Fahrenheit 451 and Summer Reading?

Question

can you help me on this question for my summer reading homework over the book Fahrenheit 451.

"Don't ask to be saves ub any one thing, person, machine, or library," Faber tells Montag. "Do ypur own bit of saving and if you drown , at least die knowing you were headed for shore." how is this good advice?

Answer 1

He must save himself and do wat he thinks is right if he wants something done. I read the book three summers ago, so i don't remember much, but in the novel they burn books because of the knowledge and all... and so if he believes books should not be burned, then he must stand up for them and hope that in the generations to follow others will also. Even though his standing up for them might not change anything, and he will "drown", he will still "die knowing he was headed for the shore" or for change.

Answer 2

I think it means that you shouldn't base your life on society itself including its creation. I vaguely remember the storyline for this book but I remember that people in this society have no individual life. Everything is controlled by the TV screens and shells (the earplugs I think). What Faber is telling Montag is that in this world, Montag has to save himself from society because no one else in this world will. And when he says that you die knowing you were headed for shore, he is telling Montag that even if he doesn't make it, he can be sure to know that he tried to rid himself from this horrible world and that is enough to change a person forever.