Fahrenheit 451

Why is Faber so critical of himself and pessimistic about the world in which they live when he is first introduced?

Part 2

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Professor Faber is a retired English professor whom Montag met before the story even began. Faber is very critical of himself because he thinks of himself as a coward. Faber enjoys the information that lies within the pages of books. He even has a few hidden away in his home when they are strictly illegal, but even so, he wishes to be able to read more books and expand his knowledge, only he has no way to obtain his desires. Faber feels that if he had spoken up and tried to stop the burning of books before it even got started, something could have been done and books would still exist. The Professor is very hard on himself for being scared an not standing up against book burning when he should have. Faber thinks that if the world would have set their worries and fears aside to tried to save the books from being burned, then reading would be allowed and he wouldn't have to just desire more books, he could legally have them. He is pessimistic about the world when he is first introduced because he cannot trust anyone in it; he is terrified and very cautious of what's outside the walls of his home. He is also mad at all of the people in the world. Faber knows that books stopped being read and that they could cause conflict if they were to be brought back, but he doesn't think it's right that they were just eliminated from the world. Faber is upset that the people in this futuristic world don't know real happiness and he is upset with the objects that have taken the place of books. He is negative about the world because people like Mildred and her friends exist in it. People like them are too into their televisions and shells and technology to open their eyes to anything else; Montag and Mildred aren't even in love, but neither of them realize it because of the world around them. Mildred is so unhappy that she even tries to kill herself and the men who save her tell Montag that it's nothing new; people are always trying to die. Faber isn't too fond of the way people like Mildred are and he knows something is wrong when everyone just wants to kill themselves. Faber thinks very negatively about everything that goes on outside in the world and he knows that things just aren't right. Faber is pessimistic because of what has happened to society, but when Montag comes to him, he starts to think about changes.

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