1. Section 2 The Sieve & The Sand
FAHRENHEIT 451
Section 2
The Sieve & The Sand

2. Millie & Montag Millie is unhappy with her husband
He is trying to discuss books with her
She thinks books are useless
“That favourite subject, myself…”
Different reactions to quote
Mildred/Clarisse (Montag thinking of her)
She wants Montag to get rid of the books
Montag realizes he needs a teacher

3. Allegory of the Cave
“Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave.” (70)
Plato, the Greek philosopher
Nature of reality
education = enlightenment

4. The Sieve & the Sand Montag remembers a story about a SIEVE as a child
Sieve – Sifter, sand falls through the cracks
Trying to fill a sieve with sand is impossible
Metaphor- trying to memorize literature, but he can’t remember it all

5. Meeting Faber Faber is a retired English college professor
Montag met him in the park, one year ago
Calls Faber on the phone
Asks him about books
Asks him about books (Bible)
Are there any left? (71)
Faber is too cowardly to talk to Montag

6. Montag’s Trip To Faber’s House
Montag’s moment of self-discovery
Realizes the “old, burnt-in smile” is gone
Sieve & the Sand = helplessness
Tried to read the Bible without comprehension
Tries to memorize a passage on the subway
Dentham’s Dentifrice
- toothpaste commercial distracts him
Mindless info people fill their heads with
“Consider the lilies..” Bible, Sermon on the Mount
Do not worry; faith

7. At Faber’s House Faber is afraid of Montag
White – walls, mouth, cheeks, hair, eyes (76)
Goodness, not corrupted, wisdom
Faber calls himself a coward
He saw the world changing, did nothing
Montag needs someone to talk to/explain things
“Mistakes can be profited by” (100)
If you hide your ignorance, you never learn

8. Three Missing Things Faber - three missing things in society:
1. Quality of information (79)
- Books have quality, texture, pores
- Provide details of life, thought-provoking
2. Leisure – time to think, digest (80)
Time to develop own conclusions
3. Right to carry out actions based on the first two (81)

9. The White Clown Television show
“It becomes and is the truth”
Millie thinks these television characters care about her – fantasy world / illusion vs. reality
Very violent, people cutting limbs off of people and laughing about it
State of society
Violence
“Christ is one of the ‘family’ now” (77)

10. View of Families & Marriage
Relationships & Husbands
- husband off at war, not worried- 48 hour war
- replaceable
- no love
“Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold
Theme of loneliness in modern world
Touches Mrs. Phelps – innate emotions
Children & Childbirth
- births by cesarean
- don’t want to raise kids, drop them off at schools
- turn the TV on & leave them alone
- laundry

11. Beatty Tells Montag a dream about the two of them arguing
Books can prove your point, but they can also contradict you
“You think they’re backing you up, and they turn on you.”
“Truth is truth, to the end of reckoning” –Shakespeare
“A little learning is a dangerous thing –Pope, Essay on Criticism
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