Society has a powerful influence over individuals’ actions, but that power and influence is not carried over to an individuals’ mindset. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the two characters Faber and Beatty have very similar personalities. Though the way of society has drastically influenced how each responds accordingly to social standards. Faber has followed the path that society has paved for him, but he wants to be the man that can help change society’s view of books. Beatty is fulfilling his duties as fire chief, and is seen as a power head, though he may not be as happy as society depicts him to be. Both characters are well read, have different perspectives of society, and have contrasting ways of teaching Montag. Firstly, Faber is very well read because he is a retired English Professor. His knowledge of books goes deeper than just words on paper; “It’s not books you need, its some of the things that once were in books […] look for it in nature and in yourself.” (Bradbury, 74). Faber is able to understand the power, integrity and meaning behind the words, and is able to realize that without experiencing life you can never understand the “life” that books depict. Secondly, Faber’s perspective of society is that people no longer know what it means to live. They find superficial happiness in mindless entertainment “We are living in a time when flowers are trying to live on flowers instead of growing on good rain and black loan” (74). Faber’s use of figurative language has depicted society as very materialistic. He has begun to see individuals of society as emotionless and self absorbed; which has resulted in a society that does not think for themselves because they have always been told what to do, influencing the actions they make not conscious decisions. Thirdly, the teaching style that Faber has with Montag is very effective because he is encouraging Montag…
