Fahrenheit 451 Conformity

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury illustrates how Dystopia enforces the laws by terror, as opposed to virtue, in the character of Faber. Faber, Montag’s consul and aid, greatly treasures books, but possesses none for fear of being “burnt for [his] trouble,” and thus “could [not] possibly listen to [Montag]” (Bradbury 85). Intimidation from government policy (calling for arson on buildings containing books) prevents Faber from rebelling himself. Thus, Bradbury delineates Faber’s cowardice by showing his conformity in spite of his inward questioning, fabricating a picture of fragile dystopian ideals prone to falsification. Bradbury utilizes The Firemen as an illustration of the Dystopia’s method of preserving its frail felicity. Bombastically explaining

Safety could not even convince Faber to even attempt a reversal of decadent societal trends, and his understanding that intercession was essential came too late. In that regard, Faber failed to prevent devolution of society and cravenly withheld preventative commentary. Now Faber has “lived alone so many years, throwing images on the walls with [his] imagination. [his] cowardice is of such a passion, complementing [his] revolutionary spirit that lives in its shadow” (90). Faber remembers the nuanced and knowledgeable past, but still feels the pain and longing that comes from being secluded. He knows he carries important knowledge, but keeps himself out of fear, rendering such knowledge useless. Shrewdly evading the false happiness of dystopia, Faber prefers to content himself with his imagination, spinelessly avoiding confrontation and danger. Consequently, Faber hides his ‘revolutionary spirit,’ despite knowing its worth, from the firemen for fear of being destroyed, displaying his cowardice. Therefore, Ray Bradbury illustrates Faber’s cowardice as an example of a man who fears the government of the society in Fahrenheit 451 to the point of inaction despite internal doubt.