"In this particular clip you will see a basic movie trailer advertising the events that occured in this book in a visual perspective. Enjoy!"
Friday, January 4, 2013
Journal Entry #1
As I have started to read this book, I’ve found that
it already has me inquisitive of what’s truly the meaning behind its title. It
begins, “It was a pleasure to burn” (Bradbury 3). In my mind I immediately draw
conclusions that there must be some hidden psychological paths down this
literary climb somewhere. Furthering my reading calms my speculations for a
while, but at the same time I’m more curious to the fact of his ironic
encountering experience with his neighbor Clarisse McClellan (who I find quite
peculiar as well). She seemed very down to earth and at the same time awkwardly
portrayed but she seems to have a lot of sense. For example “You are an odd
one” (Bradbury 8), Guy Montag (a fireman) concludes. Already I feel the author
taking me down a spiral of comparisons that seem to lead to further
contradictions. For example: “Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out
instead of going to start them?” (Bradbury 8).
I wonder how this statement would unwrap and come into play with the purpose
of the actual title…. (186 words)
"In this scene you will witness Motag and Ms. McClellan coversing as they did on a regular basis.".
Journal Entry # 2
Wow, it seems there is some psychological suspense
going on now. When furthering my reading I discovered that Mildred (Guy
Montag’s wife) has apparently overdosed and has been lying in bed. What makes
this so suspenseful are the comments and speculations Guy made in discovering
his wife’s situation? “His wife
stretched on the bed, uncovered and cold, like a body displayed on the lid of a
tomb, her eyes fixed to the ceiling by
invisible threads of steel, immovable”, (Bradbury 12). One thing I would like
to acknowledge is the author’s use of great description to provide a sense of the
gloomy mood. He portrays the mood in a way that leads me to a more inquisitive
view of the actual meaning of this book. Furthermore, Guy discovers evidence as
to his wife’s “breath going in and out, softly, faintly, in and out her
nostrils…” (Bradbury 13). Mildred’s rushed to hospital (153 words).
Journal Entry# 3
I've never in my life heard of a dog with eight webbed feet.
"...the creature that quivered gently, gently, its eight legs spidered
under it on rubber- padded paws", (Bradbury 24). More and more the setting
of the future seems to be confirmed and defined throughout the weird
technological enhances that I've yet failed to witness realistically. I can't
believe there was actually a mechanical hound in the firehouse! He seemed
pretty evil. Not only did this creature (better known as a hound) have insect
legs but it also had "...multi-faceted eyes...” (Bradbury 26). Ironically
to me it seems weird how this particular creature can create such
inquisitiveness in Captain Beatty- “Why? You got a guilty conscience about
something?” (Bradbury 27). I wonder would something weird be revealed from such
ironic speculations.... I wonder could
it be something suspicious going on with Montag and Ms. McClellan. (148 words).
"This is a picture of a sketch of the mechanical hound".
Journal Entry # 4-5
Yet again Ray
Bradbury has driven me into such an inquisitive track and caused me to
speculate that Guy Montag is changing as an individual overtime. According to
the previous quotations- “It was pleasure to burn….He strode in a swarm of
fireflies. He wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a
stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch
and lawn of the house”, (Bradbury3). In this quote, you can see how Guy Montag
found the joy in his job through his pride. In this way you can indicate his
joy to burn the books, but not once was there speculations concerning his inner
feeling concerning his job. “I’ve tried to imagine, just how it would
feel. I mean, to have firemen burn our
houses and our books”, (Bradbury 34). This comment made to Beatty led me to see
how somehow he was beginning to contradict his job and uncover a shadowing
character that we have yet seen to be the real Guy Montag. “Montag had done
nothing. His hand had done it all, his hand, with a brain of its own, with a
conscience and a curiosity in each trembling finger, had turned thief”,
(Bradbury 37). “His hands were ravenous. And his eyes were beginning to feel
hunger, as if they must look at something, anything, everything”, (Bradbury
41). From these former quotes I speculated a drastic change that I wonder would
become Montag’s own fire- “There’s a phoenix car just drove up and a man in a
black shirt with an orange snake stitched on his arm coming up the front
walk...Captain Beatty? He said”….. Uh-oh! (278 words).
Journal Entry# 6
So
apparently, I guess the firemen are ones who support the idea of burning
knowledge that are consisted in books. "Today thanks to them, you can stay
happy all the time, you are allowed to read comics, the good old confessions,
or trade journals", (Bradbury 58). In this particular quote I found out
that even though the firemen burnt the people’s books at 451 degrees Fahrenheit
as well as their houses, apparently they were allowed to only read certain
things that I suppose discouraged intellect, but better yet entertained the
individual as they read. Later I found my speculations were confirmed,
"the word 'intellectual', of course, became the swear word it deserved to
be....and wasn't it this bright boy you selected for beatings and tortures
after hours? Of course it was. We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and
equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal....So! A book is a
loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it....Who knows who might be the target
of a well-read man? Me?” (Bradbury 58). Even though this quote seems a little
lengthy I feel this shows the insecurities the future evidently had on itself.
Who wouldn't support knowledge before entertainment? In my book, they go
hand-in-hand. As of right now, I feel that ignorance is supported in the eyes
of Bradbury.....or maybe somehow he'll work this into a way of making a logical
point. I suppose we'll find out sooner or later. I must say, there was one particular line
that I found interesting-"There was no longer need of firemen for the old
purposes. They were given the new job, as custodians of our peace of
mind..."(Bradbury 59). In my brain, when I read this, I immediately
visualized the meaning of this statement. It seemed to me that society during
this time was being led down a path of ignorance-the people were being brain
washed in my perspective. (322 words).
