“We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions. We are not free to follow our own devices, you and I” (Dickens 247) Much like Dickens, Ray Bradbury emphases the importance of choices and how difficult it is to make one. Throughout “The Sieve and the Sand” [the second part of Fahrenheit 451] Montag is faced with life breaking decisions. Montag is under the pressures of society and the government which immobilizes him from making a decision. After Montag indirectly reveals his book ownership to Captain Beatty, he was committing a crime that left him morally conflicted. “Is it true, the world works hard and we play? Do you know why? I don’t, that’s sure! Maybe these books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us from …show more content…
In Fahrenheit 451; “The Sieve and the Sand”, Bradbury has a frank perspective choice and it plays an enormous role in the storyline of the characters. Bradbury makes it clear that Montag has to make the right choice. Montag cannot allow others to make his decision for him like Faber did. “I know. You’re afraid of making mistakes. Don’t be. Mistakes can be profited by.’” (Bradbury 104) Montag will learn from the mistakes Faber made because he did not choose and was cowardly. ”’We all have our harps to play. And it’s up to you now to know with which ear you’ll listen.’”(Bradbury 108) Montag’s choice will affect the entire society. Bradbury wrote Montag into this situation to show how one choice of one person can change the future. If Montag choses to keep the books, he will make copies and place them in the fireman’s homes. This act would bring down the Fire Company. On the other hand, if Montag choose to turn over the books to burned, he would lose everything. Bradbury’s perspective on choice is simply: a choice is something that must be made (not ignored) based on what truly is moral and what will come out of that choice in the