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   ladyvols1 Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   In this part of the novel Montag and other "firemen" go to a woman's house and "crashed the front door."  The woman said, "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."  This was later explained to Montag by Beatty, " A man named Latimer said that to a man named Nicholas Ridley, as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy, on October 16, 1555." 

   This is significant because the woman is indicating that by burning the books and her burning with them will make people begin to see how wrong these actions are.  She is hoping her sacrifice will lead to long term change.

   "The incident with the unnamed woman only aggravates Montag's doubt and alienation. This event helps raise Montag's consciousness about his work. He is so upset that he lays awake all night, so upset that by morning he feels too sick to go to work."  He was also so moved that he actually took some of the books and hid them in his jacket and took them home.

   Sources:

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

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

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

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   Posted by ladyvols1 on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 8:30 PM