Professor Faber defines the value of books in Fahrenheit 451 because he is still an avid reader, has a collection of books, and aches to have more. Although he lives in a time where books are censored and considered ÒbadÓ, he still finds a way to pursue his true hobby which is reading. Faber believes that the current state of the society is due to people like him who are too afraid to speak out about the truth of burning books for pure pleasure.
Quality is the measure of excellence or state of being free from certain deficiencies. In FaberÕs case, quality definitely applies to media other than printed books because the media is able to inevitably control what people can do and say, especially in the future.
Faber speaks these words to Montag toward the beginning of ÒThe Sieve and the Sand,Ó as he explains the importance of books. Faber tells Montag that itÕs not the books themselves that Montag is looking for, but the meaning they contain.
The same meaning could be included in existing media like television and radio, but people no longer demand it. According to Faber, Montag is really in search of Òquality,Ó which the professor defines as ÒtextureÓÑthe details of life, that is, authentic experience.
People need quality information, the leisure to digest it, and the freedom to act on what has been learned. FaberÕs comment that a book has ÒholesÓ also evokes the sieve in the title ÒThe Sieve and the Sand.Ó Trying to fill your mind by reading books is like trying to fill a bucket that is leaking, because the words slip from your memory before you can even finish reading anything.
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