our for lack of air’.” (Eller, 1997) Clarisse also gives Montag back his senses, especially that of smell. As Eller states in his 1997 essay:Clarisse prods him back into experiencing the outside world’s sensations, especially smells as simple as “apricots”, and “strawberries”, “old leaves” and “cinnamon”, smells which up to now have always been dominated by the odor of kerosene. (p. 150)Ironically, although Montag’s second teacher, Beatty, intends to “bring Montag back into conformity with the system, he drives Montag father away” (Eller, 1997). Beatty tells him that books present different views on the same subject, and thus will cause disagreement. Thus, if books are removed, then so would the conflicts that come along with them. Although this explanation would suffice for any other citizen in Bradbury’s dystopia, it does not for Montag. What Beatty’s “lesson” (Bradbury, 1953) cannot explain is why Montag’s wife is so depressed and why Montag is so angry. Finally, Montag’s third teacher, Faber, explains Montag’s unhappiness. Faber argues that the television is the root of all problems. “[It] grows you any shape it wishes. It becomes and is the truth.” (Bradbury, 1953) Eller goes on to say, “It makes people into what it wants them to be, a conforming mass all acting in unison.” (Eller, 1997) In contrast, Faber argues that books have “texture” (Bradbury, 1953) to them. Montag feels as if he “never … quite … touche[s] … anything” (Bradybury, 1953). Thus, the “texture” (Bradbury, 1953) of the books, “along with the leisure time to absorb is and the freedom to act on what it allows us to discover, is what Montag needs to make him … at least satisfied.” (Eller, 1997) All this knowledge allows Montag to explo...
