Explain the following
quotation, then explain how it relates to the novel you are reading. Write a well developed paragraph and use textual evidence in your response. “You can’t change the world.You can only change yourself.” –
Beatrice Wood
I think that when Beatrice Wood said "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she meant that it is not possible to change what everyone in the world thinks or does, you can only change that about you. In "The Giver", Jonas learns about the past and wants to share it. He learns about things that don't exist in his time, but did in the past. He learned about the hardships and troubles the past had to face as well as the joy and amusing parts of the past. Jonas also learns how to make his own choices as he explains that "now he had gained, too, and understanding of solitude and its joy" (122). But, with this remarkable knowledge, comes great despair. Jonas is not allowed to speak to anyone about his training. He stopped taking his pills and now is feeling affection towards his family and friends, who unfortunately, can not feel the same care for him. Jonas once expressed that "he felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those" (135). Jonas wants to share the way he sees the world and the way it used to be. But he can't. He can only help himself see that. Jonas can't change the world, he can only change himself.
When Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." She meant that people can't just change the world singlehandedly, you can only allow yourself to change in order to help your understanding, and maybe change other's understandings as well. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag is one of the only people left in the country who thinks deeply and cares about the books and not the parlor families. According to him, "Nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the ally's because they're yelling at me. I can't talk t my wife; she listens to the walls" (Bradbury 78). No one cares to listen to Montag or cares to think outside what they are used to. They just think is is insane and doesn't know anything. No one knows what Montag is rambling about or wants to hear it. No one wants to know the truth. One person can't change the world, but Montag changed himself to better understand his life. It is possible to persuade others in your thinking, and thus change the world, but no one listens to Montag He says he just "want[s] someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). Montag is hoping others will understand and help him, and Faber is trying to do this by listening and giving him advice. When Beatrice said you can only change yourself, she meant that you can't singlehandedly change the world, just better your understanding of it to help educate others.
I really liked the quotes that you used! It was especially great when you explained that Montag never has a chance to express his innermost thoughts because people do not want to listen about what he has to say, and the causes of that. For instance, because they do not want to learn the truth as you mentioned, they cannot have a different perspective about the good aspects of books and the rich knowledge they contain.
When Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think it means that it is impossible to change everyone or everything in your society but you can change what you do to try and start something that could help other people in your world change. "The next morning, for the first time, Jonas did not take his pill" (Lowry 129). The quote from Beatric Wood connects to the Giver because Jonas doesn't agree with people having to take the stirring pills and if Jonas stops taking the stirring pill and nothing bad happens maybe other people will notice that it might be good not to take the stirring pills and it could cause the whole community to stop taking the stirring pills. Also Jonas is now seeing colors from memories and recieving them. Maybe if people find out Jonas can see colors and he is dong fine then maybe other people will think it is good to see colors so other people in the community will be able to see colors and then soon enough everybody can.
Beatrice Wood is right you can not change the world around you. But you can always change yourself. Jonas wanted to change the world he knew. He wanted to make it colorful like the old world the Giver showed him. Even though he really tried nothing worked. Once he was concentrating," and trying at the same time to transmit the awareness of red to his friend" (99). Jonas wanted to change everyone's look on life, and he wanted ever so badly to show his best friend the beautiful colors he sees. It did not work though, his friend did not see the color that he did. He became angry that he could not share his astonishing memories with everyone. All Jonas wanted was for everyone to see the beautiful colors the the Giver and himself saw. Jonas tried numerous times to transmit the memories. He just wanted to know that the community could experience what he did. He wanted them to have the joy of the past. As he was patting the babies back," he was not aware of giving the memory; but suddenly he realized that it was becoming dimmer" (116). Jonas knew he just transmitted a memory to Gabe. This was freighting at first but as the nights went on Jonas kept transmitting nice memories to the baby. This made Jonas feel a sense of peace, because now someone knew of the beautiful memories he received. Jonas was changed himself he started to lie, and he skipped his pills in the morning. He never told anyone anything anymore. Except for Gabe even though he was just a baby. Now someone else's could see the joy of the past. Now that he makes the changes to himself, he started to pass them off to Gabe. It is like Gabe is becoming a receiver of Jonas instead of receiver of memory. These little changes may change the society forever.
I think beatrice wood is saying that you can change yourself but not the world because if you were able to change the world, life would be very pointless. This relates to the book because in the society they cannot make their own decisions and they cannot change that because in the book Jonas wants to make his own decisions. "He was eager what experience would come next." Also he said "but I want them!" I want them to be color!" This proves Jonas is sick of the society and is changing from someone less serious. Also he said "why can't we just choose our own mate?" This shows Jonas wants to make his own decisions. This is what Beatrice wood is saying.
When Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change the yourself." she is saying that one person can not change everyone else and the society around them, however, they can change their actions and can stop themselves from being like everyone else. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 because the main character, Montag, and his friend Faber talk about how books help their society and talk about how they would like to change the world, but, they realize that they can't change their whole society but they can change what they do in their society. Montag decides to keep the books he has and begins to change his personal opinion about books. Faber, on the other hand, tries to change the world by telling Montag to "plant the books, turn in an alarm, and see the firemen's houses burn." (Bradbury 82). Montag and Faber can't do this because there is punishment and because they believe that this would not change anything. Instead of trying to change the world, Montag begins to change himself. He begins to actually like books and when Faber asks "the book-where did you-?' 'I stole it." (Bradbury 77). Montag changes the way he views books and begins to read books instead of burn them. Since he can't change the world, he changed himself. This is the message that Beatrice Wood is presenting with her quote.
I think that Beatrice wood means when he said "you can't change the world but you can change yourself" that you yourself can't change the world but you can change how you see the world in your perspective. You can do things that make you feel good about yourself and the world. When you do something small it could have a big effect and that could change how you see the world. I think that he is also saying that you can't change the world but if you doing something bad or you did something bad you can change yourself and be a good person again.
I think that quotation means that it's impossible for you to change the world alone, since it is so difficult to change what the world thinks by yourself, that it might as well be considered impossible, but changing yourself is as easy as pie. In my book, Montag learns about how books contain knowledge that nobody would even accept because they are deemed illegal by the government and its propaganda. When Montag meets Faber, he talks about how he "waited, trembling, half a lifetime for someone to speak to" him, Faber was thinking that it would be impossible for himself to change the world (Bradbury 86). But, because Montag changed his thoughts about books, Faber gains hope that he and Montag could have a chance to change the world.
"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think this statements means if you change yourself first then the world will change but you can't change the world without changing yourself. I think this can relate to Fahrenheit 451 because "Clarisse's favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else" (68). Montag is touched by the way Clarisse acts to other people. She cares not for herself but other people. Clarisse is changing herself by not thinking of herself because usually people think of themselves. Montag notices that Clarisse doesn this and envies how she acts. So by changing herself, Clarisse changes Montag. Montag is impacted by the way Clarisse acts and thinks about it a lot.
Beatrice wood is correct because we cannot change the whole world but can change a part of our wold and where we live in it. We have seen many protests about certain things on earth but most of the time there is usually parts of the citation still left alive like racism. Montag could change a part of the world by protesting to know the truth about the world to have an impact on people's life, he stole those books so he could have proof on the past and have impact. Books aren't people. You read and I look around, but there isn't anybody" (Bradbury 69). Mildred is impacted a lot by television and technology as a bad way because it is just a time consumer and does not have any involvement in her life. But as I said still many people will have that thought of that problem or issue still being there and like the issue so they think the same things that was protested about but in a good way. Just like how Mildred thinks "books aren't 'real'"(Bradbury 80). So in conclusion all things that are trying to be changed get impacted majorly but do not fully disappear they might be "dead or ancient" (Bradbury 83). but they never disappear like books in F451 because there all always "professors like yourself, former writers, historians, linguists....?" (Bradbury 83).
This quote relates to Fahrenheit 451 because Montag can't change the world so they read books again but if he starts to read books he could maybe start a revolution where everyone reads books. Beatrice wood is saying that a new idea isn't going to happen overnight but if one person starts a revolution it may happen. Faber is helping Montag complete his mission of bringing back books. " I can get books your running a risk that's the good part about dyeing when you have nothing to lose" (Bradbury 81). People will do any thing for real information. This relates to the quote because if he starts a revolution by reading books they may catch on. This is what the quote is saying its not going to happen right away but people will start to wake up and realize what they have been missing.
In Fahrenheit 451, Montag meets Faber, a cowardly old man who is trying to change the society’s view on books through Montag. However, Montag realizes that Faber should not be changing the world, and instead should change himself and his cowardly ways. Faber has admitted himself that he is a coward, and requests Montag to carry out his plan for him through a device he created—an ear bud, resembling a Seashell earpiece, that receives and sends sound. With this device, Faber planned to “...sit comfortably home, warning my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the firemen’s world, find its weaknesses, without danger” by giving Montag commands through the device—Montag and Faber would become one unit (87). With Faber’s commentary and advice, Montag comes home and begins targeting Mildred and her friends. He confronts them about their ignorance and obliviousness in the world because of their obsession with the parlor families, and the beauty books withhold. Montag then reads them a poem to demonstrate the glory books had, however, his attempt only offended them. Mrs.Bowles became infuriated at Montag, and causes her to exclaim, “I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now, I’ve had it proved to me. You’re nasty, Mr.Montag, you’re nasty!” (97). This made Montag realize that he, nor Faber, can change the people’s opinions and views on books, and the already existing flaws in their society, because of how deeply engraved they are in their minds; Montag realizes that “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know. I feel guilty—” and that things should be left undone instead of creating wasted effort (100). In all, Faber was unable to change the people’s views because of his cowardly approach, and the way the society currently functions. Instead of trying to change the world, Faber should change himself, and gain more courage instead of being passive.
