Faber is an old man that Montag met about a year before the story begins. He used to be an English professor and he appears to be knowledgeable. He has a lot of ideas, but he admits that he is something of a coward. He says that things have come to be the way they are in the story because of people like him who did not stand up and fight to keep people reading books. Faber has been alone with his thoughts for some time. When Montag shows up at his house, Faber can finally put some of his ideas out there. He explains many things to Montag. He tells Montag that people need quality of the information they get, time to think about it, and the right to act on what they learn. This is the philosophy that Faber has developed over his lifetime. He then attempts to use Montag to enforce it. He gives Montag his greatest invention, a two way earpiece that allows them to communicate. He tells him that this is the product of his cowardice. Faber’s purpose for this device seems to change. He uses it to control Montag at some points, but also uses it to make Montag think for himself. It is almost difficult to tell which one was actually his main intent. Either way Faber continues to show his cowardice. Faber fights his battles through Montag. He tries to fend off Beatty by talking through Montag. Montag is forced to kill Beatty because he threatened to trace the earpiece to Faber. Faber remains alive, but he can’t communicate with Montag for the time being because the earpiece was burnt. Montag goes to Faber’s house, and they work out their plans. Faber tells him that he is going to St. Louis to see a retired printer. He is finally getting out in the open. Faber proves to be an important character that influenced the main character to do many different things.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 2003. Print.
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