Montag placed his hand on the woman's elbow. "You can come with me."
"No," she said. "Thank you, anyway."
"I'm counting to ten," said Beatty. "One. Two."
"Please," said Montag.
"Go on," said the woman.
"Three. Four."
"Here." Montag pulled at the woman.
The woman replied quietly, "I want to stay here."
"Five. Six."
"You can stop counting," she said. She opened the fingers of one hand slightly and in the palm of the hand was a single slender object.
An ordinary kitchen match.
The sight of it rushed the men out and down away from the house. Captain Beatty, keeping his dignity, backed slowly throught the front door, his pink face burnt and shiny from a thousand fires and night excitements......
"Go on," said the woman, and Montag felt himself back away and away out the door, after Beatty, down the steps, across the lawn......
On the front porch where she had come to weigh them quietly with her eyes, her quietness a condemnation, the woman stood motionless. Beatty flicked his fingers to spark the kerosene.
He was too late. Montag gasped. The woman on the porch reached out with contempt to them all and struck the kitchen match against the railing.
"Five. Six."
"You can stop counting," she said. She opened the fingers of one hand slightly and in the palm of the hand was a single slender object.
An ordinary kitchen match.
The sight of it rushed the men out and down away from the house. Captain Beatty, keeping his dignity, backed slowly throught the front door, his pink face burnt and shiny from a thousand fires and night excitements......
"Go on," said the woman, and Montag felt himself back away and away out the door, after Beatty, down the steps, across the lawn......
On the front porch where she had come to weigh them quietly with her eyes, her quietness a condemnation, the woman stood motionless. Beatty flicked his fingers to spark the kerosene.
He was too late. Montag gasped. The woman on the porch reached out with contempt to them all and struck the kitchen match against the railing.
pg 39,40
Everytime I read this passage and part, I always feel moved, compassion, and also awed. The woman just brings me these burst of emotions. Her passion just fascinates me. How could she feel so passionate about the books, her life, and the world? How could she be so confident, strong, sure, and CALM? Most people would scream, yell, cry, and go hesterical. However, there is something about this woman. Just, what made her into that? This passage is so meaningful to me because this woman is my hero. So unafraid, so brave, so strong. It was probably the books and novels that changed her life and aspects. She seemed she knew it was going to happen and she was so ready for it. I did not know how one's belief can make one be so mentally and spiritually burly, courageous, and changed. I can understand when Montag felt so bad, ripped, and stressed over this woman.
This woman reminds me of the believers in the old European times when they were martyred and burned at steak. They were confident and did not give up on their beliefs for death. They stood strong and stiff till the very end; I wish I could become like them.
1 comment:
It was fun to read your post! I also was interested in that passage as I was reading the book. The attitude of that woman was so brave and I aslo agree that if we were in her situation, we would have been freaking out!! I also wonder what made her have this kind of courageous. I never knew that this small book can make one person totally different. Also, if I were in Montag's situation, I would have been totally screaming out for her. It was interesting for me to look how calm she was in this dangerous situation. Nice Job!!
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