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   luannw Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Capt. Beatty told Guy lots of lies.  Early in the story, Guy asks, at the firestation, a question that Clarisse had put to him about whether or not the job of fireman had always been about starting fires.  Beatty's implied response is that it is ridiculous to even ask such a question.  That's a lie.  After the woman burned herself with her books, Beatty shows his knowledge of books and lies about it saying that he only knows little bits and pieces.  It becomes clear, further into the story, that Beatty is actually very well read. so his explanation to Guy is a lie.  Some of the biggest lies come when Beatty is talking to Guy before the fire run to Guy's house.  Beatty says that books are traitors because they give opposing viewpoints and he takes quotes out of context to attempt to prove his point.  The reader has to wonder if Beatty isn't actually trying to show Guy just the opposite point - that books open up one's mind to a variety of views.

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   Posted by luannw on Tuesday May 5, 2009 at 4:31 AM