Montag's Third Trial In 'Dover Beach'

Mildred’s hand seemed to finally grab what Montag was hiding. She seemed amused by the shape, being so innocently confused, just like a little girl. She was surprised, and then shocked. Her mouth began to look as if she was forming a question…

The guilt begins to eat away at Montag's conscience, and illness overtakes him. Back in his home, he reports this event to his wife Mildred, expressing his opinions on the matter: "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" (Bradbury 51).

When he started to think for himself Montag realized him and Mildred were not connected like husband and wife should be. Therefore, when Montag imagined Mildred’s death he suddenly started crying “not at death but at the thought of not crying at death…” (Bradbury 44). From this point on Montag could not be happy with Mildred even if he tried, just like Equality 7-2521 could not be happy without his tunnel and

This quotes tone, helps helps to establish the characterization of Montag, and how he sees things for what they are when others in this society do not. The characterization in this scene helps the reader to see Montag’s characterization. Montag’s tone to Mrs. Bowles helps to clarify how the society thinks. A normal person who had feelings would not move on as fast as she did with her first two husbands. It helps to characterize this societys numbness to emotions. Montag seeing this throughout not feeling any emotion towards his wife and her none back to him it is quite sad, no compassion anywhere. " 'And some day we'll remember so much that we'll build the biggest goddamn steamshovel in history and dig the biggest grave of all

Phelps, whose interests’ in their “parlor walls”, eventually lead Montag, to engage in his conflict of becoming more social with the people around him. In this case, Montag reads a poem called “Dover Beach”, to Mildred’s friends resulting in Mrs. Bowles becoming enraged at Montag, “Mrs. Bowles stood up and glared at Montag. ‘You see? I knew it, that’s what I wanted to prove! I knew it would happen! I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness, all that mush!’ ” (97). This quote demonstrates how Mrs. Bowles’s perspective on poetry and literature is much more negative than positive. In addition, this relates to the novel’s theme of censorship, because an absence of books can make people oppose against literature. Most importantly, this relates to Montag’s conflict of how he is struggling to start conversations of books being praised, rather than being deplored. Thus, Montag learns how to become more confrontive and interactive with people rather than being distant

Faber says, “So now you see why books are hated and feared?They show the pores in the face of life”(79). Montag decides to work with Faber and become a revolutionary even though it may be risky. Faber decides to give Montag an earpiece so that he can hear what is going on in Montag’s life and they can communicate secretly. Montag takes the earpiece and goes home. When home he finds Mildred and her friends watching the television. To Montag this seems like a good time to bring out all the books in his home. Montag was trying to be a revolutionary and change Mildred and her friends into believing that books were actually fine but it backfired on him. When he decides to read a poem to the girls he gets a negative response. One of the friends, Mrs.Phelps begins to cry, the other friend Mrs.Bowles says, “I’ve always said, poetry tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings”(97). Their whole society was avoiding books because they provoke real and raw emotions that they think they are not able to handle, but they could be if they tried. Montag changed his outlook and was trying to help others, but their minds were not developed enough to

For starters, Montag and Mildred’s motivations in life and survival contrast to one another. Montag is interested in reading books and finding out what exactly the government is trying to hide. This mindset contrasts to Mildred, Montag’s wife, who is a normal law-abiding citizen. Montag shows some interest in reading and discovery. Since he works as a fireman, he gets to see all the old books burn along with the houses they were found in. Montag eventually memorizes the entirety of Ecclesiastes in his free time.

Another incident that stayed in Montag 's mind is the old women who set her self and her books on fire. However, Montag tried stopping her by telling her that the books were not worth her life. Before she burned herself, Montag took one of her books and kept it. At that time Montag did not think about what did the old lady burned herself with the books, he did not think about it might be the value and morals that books hold to teach is. The old lady knew the importance of these books and what do they have, so she preferred to burn herself with them, and not watch the firemen burn them, who do not even know the importance of books. But they do know that books are unreal and there is so importance of them, plus they are against the law!

Bradbury uses Montag’s view of Mildred’s characterization to convey that Mildred exemplifies a bad character with her obsession with technology and consequential treatment with Montag. Mildred’s decision to prioritize her self desire for technology damages her relationship with her husband, Montag. Montag meets with an english professor named Faber who also believes that books need to be preserved. They have a huge discussion about how they should get everyone aware about the books. Montag is frustrated because “nobody listens any more.

When walking home from another duty as a fireman Montag stumbles upon his new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan. The two engage in philosophical conversation, mainly driven by the young, “socially ill” neighbor. Before heading into his home, Clarisse asks Montag a question. She asks if he is happy. He laughs at the question at first but after looking at Clarisse’s bright, cheerful home, Montag realizes he may not be as happy as he thinks he is while standing in his cold bedroom. A metaphor describes his feelings as Bradbury writes, “He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back,” (12). Then as matters couldn't get worse, he discovers his wife has attempted suicide shortly after accidentally kicking an empty sleeping pill bottle on the floor. From that moment on he continues to refer to this incident, wondering why his wife took the pills in the first place. Even after calling for help and saving her life, Mildred continues to bother Montag with distrust and ignorance. She even reports Montag’s interest in books to the fire department, leading Montag to completely change the way he thinks about their

Montag is filled with dep, raw emotions after the stress of his night at work. After being sick on the carpet due to his distress, he tells Mildred of the previous night's events. She completely ignores what he has said and replies with “It’s a good thing the carpet is washable”. He mentions again “last night… we burned a thousand books. We burned a woman”.

For example, this event takes place after Montag had revealed the book to Mildred that he got from the woman's home. “‘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” (51). This quote shows that Montag is willing to understand why the woman decided to stay in the house. He is also realizing that there must be something important in the books and foreshadows that Montag will change as a person for the better, while Mildred does not care about the books and thinks that the woman deserved to die it also shows that she is a shallow person. The author did this to show a critical moment in which Montag will start making decisions for himself and no longer follow blindly and will stop being a good person that stands by and does nothing. Mildred as the opposite shows that she will always be the same person, someone who is apathetic,simplistic, out of touch with reality, and not inclined to change for the better. This is important for the readers to know seeing as this is a moment that will foreshadow the future showing that a character like Montag stuck following society's restricting rules

In conclusion, there are several scenes in the novel which depict the above meanings. However, the ones written above describe this the strongest. Overall, Mildred Montag symbolizes the empty, unoriginal person who is so common in this society. This is because of the many efforts to end all sadness, but, ironically, it resulted in many minds that are distorted and lied to. Because of

I think that this part is very realistic because this is what fugitives think about when they have a moment of piece. Pg. 134 Observation: Interestingly enough, Montag seems to miss Mildred even though he didn't love her. This shows some hope for society.

Montag was tired of listening to the women’s meaningless triviality, so he unplugs the tv and he hoped that by reading “ Dover Beach” to them that they would be motivated to discuss the work. But Montag found out very quickly that Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles were touched and did not enjoy him reading the poem. When Montag is finished reading “ Dover Beach” Mrs. Phelps is crying, though she does not know why ,Mrs. Phelps believes that poetry is nasty and there is no need for it.Mrs. Bowles is angry with Montag for bringing that trouble . While Mrs. Bowles is trying to stop Mrs. Phelps from crying, Mildred is trying to calm the group down but the women are quite shaken and they all left but Montag kept on reading. Mildred was shaken up as well,