The quotation "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." means that you, by yourself can't change the world, but you can change the way you act and the way you think about the world. This relates to The Giver because now that Jonas is receiving memories, he is starting to see the dark side to life. He used to think that the world was all happy and innocent, but after getting memory, many things bring back these memories. Such as when he was playing a game with Asher and some other kids. Halfway through said game, Jonas remembered "the face of the dying boy who had begged him for water" (138). This was a game that Jonas used to play, but now, since he knows about the real world, this harmless game now has a completely new message to Jonas.
The quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself," means that you can try to change the world for the better or the worse, but the only one that you can truly change is yourself. In The Giver Jonas tries to change the world with his new knowledge however Jonas and the receiver are the only ones who know this information. Jonas tries to bring love back into the lives of the people in his community but because of the stirring pills they don't feel love. The Giver gave Jonas memories of love, that no one ever feels, but when he asked his parents if they loved him they got upset saying that "it's inappropriate to use a word like love," (pg 127). Jonas was upset about this because he liked the feeling of love and he thinks that everyone should feel this. Jonas is trying to get people to feel love however he can't. Jonas also realizes that people cant feel anger. When Lily comes home and says she's angry because someone broke the playground rules. Jonas knew that she hadn't felt anger, but "impatience and exasperation, was all that Lily had felt," (pg 132). After Jonas had truly felt anger, he realized that what people could feel was something much less than that. After Jonas has had some bad memories he gets very upset when Asher and the other children play war games. He wants them to stop playing the game and make them understand how bad war really is, however he is the only one except the Giver who realizes how bad it truly feels. When Jonas saw them playing it and got upset, the kids "were all silent, standing awkwardly," (pg 134), and " the only sound was the sound of Jonas' shuddering breaths. He was struggling not to cry," (pg 134). Jonas couldn't transfer the thoughts to the rest of the kids on what it was like to truly experience war. The quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself," is shown in The Giver when Jonas tries to show what the world was used to be, but cannot.
Beatrice Wood means that there is only so much you as a person can do to impact your surroundings, but there are many things you can do to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas comes to this realization. He concludes he can't change the way the community does things, no matter how much he wants to, but he can change the way he does them, so Jonas starts to go his own way by going against the rules. Jonas doesn't want things in his community to stay the way they are. He is starting to want "things [to] change" (128). Jonas is aware that "things could be different" (128), and he wants to figure out "someway for things to be different" (128). He now knows, thanks to the memories from the Giver, that there was a different time, long ago, and he is beginning to desire that things go back to the way they were before Sameness. Before the Community. But, his society is too big and structured a place for Jonas to make different, and "Jonas knew with certainty that he could change nothing" (Lowry 135) about it. The community that Jonas lives in has very strict ways, and is not at all open-minded when it comes to ideals, and Jonas knows that. Jonas wants at least something to change in his society, so it might as well be Jonas himself, and the way he lives his life. Since Jonas "knew he couldn't go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long," (131), "Jonas did not take his pill. Something within him, something that had grown there through the memories, told him to throw the pill away" (129). The way Jonas views his community and the people in charge of it is beginning to change. Jonas is no longer following every rule the government throws at him, but is doing what he sees to be right, even of the rest pf the community won't change their ways. Not only is Jonas beginning to stop following some of the government's rules, he is also starting to stop some of his behavior that he wants to change. For example, Jonas "didn't know it [him]self...but" the game his friends play is actually "a cruel game" (134). A memory that Jonas had received from the Giver made Jonas want his friends to stop playing this game resembling warfare. Knowing that he cannot change his friends' ways, Jonas just stops playing the horrible game that he had known up until now as a harmless pastime. The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) means that not one person can change everything, but you can always change yourself. Jonas, in The Giver, figures out that even if he wants to, there is nothing he can do to change the way his society is. But, he can—and will— change the way he is, which Jonas later does by slowly beginning to defy some of the community's ways, and choosing his own path, unlike everyone else.
Great job! The way everything is stated and explained it very great. Also, I like the quotes that you chose, and they help distinguish the meaning perfectly. Nice job!
The quote from Beatrice Wood, is telling us that in order to make a change, we need to change ourselves rather than the world. In Fahrenheit 451, Faber sets a perfect example of trying to change the world. When Montag meets Faber, he admits that he is a coward, and has a lot of evidence about it ("proof of my terrible cowardice" 86). But he wants to make a plan to change the society's view on books, because many people look at boos as bad things. "Poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush" (97). Faber's plan is to leave an ear piece in Montag's ear, and try to gather evidence from others to see if they look at the world the same way that he and Montag do, but Faber does not see, very much into the job. "You will be the drone, the traveling ear...if the drones die, I'm still safe at home, tending my freight with a maximum of comfort and a minimum of chance. See how safe I play it, how contemptible I am" (87)? Faber is trying to change the society, since not many people view books as good things to have, but as bad things because they only haunt you of bad memories. Faber is trying to change the society, not himself.
The quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood, in our society and real life means that you can't change others, you can only change yourself. It goes without saying, that the quote doesn't mean to literally change your lifestyle and get a whole new life, it's saying that you can change your actions, tone toward others, posture, and much more. Additionally, if you were able to change the world, then people would not just be very spoiled, but very bored and ungrateful. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is basically the lone wolf that still cares about knowledge, books and not just about the parlor families. According to Montag himself, "Nobody listens to me." I can't talk to the walls, because they are yelling at me", I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to her what I have to say" (Bradbury 78). Comprehensively, in Montag's society, the people are very indifferent or careless about what others have to say. To emphasize, in their society, everything in the world, is all about them, and no one else. The society, is also very self centered, meaning that it's all about what others think and only what they think. In the society, other people's opinions are almost completely forgotten, because, the world to them, is about themselves, and only themselves. Additionally, "go home and think of your fist husband divorced, and your second husband killed in a jet, and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarean sections, too, and your children who hate your guts!"(98). Montag at that point, completely lost it, and he was so agitated and furious he decided to take a stand against his own wife's friends. Additionally, the stand he is taking about him not being able to do anything and always being ignored, also show him standing up to his society. Today, most people don't completely ignore others opinions about things, but in Montag's society, they do and he's sick and tired of being ignored. Correspondingly, Montag still stands up for him self and he has much more self esteem. Additionally, "Go home and think about how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it" (98) . Albeit, Montag is being a bit rude, but he is showing and telling the world about how he is sick of being forced to do this and that. Beyond the shadow of doubt, the quote: “You can’t change the world, You can only change yourself", relates to Montag because in his society he is the lone wolf who still wants to read and be listened to, and he hates living in a world that's very self centered and full of restrictions.
In the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury has a highly prevalent idea running throughout the book that relates to the words from Beatrice Wood stating, "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." The main character Montag feels nobody but him cares about the rest the world when he tells his wife Mildred, "'We've started and won two atomic wars since 2022! Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten about the rest of the world. Is it because we're so rich and the rest if the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are?"' (Bradbury 79). Montag feels change is needed in the world, but he is helpless because nobody cares about these issues and wants to take action but him. Montage desire to stop people's ignorance and have them acknowledge the world's issues relate to the first part of Wood's quote. Even though he can't change the world, Montag doesn't stop trying to change himself. Montag tried to get his wife and her friends to talk when he unplugged the tv, which was something they where very attached to and didn't know how to live without, they just "turned slowly and looked with unconcealed irritation and then dislike at Montag" (Bradbury 90). He then asked a very though provoking question when he said "'When do you suppose the war will start?'" (Bradbury 90). Montag took time to try to get Mildred's friends engaged in thoughtful conversation, but they didn't know how to talk to one another and repeated the same phrases they heard from others over and over. At this point, Montag realizes that he can't change the world but he can change himself, which connects to the second part of Wood's quote. In other words, Montag's different experiences and realizations bring him come to the conclusion that he can't change the world, but he can change himself.
I think when Beatrice Wood said, "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she was saying that you can't change how others think of things, but you can change the way you think about them. Like in the giver, Jonas is surrounded by people who are living in ignorance to all the wonderful things in the world. Jonas couldn't change the way they thought about the world, but he changed the way he thought about the world. Although Jonas has tried to make others see the tongs he sees, he then realizes that he can't change the way others see and think. "'Asher, look at those flowers very carefully.' He put his hands on Asher shoulders and concentrated on the red of the petals, trying to hold it as long as he could and trying at the same time to transmit the awareness of red to his friend." Pg (99). Jonas soon realizes he can't make Asher see the color like him, and he's disappointed. But Jonas now sees the color and thinks it is beautiful anyway. Jonas also tried to tell his mother about love, but she wouldn't think about it like Jonas would. "'Do you love me?' There was an awkward silence for a moment. 'Jonas. You, of all people. Precision of language, please!' 'What do you mean?' Jonas asked. Amusement was not at all what he had anticipated. ' Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete,'" This shows Jonas can't make his family think the way he can, because they don't know about what he knows. Although Jonas can't change the world around him, he can still change the way he thinks about it.
