Fahrenheit 451: The Hearth and the Salamander

Question

The woman who lights the match to burn herself along with her books haunts Montag’s mind throughout the last half of this section of the novel. Her decision to kill herself prompts him to reconsider the value of books. Is there a value, cause, or ideal that you would be willing to sacrifice yourself for, something you wouldn’t let even the government take away from you? Are there any contemporary events, symbols, or images you can relate or connect to this woman and her single fire match?

Answer 1

This is timely. Today there are people who are so adamant that their candidate won an election that they attacked the government and tried to overthrow the Constitution. People have become so attached to guns and weapons designed for war that mass shootings have become normalized while legislatures offer "thoughts and prayers". An novel disease sweeps the globe and the simplest solution is to wear a mask, yet people cling to the "freedom" claiming that taking minimal health precautions leads to socialist anarchy.