Fahrenheit 451 Group

Question:

konvex
konvex
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In "Fahenheit 451,"  Faber says to Montag: "The salamander devours his tail."  What does this mean?

page 79

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Posted by konvex on Monday September 8, 2008 at 6:57 AM and tagged with characters, faber, fahrenheit 451, montag, quotes, salamader.

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  1. luannw Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    This quote isn't from page 79 in every edition of the book.  It occurs after Montag tells Faber his plan to set-up other firemen by planting books in their homes and then turning them in.  Montag figures he can help bring down the government by implicating those who enforce the law banning books.  Montag is excited about his plan and when he shares it with Faber, Faber gets excited, too, and says that it is would be great to see the "firehouses burn across the land, destroyed as hotbeds of treason."  The next line, "The salamander devours his tail!" means that the system would be brought down from within, like a creature eating up itself.  If they can make those who enforce the law appear to be guilty of breaking that same law, then the system would collapse.  They do not get the chance to put this plan into action however.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/fahrenheit-451

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    Posted by luannw on Monday September 8, 2008 at 9:23 AM