"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." - Beatrice Wood
This quote is saying that although we can't change the whole world singlehandedly, we can change the way we look at it. In Fahrenheit 451, upon meeting Clarisse, Montag realizes that something is wrong with the society that he lives in. They are under the impression that society is perfect, but in reality, "he was not happy. He recognized this as a true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask..." (Bradbury 9). He finally decided that he needed to change something about his life, so that he could figure out what was wrong; this turning point occurred when he experienced a woman who was willing to burn herself for her books. Later in the book, Montag meets with Faber, an old English professor. After a thorough conversation about Faber's passionate history with books, Montag comes to a certain realization. He explains to Faber: "we have everything we need to be happy, but we aren't happy. Something's missing...the only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burned...so I thought books might help" (Bradbury 78). Montag begins to become obsessed with the idea of reading and, even knowing that he cannot change all of society's view on reading, decides to change his own outlook on books and what they're all about.
Beatrice Wood quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.", is related to Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, indirectly. In Montag's society, the government keeps a close watch on the people. Montag, being a simple fireman, working with a retired english professor, cannot change the society as a whole. Montag instead, is starting to change the way he acts. He has gotten braver and has kept and even started to read his books. Even with people at his house, he left and came, "...back in a moment with a book in his hand." (Bradbury 94). Even if he is so brave to read the book, he cannot use it to change the world because society has manipulated people into thinking that books are useless. Even reading them, people would be confused, and they would just report him. Faber knows this and tells Montag to, "play it as a joke..."(Bradbury 95). He cannot change the world and must be passive about his approach to changing the view of books. While Montag is changing his attitude, Faber is staying cozy in his house yelling at Montag. Faber should be changing his life instead of the world. He is a coward who can't do much himself. He can be safe and, "sit comfortably at home, warming my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the fireman's world."(Bradbury 87). Faber should not be trying to impossibly save the ruined world, but save himself. This is how Beatrice's quote, indirectly is related to the book.
"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," relates to Montag because Montag knows he can't change the world, but he's trying to change himself. "Nobody listens to me any more. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). Montag is trying to change himself and figure himself out but he can't because no one will listen to him. "He was not happy...he wore his happiness like a mask..." (Bradbury 9). Montag realizes in this moment that he was not happy, and he had to change himself in order to become happy and figure out why he wasn't. Montag wants to change himself even though the world around him won't and he knows that. The main reason to this is Clarisse giving him a new outlook on life but, he continues to work on it throughout the book.
When Beatrice Wood said, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself," I think that she meant you can have an opinion or view on the world, and change it, but you cannot change everyones view on the world to match exactly how you think. Montag wants the world to change their opinion on books. But, he stated that "Nobody listens to me." I can't talk to the walls, because they are yelling at me", I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to here what I have to say," (78). No one likes books except Montag and a few others. People do not want to hear what Montag has to say. In an attempt, Montag decided to change the parlor 'family' opinion on books. Montag read part of a poem to them and one of the members said “I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now, I’ve had it proved to me. You’re nasty, Mr.Montag, you’re nasty!” (97) As hard as Montag tried, he could not get the parlor to have the same perspective on society. Montag realizes that “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know." (100). Therefore, when Beatrice Wood said, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself," she means that you can change your opinion, but you can't change everyone else's.
I think that when Beatrice Wood said "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she meant that it is not possible to change what everyone in the world thinks or does, you can only change that about you because thats what you belive and lots of people dont belivie the same thing. In "the Giver" Jonas is trying to get change in his community but this would be hard to do because things have been the same for decades.Jonas talks about change on page 128 when he is talking to gabe and says "Things could change gabe," jonas went on"things could be different,i dont know how but they could be. There could be colors and grandparents and everyone could have memories" (128). Jonas is trying to explain there is a better world out there but people dont know it and hes trying to change that. Well jonas is trying to get people to realize that theres more to the world but people wont realize this because, the way they live now is how they've lived for some odd years and they dont want to change because there told this is right. Jonas is also showing that he is trying to change people when he wants fiona and asher to remeber him but they cant becaus ethey have no meomories this is quoted on page 135 in the giver "he felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those" (135).
When Beatrice says "You can't change the world, you can only change yourself.." This is explaining how Montag feels when he's trying to explain that books are important. In the text it says "Nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls." (78). This shows how Montag feels when he can't get anyone to listen to his ideas, people look at him like he's mental and his ideas are irrelevant. Montag wants to change people's perspective on how they view books but this is basically impossible because they won't listen. The quote "You can't change the world, you can only yourself." goes with my textual evidence because the quote is saying how you can't change people's thoughts, they will have to want to change themselves. And the society doesn't want to listen to Montag, because they think he's crazy. The society just wants to see the bad the about books, including the harsh topics. But they don't want to hear the new input from someone who's actually read a book, they just listen to the government and allow the government to control.
When Beatrice Wood said “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she means that you can't singlehandedly change the world but you can definitely single handedly change yourself. Montag and Faber meet in section 2 of the book and Faber tries to bring back books through Montag. The author is trying to tell us that Faber can't change what other people are thinking but he can only change what he is thinking. In the text, it says "nobody listens to me any more. I can't talk to the walls because they are yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read." (Bradbury 78). Just because Montag has an interest for books doesn't mean he can change the whole word to like books. Everyone has a brain of their own and can choose to listen to Montag or not. Another quote that shows how you can only change yourself and not the rest of the world is on page 95 and it says "Ladies, once a year, every fireman's allowed to bring one book home from the old days, to show his family how silly it all was, how nervous that sort of thing make you, how crazy."(Bradbury 95). This shows that they are moving past burning books and are starting to appreciate the value in them. Montag is finally changing his feelings towards books, and rather than burning all of them, he at least is saving them even though he's not saving them for a good reason (making fun of them). This is how Beatrice Wood's quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” is applied in the book Fahrenheit 451.
I like how you explained the quote about Montag feeling helpless about nobody listening to him anymore, and how you connected it to your topic sentence. I agree that it shows how he has different opinions but can't make anyone else listen to him.
I think when Beatrice Wood said "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she meant that you can change what you do, and try to make the world a better place by influencing other people and convincing other people of acting better. You can't all of a sudden change people's thoughts and their perspective about the world and the society that they live in. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is one of the only people in his society who thinks about life in general and why his society is the way it is. Montag realizes that he isn't satisfied and that something is missing in life, "he was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs" (Bradbury 9). After these thoughts he realizes that changes must be done. With many questions about life and curiosity about why his city is the way it is today, he decides to talk to someone, who is thinking like him as well. So he visits a man named Faber, looking for an answer to his questions. He realizes that people could be happier in his city, and he tries to learn how to make it better. This is very difficult for him because nobody cares and nobody listens to him, "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls" (Bradbury 78). As you can see Montag wants someone to hear about what he has to say, and therefore visits Faber, who is willing to listen to what he has to say about the society nowadays. Later on in the story he tries to convince Mildred's 'family' that books are a good thing in life and are used to gain knowledge of there society and what it was like before. So Montag reads parts of a poem and their reactions are, "silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words" (Bradbury 97). Montag now knows that it's going to be very hard to change people's opinions, especially on something that is illegal. All of the quotes above relate to Beatrice Wood's quote and how it is possible to change your opinion and perspective about something, but not always other people's opinions and perspectives.
I like the quote you chose: "silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words" because it clearly shows how Mildred and her friends think that Montag's poem is useless. No matter how hard he tries, he can't sway them into agreeing with him, that books are valuable.
When Beatrice Wood said, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," she meant that it is relatively easy to change yourself, but to change the world is extremely challenging and technically impossible. This quote definitely applies to Fahrenheit 451, because Montag wants to change the way people think about books. He wishes for people to stop burning books and start to read and understand them. Montag believes that books can give people knowledge about the past, as well as the future. Montag went to an old friend of his, who always read books, and said ,"My wife's dying. A friend of mine's already dead. Someone who may have been a friend was burnt less than twenty-four hours ago. You're the only one I knew might help me" (Bradbury 77). Montag wanted help to understand everything anyone knew about books. He wanted to know why books were hated from as many people he could, what was so special about books, and how he can make everyone start to like them. Faber, Montag's friend, explained to him that he was a fool doing this. Faber explained to Montag, "The whole culture's shot though. The skeleton needs melting and reshaping. Good God, it isn't as simple as just picking up a book you laid down half a century ago. Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own record. [...] In any event, you're a fool. People are having fun" (Bradbury 83). Faber, in other words, was trying to tell Montag exactly what Beatrice Wood said. People were having fun, and most were happy the way they were living. According to Faber, Montag and the other firemen were entertaining the 'happy and ignorant' people by "provide[ing] a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but its a small slideshow indeed, hardly necessary to keep things in line" (Bradbury 83). The job of burning books isn't needed at all, because people decided to quit reading books on their own - or atleast most did. Faber also told Montag that, "When we had all the books we needed, we still insisted on finding the highest cliff to jump off. But we do need a breather. We do need knowledge. And perhaps in a thousand years, we might pick smaller cliffs to jump off" (Bradbury 82). Montag realized that what Faber said was true, and he formed a plan. He needed to make copies of the books he had, such as the Bible, to make people understand that books are a necessity. From the beginning to the book, to the end of section 2, Montag had changed greatly. He realized the importance in books, and now he wishes to change the view of others. But as Beatrice Wood said, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself". As the book goes on, it will be interesting to see whether he fulfilled his goal, or not.
