Fahrenheit 451

In "Fahrenheit 451," what is the value of books to life?

The value of illegal books to life really depends on what kind of member of society you are. The productive members of this society who subscribe to its beliefs hold that people's lives are expendable if they are breaking the law and in essence breaking the fabric of this society. Fireman have no qualms about burning a person willing to go down with their illegal contraband of books. The novel opens with fireman burning a home and woman who insists she burn with it.

On the flip side, those members of society who value free thought and the literature that was created as a result value their lives as much as they value books. For most of these members they are willing to die for the books, or at least what the books represent- freedom to think and create and feel.