Guy Montag's Reaction

One example that shows the indifference to one’s life is in Mildred’s reaction to an incident that happened during Guy Montag’s day at work. Montag had just come home and vomited as a result of feeling guilty and inhumane after the firemen let a woman burn herself alive along with her books. After telling his wife this, to explain why he had gotten sick, Mildred replies “It’s a good thing the rug’s washable” (49). To contrast Montag’s feelings, Mildred had no concern or sympathy for the woman, no questions regarding how the tragedy had happened, instead just a remark in relation to an insignificant object, that she was possibly concerned with more. Easily she went on with her life, furthermore fetching a mop, rather than giving any regard to
the woman’s life. This aloof demeanor of Mildred’s contributes to a society that is willfully ignorant to violence and unsympathetic to human suffering.