Beatrice Wood means that there is only so much you as a person can do to impact your surroundings and community, but there are many things you can do to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas comes to realize this. He finalizes that he can't change the way the community does things, no matter how much he wants to because of all the strict rules and high security, but he can change the way he does them, so Jonas starts to go his own way by going against the rules by breaking them. Jonas doesn't want things in his community to stay the way they are because they are unfair to all people. He is starting to want "things [to] change" (128). Jonas is aware that "things could be different" (128), and he wants to figure out "someway for things to be different" (128). He now knows, from the memories from the Giver, that there was a different and easy time, long ago, and he is beginning to desire that things go back to the way they were before the community they now have. But, his society is too big and structured a place for Jonas to make different, and "Jonas knew with certainty that he could change nothing" (Lowry 135). The community that Jonas lives in has very strict ways, and is not at all open-minded when it comes to ideals, and Jonas knows that. Jonas wants at least something to change in his society, so it might as well be Jonas himself, and the way he lives his life.
“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Beatrice wood is saying that we don't have any control over the world but we have control over ourself and how we see the world. This relates to the giver because he's starting to see the world differently since he gets his assignment. Sometimes he gets frustrated that other people and his friends can't see the colors. "He found that he was often angry, now: irrationally at his groupmates..."(Lowry 99). Jonas wanted to share all of the colors he saw with his friends but no matter how hard he tried they couldn't see them. Jonas starts to become a new person because of the things he's experiences. Like lying to his parents the first time after the Giver shows him memories of love and his parents dismiss the comment as meaningless. "Jonas. You, of all people. Precision of language, please!"(Lowry 127). Jonas lives in a community where people aren't opened and exposed to feelings. He acknowledges that he'll never be the same after everything he's learned. "But he knew he couldn't go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long."(Lowry 131). He knew that after experiencing these feelings and emotions that he wanted something in his world to change.
Beatrice Wood's statement: “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself,” means that before trying to change everybody surrounding them, one should first change their own behavior, and perhaps then it will make an impact on the world. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 because Montag wants to change his society and bring back books and the knowledge that comes with them, but is not quite successful. Even after Montag whips out a book, Mildred says, "'so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again, isn't that right, darling?'" (Bradbury 95). Montag tried introducing the idea of books to Mildred and her friends, yet Mildred is perfectly happy not reading it, claiming that it is "junk". It is not easy to sway them into reading books. Later, when Montag reads a poem, Mrs. Phelps cries, and Mrs. Bowles says "'I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness, all that mush!'" (97). They don't focus on how thoughtful and emotional the poem is, but on the fact that it is simply poetry. To them, poetry comes from books, and books are banned, so poetry automatically becomes something that is not good. Their minds cannot be easily changed. Mildred even says, "'Come on, let's be cheery, you turn the 'family' on, now. Go ahead. Let's laugh and be happy, now, stop crying, we'll have a party!'" (97). For their entire lives, they have relied on the "family" in their TVs to escape from reality. They are ignorant and happy and wish to stay that way, so when Montag tries to expose them to the real world by reading the poem, Mildred immediately shuts him out and wants to go back to watching TV. No matter how hard Montag tries, he cannot change their opinions. Faber also tells Montag "'don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore'" (82). Faber's advice to Montag is to start small and change himself, or else he might fail an attempt to rouse everyone at once. This is also precisely what Beatrice Wood is expressing. All in all, in Fahrenheit 451, the fact that Montag is trying to change the society he lives in is related to the quote: “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself,” by Beatrice Wood.
I like all the quotes you chose, especially the "so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again, isn't that right, darling?" quote. I agree that Mildred doesn't really appreciate the value of books when Montag shows them to her.
The quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Relates to Montag because in F451. He can not change how his world his. The only thing changeable, is his thoughts. He can not change his thoughts about Literature is because his culture does not let him do this. Not even Millie who is his wife. He does not dare to tell her because she will then tell Beatty and then he will have his house burned down. Also because “she listens to the walls” (Bradbury 78.) which lets her “family" know that a fireman reads books which will cost him his house (but he reads to them anyway claiming they don’t know the beauty of books.) He also tells Faber “We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren’t. Something’s missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I’d burn in the 10 or 12 years.” (Bradbury 78.) This quote says that he can just listen to his walls or the seashells every day but he doesn’t find happiness. However wrong he thinks this is. He can not change it because too many people have already been addicted to these walls and he can not change this. So he can lay off the walls. But his city will not.
I think that the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" makes reference that you are the only one who can make change to yourself. The world and others, have to figure out it themselves. But, overall I think it means that, only you can make a difference and that you can make it happen. A bold point in he book is that everyone is the same. In the giver no one is unique. One thing Jonas feels strong about is change. Not many people know/remember before the "sameness". The Giver spoke to Jonas, "That was before went to Sameness. Today flesh is all the same"(Lowry 94). Sameness was a time before everyone was treated equally. Jonas feels that him and his community should have more choices of their own. Another odd thing is that colors are a sort of past thing in the Giver community. They do not accept red for some reason. The Giver can "'See all of them.' 'All of the colors.' 'Will I?''Of course. When you receive the memories. You have the capacity to see beyond. You'll gain wisdom, then, along with colors. And lots more'... 'Why did colors disappear?' The Giver shrugged. 'Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness'"(Lowry 95). Jonas begins to show some impatience when in training. He asks the Giver don't fervent questions about colors and options therefore implying he was pants to know more about it. The "Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. 'But, I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!' 'Not fair?' The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. 'Explain what you mean.' 'Well...' Jonas had stopped to think it through. If everything's okay he same, the. There aren't choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide that things... But, it's always the same, always'"(Lowry 97). I think with any major changes in this, listed... If any of these really changed, it would probably be for the greater good. Change isn't always good, but, it's not always bad. I think if in their community they were allowed to make their own choices and decisions, it would better for everyone.
I think that when Beatrice Wood says, “You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.” It means that you control what you change about yourself but you can't change what other people in the world think. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag realizes that, “ ‘All isn't well with the world’ ” (Bradbury 100). He wants to change the world by bringing back books, however the people of the society are not willing to change their views of books. In fact Mildred says, “ ‘Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody’ ” (69). Although no one is open to change in Montag’s society, Montag is ready for change. I believe that is why Montag, “read the long afternoon through, while the cold November rain fell from the sky upon the quiet house” (67). Although Montag changed his views and himself, he can't change everyone else and their opinions.
When Beatrice Wood states "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she is saying that if you believe in something, you have the utmost power to support it, however you are not able to change others' opinions as easily. In section two of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag knows that his society "has everything [they] need to be happy", and by this he is representing technology. However, and he realizes that although they have technology, they aren't truly happy, and this is because something is missing--"the only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burned in ten or twelve years". Montag is explaining that although people in his society have the access to a wide range of technology, they are not quite as content as they could be. This is because although they are highly engaged through technology's marvelous works, they can't fully experience life to its fullest because they do not have access to all of the wonderful information within books. Later on in the novel, Montag explains how it is difficult for him to express his innermost thoughts and feelings about books because "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). From this, it can be deduced that since Montag never gets a chance to explain his ideas, nobody can be open to different perspectives about books and change their minds about whether or not having access to them and their rich knowledge would be a good idea. Not long after, Faber, the peculiar man Montag met at the park a year back, tells Montag "do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore" (82). Montag is wise, and takes Faber's miraculous words into pondering. He comes to a conclusion that Faber was trying to tell him that it is okay to take risks in life, and if you die, you will die knowing that you tried, rather than dying without knowing what could've happened to you otherwise. Montag, invigorated by these inspiring words, decides to recite a poem to Mildred and her fellow friends. After the poem reading, one of Mildred's friends named Mrs.Bowles rages "i've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proved to me. You're nasty Mr.Montag, you're nasty!" (97). However, Montag, unaffected by this woman's stating that she would leave and never return to the crazy fireman's house, replies "go home. Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozens abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarean sections too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened what did you ever do to stop it?" (98). This shows that Montag does not mind if other people do not agree with the ideas of his own, and he will not try to further persuade them if they act in such a manner. Evidently, when Beatrice Wood states "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", it connects to the novel Fahrenheit 451 in numerous ways. Montag learns that although others may disagree with him, it is alright for him to have a perspective of his own, towards anything in life.
"You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." This quote relates a lot to the book. This quote is saying that one person can't change the world, but together, you can. In f414, montag is changing, as he realizes more and more about his society. He starts to seek books, and a friend to help him. He knows that just because he was affected, doesn't mean anyone else does. He learns that a lot of people disagree, while he thinks it will solve problems. He keeps it secret for a while, until he expressed them to Mildred's family. They were horrified, and they refused. Also when he went to the fire house, they got the alarm and went to montags. So he was like one of only. This quote fits perfectly with the . On the last page, 107, "hey isn't this my house?" That's when montag was affecte, and they knew.
