The Meaning of Life in the eyes of...

• His views may sound pessimistic, but actually reflect the idea that life is bigger than the self; we are here to serve & learn, not compete&destroy
• Refers to human race as a vessel for knowledge, such before books, when books were found, and era of book burning--humans=source, serving no true purpose otherwise
• People in the cities were empty--they never read a book, never filled their vessel
• Eventually, it would be the job of these scholars, those who still remembered to do the filling, once people were willing to turn away from war and destruction, and focus on the pursuit of knowledge
• Loss of knowledge-->war&ruin
• A meaningful like meant not pitching ourselves onto the funeral pyre of old like that silly Phoenix and just remember. Remember what's worth holding on to.

"We're nothing more than dust jackets for books, of no significance otherwise."

"And hold onto one thought: You're not important. You're not anything. Someday the load we're carrying with us may help someone...And when they ask us what we're doing, you can say, we're remembering."

• He believes in understanding the world, and your place in it
• But, is cynical and disappointed in the direction society has taken, disappointed in the lack of existentialism
• However, understands the mental oppression, and doesn't blame the citizens

"Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us."

"Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord. You firemen now provide a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but it's a small sideshow indeed and hardly necessary to keep things in line for few want to be rebels any more. And out of those few, most, like myself, scare easily."

• Beginning of book: Recognizes his job as a wrongdoing, yet has no rebellious state in him to change his habits.
• After the woman burning and meeting Clarisse: started to look for the meaning of life, happiness, and why we are here through the books he began to steal. He thinks differently and for himself once he meets Faber and hears what he has to say. He is a rebel against the government mind set.

"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house."

"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none."

The Meaning of Life in the eyes of...

montag

faber

granger

Clarisse

Beatty

• Thinking is important, especially thinking about the odd or unique topics that society doesn't speak about
• Talking is also important; she wants to learn from the people around her, and have conversations, asking questions people don't ask (why she is interested in Montag)
• She takes interest in the people around her, and can recognize the general characteristics of society and how she is different, and she's okay with that.

"I'm antisocial, they say. I don't mix. It's so strange. I'm very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it? Social to me means talking to you about things like this."

"You're not like the others. I've seen a few; I know. When I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon, last night. The others would never do that."

Mildred

• Everyone is to obey, because obedience means peace
• (as a firefighter) it is his responsibility to destroy those who rebel and eliminate any rebellion, to keep the people happy
• To promote the peace and happiness...
• thinking makes people unhappy
• books cause thinking, contains unpleasant ideas
• thinking=rebels=chaos

"We're the happiness boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought...I don't think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now" (Beatty to Montag, pg 62)

"We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal,as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon."

• "What is the meaning of life" isn't a question she would even consider to ponder; she doesn't like thinking too hard or for too long, easily bored
• the only life she knows is the life on the three screens she surrounds herself with
• She trusts the government, and trusts that the norm is just, avoids confrontation
• She prefers the simple life, even though it causes her depression

"Guy's surprise tonight is to read you one sample to show how mixed-up things were, so none of us will ever have to bother our little old heads about that junk again, isn't that right, darling?"

"He might come and burn the house and the 'family'. That's awful! Think of our investment. Why should I read? What for?"

By: Jenna Simons, Ciara Sherling, Kelsi Norman, Matt Wells, Mark Mullins, Chase Page