There's something about Beatty

There's been a lot of speculation on the heroism of Montag, but what about the antagonist? What is it that makes Beatty such a believable character? How does Bradbury create a character that is so easily disliked? In class we discussed the possibility that he had alternative motives, that perhaps he really wanted Montag to recognize the corruption of their world and that he truly wanted Montag to do what he could not. Personally I think it had more to do with power. Beatty was the head of the fire department, despite the fact that he clearly had an intense love of books. By having this authority over Montag and the other men, he is able to control and create torment, unlike his own torture. Misery loves company, right? Both are tormented by literature, Montag by the stolen book and the forbidden mystery which surrounds it and Beatty by the questions that the books could not answer. I think that Beatty's destruction of books is a form of self-deprecation/self-destruction. It really is the classic tragedy, mankind destroys all that he loves out of vengeance and self-hate. This man had an enormous library; he was able to quote books and had a clear obsession, yet he is in charge of burning these same books which he is so passionate about. When Montag sets him on fire, he does not attempt to run, he remains still, accepting and welcoming death. Beatty wanted to die from page 1. How could anyone who dedicates their life to destruction of something they love be happy in their existance? There is one instance where Beatty says "Forget them. Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean". By burning the books, Beatty was burning a part of himself. His fate represents his final cleansing; the only way to remove corruption from a life he became disgusted with. I don't believe Beatty had alternative heroic ambitions; his struggle was entirely internal and not meant to aid future generations.

Though I'm usually not fond of science fiction novels, I really liked this novel. The characters are incredibly complex and the fundamental ideas of the novel can be applied to any generation. What I've learned to appreciate about these novels featuring distopian societies is their lack of finite conclusions. There is no definitive "happily ever after" (especially in WE); there's a lot of room allotted for personal interrpretation. Bradbury creates a melancholy hope at the end of the novel, leaving the reader with a sense of the uncertainty that awaits these characters and the weight of reconstruction.

I also found it interesting that Bradbury depicts the "villain" of the novel as such a tragic character. I also found it interesting that despite my sympathy for Beatty, I disliked him the most out of anyone in the novel. So quick question: What do you think was Bradbury's purpose of adding this tragic dimension to the antagonist, if still the overall attitude toward him is disdain? Just curious....