“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood
This quote is indirectly related to the book "The Giver", by Lowis Lewroy. This quote tells us that we can only change ourselves and if we change ourselves that may make us better while you cant change the world because there will always be people who will resist, and that they have to change by themselves. " 'Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often -- there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want to change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable -- so painless. It's what they've chosen. ' " (Lowry 103). This relates to the quote becuase the society only calls the reciver sometimes for their help when the reciver knows so much that the society thinks that this world is perfect while they are missing out on so much that the receivers know and have a hold of but they do not want to change. "Now it was ominous. It meant, he knew, that nothing could be changed." (Lowry 113). Jonas had finally realized that they can't change the world/society but they can change themselves so Jonas had started to not take the stirring pills for four weeks.
When Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she was talking about how one person alone can't change the way everyone thinks, but you can change the way you think. In the Giver, by Lois Lowry, Jonas "receives" a lot of memories. Some memories are happy, and some are sad, but nevertheless, Jonas wants to share them, and change the way people in his world think. For example, Jonas "tried to give his new awareness to his friends"(Lowry 99). Jonas also thinks that the sameness his government functions with "shouldn't have [happened]"(Lowry 95). Though Jonas knows that his society is unjust, he can't do anything to change it, as he knows that the memories will "overwhelm the community"(Lowry 144). So, Jonas is forced to only change the way he thinks, such as how he decides to "not take his pill"(Lowry 129), as is required by the community.
The quote from Beatrice Wood, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," means that you by yourself can't to anything to change what the people in the world thinks but you can control yourself and change yourself. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the book supports this statement. Montag who is the protagonist in the book tries to think how he can change the world but in reality he can't. "'We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren't. Something's missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burn in the next 10 or 12 years'" (Bradbury 78). He wants to change the world so they can see the way life used to be and how much better it is but there are so many people that like the new way that it is hard to change that. He also tried convincing Mildred how books are useful and valuable but it was hard to "'bother out little heads that junk again'"(Bradbury 95). This book supports this book in a world that may happen which means it is hard for us to change the work which is actually true. It takes many people to do that but the good thing is that it only take you to change yourself.
The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Woods explains that only you can change yourself, other people will try to change you but not the way you want to. And the other people around can change themselves to the way they want to be. Overall, it also says that if you want the world around you to change, you will have to change yourself, because changing everyone the way you want them to be is hard, everyone has their own opinions. A good point that Lois Lowry makes is that everyone is the same. In The Giver no one is unique. Jonas feels strong about making a change to his community. Not many people know what happened before the "sameness". The Giver spoke to Jonas, "That was before we went to Sameness. Today flesh is all the same"(Lowry 94). In the book they use sameness as the time (centuries) before everyone was treated equally. Jonas wants him and his community to make more choices of there own, like what color to wear, and chose their own jobs. The people do not see color. In the book, it reads, "'Do you see it all the time? I see all of them. All the colors. Will I? Of course.'" (Lowry 95). "The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. 'But, I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!' 'Not fair?' The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. 'Explain what you mean.' 'Well...' Jonas had stopped to think it through. If everything's okay he same, the. There aren't choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide that things... But, it's always the same, always'"(Lowry 97). Jonas is very frustrated about how he, The Giver, and the previous receivers are the only ones who know about colors, and all of these extraordinary creatures that had "once" lived on earth. Jonas believes that if his whole community was able to make there own choices, they would be living better lives, but little do they know that their lives could be better, because all they know about is there life right now. For Jonas' community, a change in lifestyle would be a good change, a change for the greater good.
The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood relates to the novel Farenheit 451 in many ways. First off, Guy Montag realized how no one else in the world is listening to him when he is trying to raise awareness, ask questions, and make suggestions. He realizes that every time he tries to talk to someone, "nobody listens" and how he can't talk to "the walls because they are yelling," or his "wife; she listens to the walls." Montag just "[wants] someone to hear what [he] [has] to say," (78). He seems to be the only one realizing that the world needs a change. When the world does not listen, Montag begins to give up. He thinks that "maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun" (100). Montag wonders if it would be better to leave alone everything—the world, himself, and the possible change. He wonders what it would be like to go back to being a man who would "sit comfortably at home, warming [his] frightened bones, and hear and analyze the fireman's world" (87). Later on, though, Montag realizes that others also need changing. He says, "'Go home and think about how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it'" (98). When it doesn't work out as he thought, Montag begins to realize what change really is. Faber encourages him by saying "Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for the shore" (82). Montag realizes that he would have to change himself until "he would no longer be Montag anymore" (99). This change is the only change that can really work. If the people cannot listen to Montag, Montag must listen to himself. He would first have to understand the world and the changes that just come. The quote by Beatrice Wood demonstrates how Montag realizes what change he must put himself through, after trying to change the world itself.
When Beatrice Wood states "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself", I agree with her statement. It is nearly impossible to be fully eligible to change the whole world, however you are capable to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas would like to change the world. As Jonas says on page 128 "Things could change, Gabe, Jonas went on. Things could be different. I don't know how but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors. And grandparents he added..." (128). As Jonas starts to receive memories of the past, he starts to realize the different/changed way his community is run. Jonas grows to not like the changes they have made, as Jonas says "When did they decide that? Jonas asked angrily. It wasn't fair. Let's change it!" (Pg 113). Jonas and the giver agree that some of the new rules are not fair and necessary. However, Jonas does not realize that he can not change the community, or the world. Jonas eagerly says "Why can't we just apply for a change of rules? Jonas suggested. The giver laughed, then Jonas, too, chuckled reluctantly" (pg 113). The giver and Jonas laugh because they simply know they can not change something as big and powerful as their community, relating to the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself".
The quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" from Beatrice Wood relates to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury greatly. In the novel, Guy Montag begins to realize there is something missing in life. He believes that inside of books there are messages that his society should be open to listening to. When Montag read a poem to Mrs. Phelps she got extremely emotional and began to cry. Her and her friend, Mrs. Bowles, began to rant at Montag and then stormed out of the house full of hatred towards Montag. "I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proven to me. You're nasty, Mr. Montag, you're nasty" (Bradbury, 97). Mrs. Bowles was heated. She held nothing back when barking at Montag. Clearly, she took the poem the wrong way that Montag envisioned in his head beforehand. This shows that someone, individually, might feel one way about something but someone else might not feel the same way as them and totally disagree with their ideas or actions. Others can't change entirely in just a second, it takes time and it takes thought. Just like Faber wanted Montag to think about the two sides. "All right, he's had his say. You must take it in. I'll say my say, too, in the next few hours. And you'll take it in. And you'll try to judge them and make your decision as to which way to jump, or fall. But I want it to be your decision, not mine, and not the Captain's" (104). Overall, you can't change someone who doesn't see an issue in their actions.
This quote, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself" very closely relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 in the sense that in the society, several people have books. These people believe that books are a positive influence in the evolution of society but these few people aren't enough to change the whole world into thinking the same way. They can only change themselves. Although this is true, this does not stop Montag from trying. He comes up with a plan to "plant the books, turn in an alarm, and watch the firemen's houses burn." Him and Faber "think that it's a plan worth trying" (82) so they start plotting their revenge. It's people like this that influence more and more people so then, the world can slowly change. Knowing that there's not many people who think the same as Montag and Faber, Faber asks "you and I and who else will set the fires" (83)? If they don't get supporters, there is no chance they can change the way the world thinks. In reality, "the firemen are rarely necessary. The public stopped reading of its own accord," (83) which makes it much more difficult to convince people to start reading books again since they stopped on their own. If they were forced to stop reading, it would have been different. This is how the quote, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself" relates to the book Fahrenheit 451.
The quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 because Montag faces some challenges where he realizes people won't listen to him. On page 94, Montag tries to open Mildred's friends to book and poetry, Mrs. Bowles replies with, "'As for poetry, I hate it'" (94 Bradbury). The world doesn't want to change. Everyone else has grown to not like books anymore. They believe what the government says about them. How they are full of useless junk. Montag realizes he will change himself before this happens. He says, "'I've heard rumors; the world is starving, but we're well fed'" (70). Montag changed himself by becoming aware of the world rather than his small city. Montag wasn't able to change other people, but he definitely changed himself. Now, people might look up to him and listen to what he has to say. I think that is how the quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) relates to section 2 of the book Fahrenheit 451.
