THE PARABLE OF WITNESS 57 During this conflicted time in Montag’s life, Fire Chief Beatty served as a mentor. Beatty saw right through Montag, knowing his struggles and anticipating his actions. It was clear that Beatty was well read, implying that he not only took books but read them thoroughly. From this knowledgeable position, Beatty warned about the subversive effect of conflicting ideas. He related to Montag that censorship did not come by governmental decree but through people’s loss of interest in learning and libraries. Individuals who maintained and displayed their curiosity were labeled with the swearword, ‘intellectual.’ In the hands of an intellectual “a book is a loaded gun” and must be removed, lest someone feel inferior. As a result, by burning books firemen became the “custodians of our peace of mind.” Impact of Witnesses Had the interactions in Montag’s life been restricted to his wife, Beatty, and his duties as firefighter, he would have endured this shallow, empty life none the wiser. However, the faithful witness of unassuming people had earth-shattering consequences. For Montag, the first witness was a young woman, Clarisse. She had recently become Montag’s neighbor and shook him with such a simple question, “Are you happy?” She lived her life engaged with the world around her. She made observations, asked questions, and seemed to be in love with life. Such behavior was considered abnormal, and questions were asked whether she should be institutionalized. Although Clarisse mysteriously disappears several weeks later, her impact on Montag was immense. A second witness strikes a more serious blow to Montag’s satisfaction of life by making him question what he is willing to die for. An anonymous elderly woman’s home was raided. Normally, she would have been removed by the police prior to the firemen’s arrival. But there she was, remaining silent among the ruckus of the firemen, as they shoveled piles of books from the second story down the staircase. As Montag attempts to pull her from the scene, everything is doused with kerosene. While kneeling among her books, the woman produces a kitchen match and sets everything ablaze.
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