𝟷𝟶,𝟶𝟶𝟶 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚜

As a reader, one important question to  answer is, “why do books matter?” Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a dystopian story in which books are banned, explores this question, among others, and helps us realize the power of books and their importance to society.

In this scene, Millie, Montag’s wife, has friends over for a party. Montag brings out a book and Millie covers by saying firemen are allowed to bring books home once a year to show their families how silly they are. Montag reads “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold to the women and each responds very differently. One gets angry, but the other begins to cry. “Mrs. Phelps was crying… ‘Clara, what’s wrong?’ ‘I-I,’ sobbed Mrs. Phelps, ‘don’t know, I just don’t know’” (Bradbury 97). By forcing the emotionless, screen addicted women to feel, Montag reveals to the reader that, even if you don’t know what something means, the delivery and connotation can make you feel enough to wake you from your stupor. The women prove that books can make you feel, for better or for worse.

Later in the book, Montag is reeling. He is overstimulated by the constantly moving world that advertises a thousand things to him and never stops going, going, going. No one listens to anyone anymore or helps them make sense of the world. Montag goes to Faber’s house where Faber tells him what he believes is wrong with society. “The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless… somehow we think we can grow, feeding on flowers and fireworks, without completing the cycle to reality” (Bradbury 79). Faber believes that there are some people who are too comfortable where they are, and while it is important to be content where God has placed you, you shouldn't be so comfortable that you never leave your “bubble” and experience things that culture you. He believes that people have fallen to escapism with their TVs and seashells and speeding cars. Books take you out of your comfort zone. They teach you about different types of people and cultures and places you may never get to see otherwise. You can live a million lives just by reading.

In this same scene, a bit earlier, Faber tells Montag that it isn’t necessarily books that society is missing. It is the things that books had inside of them. “It's not books you need but the things that were once in books… the same infinite detail and awareness” (Bradbury 78). He says that books are just a place to store feelings and experiences inside so that you can feel it again later. “Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself…” (Bradbury 79). Books carry this mysterious “it” that you can find in so many other things if you're looking for it. This “it” is the true magic of books. “It” can be so many different things, and it changes with each read. “It” could be happiness, sadness, nostalgia, grief, joy, and every other emotion you could imagine. “There is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what the books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us” (Bradbury 79). Books show us the face of God. He created us in His image! God is a creator, and whether it is fiction or dystopian or fantasy, God’s creativity is reflected on the pages and in the minds of the authors. The “it” comes from God. That is why you can find it in so many places! In nature, friends, family, books, yourself, music, God made them all!

Books have the power to take you to new places and transform the world around you. They can teach you about cultures and people around the world. You can see God in the pages, whether it is religious or not. They can help you see our world in a new light and look for magic in everything. Books are an essential part of society and help humanity see the world around us a little more clearly.

For all your goodness I will keep on singing

10, 000 reasons for my heart to find

- 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), Matt Redman & Steve Angrisanok