montag's house (Bradbury 113). As the book progresses to the climax, readers think that some of the suspense will be resolved. This does not happen and the book becomes even more suspenseful. After Montag escapes from his neighborhood, readers now have to wonder whether Montag will be able to escape the mechanical hound (Bradbury 121). This suspense enhanced this novel because it added a little more action to a book that had much more dialogue than exciting feats.
Not only does Bradbury use suspense to enhance his novel, but also symbolism. One of the most common symbols of this novel is fire. The beginning of the book starts, "It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed."(Bradbury 3). This shows that Montag thought of fire as something that was only used for destructive. Towards the end of the book, one of the nomads named Granger, talks of the phoenix that would burn up and be reborn (Bradbury 163). This can be applied to the city that is bombed near the end of the story (Bradbury 158). The fire of the bomb destroyed the city, but that destruction will give way for the city to be rebuilt and a chance to for its people to change their ways. Through this we see the changing perspective of fire in the novel. It had been seen as destructive but at the end of the book it is also seen as a way for creation to flourish. The symbol of fire and its evolution during the book helps readers understand the novel and the change in Montag. In a way, he has been burned by losing everything, but he is now able to rise from the ashes and make a new life for himself.

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

Why do we still read Fahrenheit 451?

Even though Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was written over fifty years ago, it still remains relevant in today's society. This may be due to the fact that it contains a warning for mankind. Fahrenheit 451 is still read today because it gives a picture of what society could turn into if we turn our backs on books and all the knowledge they hold. Fahrenheit 451 paints a grim picture of a world where people do not care to think. They all just want to watch television mindlessly. This lack of serious thought creates a civilization that only cares for when their next favorite show will be on. Mildred, Montag's wife, is a perfect example of this. All she cares about are the people on the television screen in her parlor that she calls "the family". Her affection for this "family" even overrides the affection she has Montag. She is so busy interacting with these fake people that she doesn't even get out to live life. Even when she invites over her friends, it's just so they can all watch the television together (Bradbury 93). This has made Mildred so mindless because she never bothers to think and she almost dies from her thoughtless actions. At the beginning of the novel, she cannot even think of what she is doing in the present and does not realize that she has already had a sleeping pill for the night (Bradbury 19). She continues to live life on autopilot and soon finishes an entire bottle of sleeping pills because she cannot recall taking her pill (Bradbury 19). Mildred would have most likely have died if Montag did not come in and find her (Bradbury 13). The disturbing part is that when Montag finds out that the men pumping Mildred's stomach don't even have medical degrees, because so many people that are overdosing on pills that doctors cannot see them all (Bradbury 15). All of these overdoses are just a result of a society that has grown so mentally lazy that they cannot even remember how many pills they have taken.

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

Thursday, July 5, 2012

What are the gains, losses, and causes of the conflict dealt with in Fahrenheit 451?

The conflict of the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is that Guy Montag, the protagonist, wants the freedom of thought, but his society oppresses thought. Like any other great novel, the conflict has causes, gains, and loses. The causes of Guy Montag's conflict all start when he is walking home at night from his job as a firemen (Bradbury 5). On the sidewalk of his neighborhood he meets an odd teenage girl named Clarisse McClellan (Bradbury 6). Montag soon starts a conversation with her and she begins to ask him questions that make him really think (Bradbury 9). These thoughts soon make him realize what he is missing in his life and question the society in which he lives.
The conflict of this novel results in many losses for Guy Montag. The biggest loss of this conflict is that Montag has lost his naivete. He now realizes how imperfect his world and he can never go back to his old limited thought process. Never again can he follow the masses in ignorance. In addition to the loss of his ignorance, Montag loses both his wife and his home (Bradbury 114). The loss of Montag's home is a huge blow because some of his precious books were in the house still (Bradbury 117). The loss of his wife also badly hurts Montag. It seems like they are not in love, but she is still someone that has been a part of his life for a long time.
Even though Montag endures loss due to the conflict, he also gains from it. The biggest gain from the conflict is that Montag seems to find true happiness and a calling. He finds this after he escapes the city and joins some nomads that have memorized parts of books (Bradbury 151). This group shares his desire for thought and gives Montag a sense of belonging. In addition to finding happiness, Montag also gains valuable knowledge. He learns that thought is not something to despise or hate. He finds that it should be valued and abundant.

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