Journal Entry # 7
Montag seems to really have something on his mind that
causes such a frustration within his own anxiousness. "Now Beatty was
almost invisible, a voice somewhere behind a screen of smoke...."What's
this?" asked Mildred, almost with delight Montag heaved back against her
arms. What's this here?"..... "Sit down!" Montag shouted, (Bradbury
56). Apparently Mildred came across the book he had hidden behind his pillow.
Ironically Beatty goes into depth about the happiness of the civilization and
how in ignorant comparisons he says-"Someone's written a book on tobacco
and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book",
(Bradbury 59). Honestly, I feel that "future" civilization had
definitely been brain washed. It seems that Montag is the only sane one-
"Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us
from making the same....insane mistakes!” (Bradbury 74). I support Montag as an
individual character. I now begin to see the persistence of the man who once
found light from Mr. Faber (an English professor he met in the park) who
provided Guy with the insights of his time period. (189 words).
Journal Entry # 8
It's definitely true that if you want something bad
enough you'll do anything you can to get it. Montag wanted so bad to be taught
the words and messages of the good book (Bible), and he went to his only
reliable source, Mr. Faber, for assistance(who adored the book), but for him
the risk seemed too high. In return,
Montag basically blackmailed Mr. Faber- "Would you like to own this...His
hands....began to rip the pages from the book. The hands tore the fly-leaf and
then the first and then the second page", (Bradbury 88). He actually infuriated
Mr. Faber causing him to give in-"All right, all right", (Bradbury
88). It took a lot of guts to rip something as sacred as the pages of the
Bible. Not that I can say that I would do it because I know my conscience
wouldn't allow me to do such a thing, but you can really tell how desperate and
determined Montag is as an individual. (165 words).
Journal Entry# 9-10
Over the next few sections I read about Guy's excitement for
his knowledge. He first began to try it out (irresponsibly) with the ladies
from the parlor (Mrs. Bowles, and Mrs. Phelps). During a mutual conversation
with the ladies, as well as his wife, they began to engage in a particular
political conversation, which as any conversation today, can get a bit out of
hand due to further disagreements. "Compare Winston Noble and Hubert Hoag
for ten seconds and you can almost figure the results", (Bradbury 97).
This comment frustrated Montag so he was eager to pull his knowledge out to make
since of their analytical errors. He was more so into proving his point than
thinking logically. "Montag." A whisper...."Leave me alone!
Montag felt himself turning in a great circling roar and buzz and
hum.....Montag hold on, don't..." , (Bradbury 97). These quotes represent
the conversation between Faber and Montag as he tried hard to calm Montag's
excitement to prove his point, however, it failed. I began to reflect on how we
feel as individuals when we know something that would shock or even amaze
others to the point of scaring them. We become so eager to do just as Montag
was exemplifying- "What'll you prove!"....."Scare.... out of
them, that's what, scare the living daylights out!” (Bradbury 98). This
particular section seemed more humorous to me from the ladies reactions versus
Montag's stubbornness to resign his intentions. It was almost a tug of war type
of situation. (248 words).
Journal Entry # 11-12
I'm beginning to think that Captain Beatty is aware of
what Guy has been up to in a sense. "Who are a little wise, the best fool
be'. Welcome back, Montag...” (Bradbury 105). "Let's have your hands in
sight, Montag. Not that we don't trust you, understand, but---", (Bradbury
105). The little smart comments made by Beatty seemed as if he was slyly trying
to get into Montag's head. Montag was already not as confident within himself
as he needed to be to face his captain and follow through- "Old man,"
he said, "stay with me", (Bradbury 104). It's something when it comes
to standing up for what you believe in against authority. The authoritative
role seems to portray itself more dominant in a slyer way. "Don't
listen," whispered Faber. "He's trying to confuse. He's slippery.
Watch out!” (Bradbury 107). In my eyes, Beatty seems like a snake in disguise.
He randomly comes out towards Montag saying- "I had a dream an hour
ago....you and I, Montag, got into a furious debate on books. You towered with
rage, yelled quotes at me. I calmly parried every thrust", (Bradbury 106).
It seemed to me that Montag and Faber weren't the only one's plotting, but they
had something on their hands. (208 words).
"This is a picture of Captain Beatty. As you can see in the way he looks, his intentions were always corresponding."
Journal Entry # 13
Ray Bradbury has yet driven me into his trap once more.
I am truly eager to find out what in the world is going on. My speculations
tell me that I was right all along. Beatty had been on to Montag and played
both sides to convict him of his dishonesty and betrayal to his jobs beliefs,
which resulted in the sudden events that transpired. I knew something was up
when I took the pieces of the text and analyzed them in my own little maze
within my brain. "The alarm-voice in the ceiling chanted...Captain
Beatty...walked with exaggerated slowness to the phone and ripped out the
address when the report was finished. He glanced perfunctorily at it and shoved
it in his pocket. He came back and sat down…"It can wait exactly forty
seconds while I take all the money away from you,” said Beatty, happily. Montag
put his cards down...."Montag you don't look so well...."You'll be
fine. This is a special case. Come on, jump for it!” (Bradbury 109). Montag's
conscience began to play major roles on him. "How can I go at this new
assignment, how can I go on burning things?” (Bradbury 110). Right then and
there I began to speculate that Beatty was definitely onto him.
"Why," said Montag slowly, "we've stopped in front of my
house", (Bradbury 110). Now I'm eager to find out what exactly is going to
happen. Will they expose Montag and burn his house? (243 words).
Journal Entry #14- 15
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