Fahrenheit 451 Group

Question:


hassri
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Based on Fahrenheit 451, what is the symbolic meaning/ significance of the description below?

"One time, when he was a child, in a power-failure, his mother had found and lit a last candle and there had been a brief hour of rediscovery, of such illumination that space lost its vast dimensions and drew comfortably around them, and they, mother and son, alone, transformed, hoping that the power might not come on again too soon . . ." page 15

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Posted by hassri on Tuesday October 6, 2009 at 7:47 AM and tagged with candle, fahrenheit 451.

Answers:

  1. writergal06
    writergal06 Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    Within the context of the story, this description can be seen as a symbolic representative of the rediscovery of original ideas and ancient philosophies needed to allow for independent thought. The last lit candle in a world of darkness is those individuals who are preserving books either physically or mentally through memorization. The hope that the power doesn't come back on can be seen as the freedom that comes with original thought and the fear of the artificial "light" of "civilized society" putting out the natural light of knowledge. The transformation is what takes place when one finally breaks through the brainwashing powers of society and thinks his or her own original thought.

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    Posted by writergal06 on Tuesday October 6, 2009 at 8:43 AM