Beatrice Wood once said, “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” The interpretation of the part “you can’t change the world” is quite straightforward: changing the world is difficult for one to do. In fact, it is near impossible, due to the fact that everyone is so unique and diverse in their own ways. However, you can “change yourself”, since you have ultimate power over your own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs, hence the quote “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” We can clearly see this quote coming into effect throughout the book of Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Montag now understands the importance of books and is also aware of how technology is running the lives of everyone. TV, radios, blue-tooth ear pieces: all these devices are just a distraction from their world, a world that is constantly at war. On the contrary, Mildred views the use of technology different, for she views technology as a way to bring happiness and joy to humans, even after Montag told her the importance of reading: “My ‘family’ is people. I laugh, they laugh. And the colors! Why should I read? What for? (Bradbury 69). In other words, even though Montag is changing, Mildred is not. We can clearly see this, for not long afterwards, she makes plans with her friends to watch “The White Clown.” During the rendezvous, Montag is angered by how clueless the women are. Consequently, he pulls out a book of poetry and prepares to “scare the hell out of them” (Bradbury 95) and let them be conscious of the beauty of reading. However, nothing changes and reading the poem only makes matters worse, for their opinions did not altered: “poetry and tears, poetry and sickness, all that mush!” (Bradbury 97). The words that have so much meaning to Montag simply were “silly words, silly awful hurting words. Why you got to hurt people with stuff like that?” (Bradbury 97). Mildred then tries to turn everything around by being “cheery. You can turn on the ‘family’ and everything will be all right” (Bradbury 97). This shows that Mildred still view technology as a remedy for pain. Montag, exhausted and bewildered with himself, realizes that he cannot change the people or the world around him. Although he might be able to change himself, he doesn't have the power to change others. As Faber told him, “most of us can’t rush around, talk to everyone. We haven’t time or money. Do you own bit of saving and change yourself” (Bradbury 82). In conclusion, we know that the quote from Beatrice Wood relates directly to Montag’s experience: “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.”
The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" (Wood). Means you can only change yourself and what you do and your decisions, but if you change yourself the rest of the world might change because of you. "It's the choosing that's important, isn't it" (Lowry). In this quote, it shows how the Giver is asking/ making Jonas realize that Jonas wishes everyone can make their own decisions, that it's not just a group of people make everyone's decisions in the community for them. "But why can't Everyone have the memories? I think it would seem a little easier is the memories were shared. You and I wouldn't have to bear so much by ourselves if everybody took a part" (Lowry). This quote shows how Jonas wants to change the receiver of memories position and give some memories to everyone, but he can't do that all he can change is himself. "We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.' 'We shouldn't have!" (Lowry). Jonas feels like it's unfair for no one to be able to see colors unless you are capable of seeing beyond. He says that they shouldn't have change the colors to sameness, but he can't change the world now.
The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" relates to Fahrenheit 451. The protagonist, Guy Montag comes to realize that there are many problems in the world he lives in, and nobody will listen to him except for Faber. The only thing he can do try to prove his point is lead by example. Montag repeatedly thinks about how "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). The citizens in this futuristic Chicago are so determined that the life they have is fine, and are not open to any other ideas to change society, and everybody dismisses Montag's thoughts. People like Mildred think that if "you can turn on the family and everything will be alright" (Bradbury 97). Unfortunately, most people are too ignorant to understand that there is a huge problem in their world. The only way to have a chance to fix this problem is to listen to innovative people such as Montag and Faber. Most people have the idea that books are pieces of "junk" filled with useless information, but if people took the time to look at the books, they would think otherwise. Even after Guy tries to enlighten Mildred and some of her friends by reading a poem, the girls considered poetry to be "mush! Now I've had it proven to me. You're nasty, Mr. Montag, you're nasty" (Bradbury 97). To sum it all up, it is tough to change someone's mind about something that they feel so strongly about. The best you can do is be a good role model and hope they follow.
The quote means that one person can make a change for everyone but one person can make a change for themselves. For example, when Faber says “patience, Montag. Let the war turn off 'families'. Our civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge”(Bradbury 84). This is relatable to Beatrice Wood's quote because Faber is warning Montag that Montag cannot change the whole world, when the world is forced to change, it will. In the book, it shows that even though Montag has changed he cannot change the world. When Montag and Mildred are looking through books to see why they are so important, “Mildred kicked at a book. “Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody””(Bradbury 69). Montag is trying to get Mildred to understand what he is now feeling, but she cannot understand. This relates to the quote because even though Montag has changed himself, he cannot change Mildred, therefore he cannot change an entire world just because he has changed
The quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” from Beatrice Wood means that you cannot change or control other people’s thoughts, you can only control your own. This relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 because when Montag begins to think that books are an important part of society and being human he cannot implant that belief into other people’s minds. He most likely can only get help from the people that already have that belief. Montag talked to Faber about books and Faber begins to explain that the physical books is not what matters but the content of the book. He tells Montag “of course you still can’t understand what i mean i say all this” (79). Even though Faber has tried to explain what he means, if Montag does not agree with what he is saying there is no changing his mind. As they continue to talk Faber asks Montag if he sees: “‘why books are hated and feared’” he says it is because “‘they show the pores in the face of life’” (79). Some people believe that books are bad because they show the ‘bad’ part of society. To others books are great because this so called bad part of society isn’t what they see when they read. Some people, like Montag and Faber see that books tell detail and real recordings of what life could have been. Instead of seeing the life in the books as bad, they see the life they are living now as bad. But even though there are two completely different sides, the sides are just opinions. There is no right or wrong answer and there isn’t a way to change how people view life in most cases. Montag and Faber kept talking about the different views on books. Montag says that Mildred “‘says books aren’t ‘real’” (80). The books although are physically real, don’t hold any real meaning in Mildred’s eyes. Once again there are two sides where neither are truly correct. Though each side completely believes that their side is right, people cannot change how other people view society and life and the world as a whole.
Beatrice Woods has said this quote, " You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." Well, this is an incredibly direct quote. The quote means exactly as what is written. But, to put it in more in depth words, the quote just refers to the point of view of a human's life. The world is too big for us. There are too many people in the world. Instead of changing the ways of the world and the people, change yourself. Change yourself so that you could stand out. You can be the change instead of being the one bringing the change to the world. Why do something when you can be it? Montag faces the same thing. His point of view on his world has completely changed. The sameness and the lack of knowledge truly helped Montag comprehend the genuine aspects he is missing in his own life. So instead of changing his society, he is changing himself . Trying out a few new things like reading books and all. Only to find that this unlocks a whole new world of interests for Montag. Books and ideas gave more deep thoughts toward Montag and him understanding knowledge. Now, Montag has more interests toward books because of all the things that have been happening with his family lately. Lately he has noticed that mildred doesn't take interest toward what he does. He thinks that "nobody listens to him anymore. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls" (Radbury 78). Books turned out to be what Montag had been missing in his life. A source of happiness. Just like Clarisse. Yet, after all this Monatg tried to convince his wife that book are what they need, and not their 'parlor'. But, when Mildred's friends came over and when Montag was about to read his poetry, Mildred said " Guy's surprise is to read you one sample to show how mixed up things were, so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again" (95). Mildred referred to book as not only junk, but also how messed up they were. Then, the audience reacted to Montag trying to convince them. Mrs. Bowels started to sob in the end, "why do propel want to hurt people. Not enough hurt in the world, you got to tease people with stuff like that" (97). Even though Montag was trying to convey the beauty and magic of literature, Mrs. bowels mistook the poem into something that it really wasn't. Faber then finally clarified for Montag, "the books are to remind us what fools we are....the things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way an average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book" (82). Fabre saying this really astonished Montag. This and other events trigger Montag into what happens in Montag's future. Then he realizes that maybe he is the one to change not the people around him. To conclude, Montag's life has tied in very well with the quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood.
You have control over your own opinions, but not the opinions of others. This idea is conveyed in the quote, “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself” (Beatrice Wood). It is fairly difficult to change your own mind about something, but once you do, it generally takes a large number of people who feel the same way already in order to make a large change in society. There are ways of convincing others your ideas are right, but it can be very difficult. Montag experienced this when he tried to convince Mildred and her friends that books were good. He tried to force them into liking and caring about books by reading them poetry. Instead of agreeing with him they got very upset and one even said, “I won’t come in this fireman’s crazy house again in my lifetime!”(Bradbury 97). The major reason that his persuasion failed was because those women didn’t want to listen to poetry, but were forced to anyway. In order for someone to agree with you, they generally can’t have any ideas against the topic before hand. In Fahrenheit 451, Faber was easier to convince because he already felt strongly about the cause and even said, “I care so much I’m sick” (Bradbury 84). However, even though he wanted to support Montag, it was still difficult to get him to help because he was scared he would get hurt. He said, “The only way I could possibly listen to you would be if somehow the fireman structure itself could be burnt” (Bradbury 81). Montag also struggled to get Faber to teach him because Faber had already “grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with [him]” (Bradbury 78). This caused him to believe that people's opinions on books could not be changed. Before any of this happened he had to first convince himself that books were good. He knew that books must have something important in them for a woman to kill herself over, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He needed Faber to teach him the meaning of books, because he could not figure it out on his own. He knew that in order to help the society open its eyes to the idea that books have meaning, he would first have to realize it for himself.
The quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” said by Beatrice Wood, tells us that you can not change everyone’s opinions or actions, but you can change yours, which could then influence the actions and thoughts of other people. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Montag is a fireman who thinks about what he does and his life. He wants to change the fact that the firemen burn books. Montag believes he can get people to understand books. He asks his new found friend, Faber, to help him. Faber explains to him that “We do need knowledge,” (82) and “The public itself stopped reading of its own accord” (83). This means that the public stopped reading books on their own. Faber goes on to explain how the “people are having fun,” (83). They do not need books and Montag has a hard time changing their views and opinions on this subject. For example, when Montag reads a poem to Mildred’s friends, they do not like what they hear. They exclaim that the poem is just a bunch of “silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words,” (97). Montag is not able to change their opinion on books. This is exactly what Beatrice Wood was trying to say, that you can not change the world. In this case, Montag is not able to change the views of the people in their society. He then realizes he needs to change himself, until ‘he would no longer be Montag anymore” (99). Montag takes advice from Faber, and decides that if he can’t change other people, he can change himself first. Overall, Beatrice Wood was trying to get across that you can’t change the world, but you can change yourself which could lead to a bigger change.
Your quotes, expressed by Faber about how society has changed and will stay that way even without the government, really help to support how the quote relates to the book. Nice job!
Beatrice Wood, a famous American artist, said that "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself". With this quote, I think that Beatrice was trying to explain that one person does not have the capability of altering the world in which they live in. In other words, one person cannot simply adjust other people's personalities or actions, because everyone has their own set of opinions in life. However, even though it may not be possible to change the way in which other people believe and act, one has the potential of changing him/her self. Each person has the power to adjust the way in which they think about society.
In the beginning of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag's neighbor, Clarisse, was the first person that caused Montag to wonder and be curious about the society they lived in. After talking with Clarisse for a little bit, Montag figured out that "he was not happy" (Bradbury 9). He changed his view on the way he thought about society. Soon later, when Clarisse died, Montag realized that he was one of the only individuals left who had the desire to be aware of the events that occurred in reality. He realized that he was the only one who wanted to understand the important meaning behind books. Firemen were "rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord" (Bradbury 83). Not only did Montag start to discredit his job as a fireman, but he began to read literature, because he was eager to gain knowledge. He tried to convince his wife to read books with him so that they would be less ignorant to society, but Mildred was not interested in reading. Mildred was like everyone else, and enjoyed living in the present society where they were shielded from reality. She was completely satisfied with watching the television parlors and thinking about the unimportant aspects in life. Montag even tried encouraging conversation between Mildred's friends about real life topics, but Montag became extremely aggravated and angered when the woman continued to speak about nonsense. Montag felt totally hopeless because "nobody listen[ed] any more... [he couldn't] talk to [his] wife; she listen[ed] to the walls. [He] just wanted someone to hear what [he] had to say" (Bradbury 78). Even when Montag met up with Faber, who shared the same ideas with him about society, the wise man told him that he was a "fool" for trying to cause people listen to him. Faber knew that most people were "having fun" living in the present society, and did not think it was necessary to change it (Bradbury 83).
In conclusion, Beatrice's words definitely related to the novel. Throughout the section, Montag learned that it would be difficult to persuade others to join his side, because people thought differently and had different opinions about living in the society.
In a dystopian book the main character lives in a dystopian society. The main character will act differently from what his/her society is, and try changing their society when they realize it's wrong. For the following quotation “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” By Beatrice Wood, the main character knows that changing his/her society is hard, however they can change their feelings toward it and act different from their society. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag try's to change his society, yet learns that changing what's already there and accepted is hard, and soon knows that you can't change society, but change the way people think about it. Montag discovers he felt "the start of the long journey, the leave talking, the going away from the self he had been"(99). Montag is realizing that he is changing from what he was, and he know thinks differently from what the society wants him to think. Faber explains to Montag "'don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore'"(82). What Faber is saying is that don't rely on anything all the time. Also, he explains that people can only change if they are heading to shore, which means that people can only change if they don't rely on everything all the time. Faber called himself a coward for he "'saw the way things were going, a long time back. I said nothing. I'm one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the 'guilty,' but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself...now, it's too late'"(Bradbury, 78). Faber is explaining that he had the chance to change things, but he failed, and doing so made him become guilty. This missed chance changed the way he thought about himself as being a coward and guilty. In conclusion, changing the society you live in is hard with few numbers, but changing yourself will effect the way you are in that society.
"You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." This quote relates a lot to the book. This quote is saying that one person can't change the world, but together, you can. In f414, montag is changing, as he realizes more and more about his society. He starts to seek books, and a friend to help him. He knows that just because he was affected, doesn't mean anyone else does. He learns that a lot of people disagree, while he thinks it will solve problems. He keeps it secret for a while, until he expressed them to Mildred's family. They were horrified, and they refused. Also when he went to the fire house, they got the alarm and went to montags. So he was like one of only. This quote fits perfectly with the . On the last page, 107, "hey isn't this my house?" That's when montag was affecte, and they knew." On page 97, "Mrs. Phelps was crying...'silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words! Why would people ant to hurt each other?' Said Mrs Bowles." That proves why people have a fear of books and montag doesn't. He doesn't understand,
I think that the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.", by Beatrice Wood, means that you cannot do anything about how other other people think and act, but only you can control your own thoughts and actions. This is shown in Fahrenheit 451. For example, when Montag decides he wants to read the books, he tries to get Mildred to join him. But she refuses, saying that she has no reason to. Montag feels sorry for her, that she only cares about technology. Later in the book, Mildred has some friends over to watch a play. They start to talk about politics, and war, and their husbands, as Montag comes home from Faber's house. After listening to them talk, he becomes very angry with how they barely care about anything, and says, "The way they jabber about people and their own children and themselves and the way they talk about their husbands and the way they talk about war, dammit, I stand here and I can't believe it!" (94). But Montag realizes he can't change their views, even when he reads to them. He realizes that it is up to him and Faber to carry out their plan, because nobody else cares.
The quote "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself", means that the world is its own thing, however you don't have to change everything for just yourself. In The Giver, Jonas knows that he can't change the whole society no matter how hard he tries but what he can do is change himself. Jonas knows "things could change"(128), and he even says "things could be different"(128). He wants to think about love and what it would feel like. Jonas knows that there was a better time, a free time, before the community. In the novel, the Giver asks and kind of makes Jonas think about if "it's the choosing that's important, isn't it" (Lowry). This makes Jonas believe that he can only change himself and that the society cannot be changed now. It is clear that this quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", relates exactly to the theme of the novel, The Giver.
The quote, “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.”, by Beatrice Wood, connects to my book because, the quote is saying that you can't change the world, only yourself. In the book, they aren't changing the world by hiding the past, they are only changing everyone in that city to not think and to burn books or knowledge. On page 101, "with out even glancing at the title, Beatty tossed the book in the trash basket and lit a cigarette". By hiding the past, they want to burn books so with the books burned, people cant think or have knowledge.
Beatrice Wood’s is a artist and author who came up with the quote or saying “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” This saying can be interpreted in many different ways. The way I look at it, I believe it's trying say that you should fix yourself before you fix others or that you can only change your opinion not the worlds. This quote is relatable to Fahrenheit, this is because a small amount of people in Montages society believe book s are good and harmless but they can't get everyone to change their opinion about the topic. Although a majority of people haven't changed there mind a small percentage has, like montage. Montage realized what he was doing after he burnt the house with the lady, he realized that there is something in books that make people do stuff like that. Although you can change some people mind there are others that won't even listen to you an example is when montage was trying to talk to Mildred, Montage explained that “I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to here what I have to say," (Bradbury 78). This is very relatable because ver small people like books but it's hard to get people to change. Sometime trying to make a statement can mean you might have to do illegal actions for example when montage said “back in a moment, with a book in his hand." (Bradbury 94). This shows how sometime actions will speak louder then words. “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know." (100). But sometimes you need to realize when convicting people to change you need to relive that your opinion might not be right. That it what Beatrice woods quote means in my opinion.
The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Woods. Explains that you can't let people change who you are cause thats what they think its best for you and thinks it is best for everyone else. You have to be who you are and change yourself because if you change yourself you will become a better person And people will possibly change who they are too. On the book "The Giver" Jonas learn many things about the past and feels like that his community and himself should have their own choices and not where have everyone is equal or everything is equal "That was before went to sameness. Today flesh is all the same" (Lowry 94. What you choose affects on what you do in your future, so the things the Jonas does will affect him and he hopes it will help other people to change to make themselves better "its the choosing thats important" (lowry).You choose how to live your life not other people who want to control you
The quote "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood, is trying to say that you shouldn't be able to change the world but in the giver they don't follow that rule at all. They have roles in their society the go against the Beatrice's thoughts like the the community of elders who have absolute power the pick what they pick their jobs. Page 46, "I heard of a guy who was absolutely certain he was going to be assigned Engineer. Instead they gave him Sanitation Laborer". He doesn't have a say in what he wants to be for the rest of his life! So no he can't change himself. Page 49, "Like the matching of the spouses and the naming and the placement of newborns children, the assignments were scrupulously through by the committee elders". They don't even have a choice if they wanted to have a kid of their own, but they assigned them a baby instead. Page 40, "This year you start you volunteer hours", volunteer hours is hours you must preform a certain job under the close eye of the community elders that are going to pick your job that you will be doing the rest of your life. The community elder always have cameras that show them everything so they know if you break a law, and to decide what they don't like so they can stop it". They make sure you don't break their laws because it the only thing the elders know and they get very angry if you break their laws. That is why I don't think that The Giver follows Beatrice's rule.
When Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," I think that she is saying that you first have to change your own behavior then you can starting influencing and changing the world. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is trying to change the way people think about books. He already thinks that books are good and interesting but nobody else thinks that the books are important. He wants people to stop burning books and actually read them. Montag goes to see Faber's house and Montag says to him "My wife's dying. A friend is mine is already dead. Someone who may have been a friend was burnt less than twenty-fours hours ago. You're the only one I knew that might help me"(Bradbury 77). Montag went Faber's house because he wanted to know why books were so hated, and how he could change that so people would now like them and see the importance of books. Later in the book Montag tries to convince Mildred's friends that books are good but after he reads the poem their reactions are "silly words, silly words,"(Bradbury 97). Because people are raised to hate books they know nothing else, so they follow what they know. When Montag reads them the poem he is trying to "change the world" like Beatrice Woods says. It is very hard for Montag to change their minds about books. Montag tries to get get people to think differently about books but "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife;she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say"(Bradbury 78). Just like in the Beatrice's quote, Montag has already changed his views on books it know he is trying to change other characters opinions, but it is not easy.
When Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think it means it is impossible to change the world we live in but you can change your actions to help start a change in your society with other people. "The next morning, for the first, Jonas did not take his pill" (Lowry 129). Jonas is disobeying his community's rules by not taking his stirring pills so if nothing bad happens to him and other people see him not taking them, he will change their perspective on taking the stirring pills and change something in his community. Jonas is trying to change his friend so he can see colors, "and trying to transmit the awareness of red to his friend" (Lowry 99). Jonas is trying to change the look on other people's lives by showing them colors. Unfortunately it didn't work and he wants everyone else to see colors like him and the Giver. Jonas is trying his hardest to change the people around him in order to change his community's way of life.
“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Beatrice Wood The society can not change but you can change your self, you can not change the whole society itself. But, you can change yourself. This quote shows how the giver's character Jonas is living with the society. "Things could change, Gabe, Jonas went on. Things could be different. I don't know how but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors. And grandparents he added..." (128 Lowry). The society can not change.
There is a quote that goes "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood, that is very much connected to the book Fahrenheit 451. The quote itself, I believe, means you can change your own opinions and view of things, but you can never change everyone else's opinion and how the world works. You really only control your own thoughts, though you can influence others to have a similar or the same opinion as you do. Montag had a realization that though they have everything they need to be happy, they aren't. He ponders that the one thing he "positively knew was gone was the books" (Bradbury 78). Him, thinking that this was an amazing realization, he thought he should get rid of the people against his idea. He would plant books in fire men's houses, so the "fireman structure itself could be burnt" (Bradbury 81). Though, this plan wouldn't benefit everyone. This may only please people who like books, but this wouldn't do a whole lot for society. Montag even tries to change some women's minds, to see how he sees books. But one lady responded with " I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proved to me" (Bradbury 97). Though he thinks this will change their minds, make them rethink their whole existence, but they are content with their life and think that books are wrong. This book is a great example about how you cannot change people's thoughts, only yours
The quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself" relates to Montag's struggle in making books mainstream in his society. Faber and Montag have changed but the world they live in cant change because of how much the culture is neglecting books. When faber is talking about Montag's plan he says "The whole cultures shot through. The skeleton needs melting and reshaping....... Remember the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord." He is explaining how the world cant change because the "the cultures shot through" and that fireman are just there in case. Mostly the public is rejecting the books. A direct example of what the people think of books is when mildred's friends come over and Montag reads them a poem. Mrs phelps starts crying and mrs bowels says that "Silly words silly words awful hurting words" said mrs bowels, "why do people want to hurt people?" "Not enough hurt in the world, you got to tease people like that!" Mrs bowels represents the publics view on books. Just because mrs phelps showed emotion when Montag read the poem she feels that the words are silly and they hurt people. Montag cant change that because its what someone else thinks and the belief is widespread. Another example that represents the fact that Montag can only change himself and not society is when Beatty is taking to Montag about how books can be "traitors". He says "what traitors books can be"! You think there backing you up, and they turn on you." Captain Beatty is well versed in poetry and literature as it is displayed in various moments throughout the book. The fact that even though he has so much knowledge on all this he still wants to ensure the destruction of books is disturbing. As a fireman he decides if he wants the public to read books or if he wants to just burn it and erase it. Montag cant change him but Montag can change himself and try and fight against the firemen so that books and literature can flourish in society. Its impossible to change the world because there will always be a group of people who will not change their ideals and beliefs. However each person can indeed change themselves.
"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." - Beatrice Wood. This quote is basically saying that worldwide change is close to impossible. You cannot change the world, but you can change what you do in the world and how you act towards different situations for the better. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 in a few ways. First of all, since reading is illegal, Montag does not try to change the law, but he starts reading himself to get others to follow his lead. "We can't do anything. We can't burn these. I want you to look at them, at least look at them once." Montag is trying to get Mildred to understand that reading is important and we shouldn't be burning things of the past. Instead of covering it up, let us learn from the past.
Have you ever wondered what a Shakespeare play is like? Well I watched a midsummers night dream today at my school, it was a great play. The actors always kept you watching and laughing. I liked the actor that played Puck, Egeus was a great actor. I enjoyed the fact that she was always moving her body and changing the level of her voice. It added to the performance because she was the one that kept me watching the play. One great technical aspect was the costumes. I liked that they didn't stay in one costume because that would make the play really boring. I didn't like that when bottom had the donkey on we couldn't hear what he was saying. I thought that it brought the play down because we didn't know what he was saying so you lost a whole scene. I think that the overall performance was good because the actors always kept you watching. If your interested then look at the date and time online.
I think that when Beatrice Wood said "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she meant that it is not possible to change what everyone in the world thinks or does, you can only change that about you. In "The Giver", Jonas learns about the past and wants to share it. He learns about things that don't exist in his time, but did in the past. He learned about the hardships and troubles the past had to face as well as the joy and amusing parts of the past. Jonas also learns how to make his own choices as he explains that "now he had gained, too, and understanding of solitude and its joy" (122). But, with this remarkable knowledge, comes great despair. Jonas is not allowed to speak to anyone about his training. He stopped taking his pills and now is feeling affection towards his family and friends, who unfortunately, can not feel the same care for him. Jonas once expressed that "he felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those" (135). Jonas wants to share the way he sees the world and the way it used to be. But he can't. He can only help himself see that. Jonas can't change the world, he can only change himself.
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ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." She meant that people can't just change the world singlehandedly, you can only allow yourself to change in order to help your understanding, and maybe change other's understandings as well. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag is one of the only people left in the country who thinks deeply and cares about the books and not the parlor families. According to him, "Nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the ally's because they're yelling at me. I can't talk t my wife; she listens to the walls" (Bradbury 78). No one cares to listen to Montag or cares to think outside what they are used to. They just think is is insane and doesn't know anything. No one knows what Montag is rambling about or wants to hear it. No one wants to know the truth. One person can't change the world, but Montag changed himself to better understand his life. It is possible to persuade others in your thinking, and thus change the world, but no one listens to Montag He says he just "want[s] someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). Montag is hoping others will understand and help him, and Faber is trying to do this by listening and giving him advice. When Beatrice said you can only change yourself, she meant that you can't singlehandedly change the world, just better your understanding of it to help educate others.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the quotes that you used! It was especially great when you explained that Montag never has a chance to express his innermost thoughts because people do not want to listen about what he has to say, and the causes of that. For instance, because they do not want to learn the truth as you mentioned, they cannot have a different perspective about the good aspects of books and the rich knowledge they contain.
DeleteWhen Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think it means that it is impossible to change everyone or everything in your society but you can change what you do to try and start something that could help other people in your world change. "The next morning, for the first time, Jonas did not take his pill" (Lowry 129). The quote from Beatric Wood connects to the Giver because Jonas doesn't agree with people having to take the stirring pills and if Jonas stops taking the stirring pill and nothing bad happens maybe other people will notice that it might be good not to take the stirring pills and it could cause the whole community to stop taking the stirring pills. Also Jonas is now seeing colors from memories and recieving them. Maybe if people find out Jonas can see colors and he is dong fine then maybe other people will think it is good to see colors so other people in the community will be able to see colors and then soon enough everybody can.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood is right you can not change the world around you. But you can always change yourself. Jonas wanted to change the world he knew. He wanted to make it colorful like the old world the Giver showed him. Even though he really tried nothing worked. Once he was concentrating," and trying at the same time to transmit the awareness of red to his friend" (99). Jonas wanted to change everyone's look on life, and he wanted ever so badly to show his best friend the beautiful colors he sees. It did not work though, his friend did not see the color that he did. He became angry that he could not share his astonishing memories with everyone. All Jonas wanted was for everyone to see the beautiful colors the the Giver and himself saw. Jonas tried numerous times to transmit the memories. He just wanted to know that the community could experience what he did. He wanted them to have the joy of the past. As he was patting the babies back," he was not aware of giving the memory; but suddenly he realized that it was becoming dimmer" (116). Jonas knew he just transmitted a memory to Gabe. This was freighting at first but as the nights went on Jonas kept transmitting nice memories to the baby. This made Jonas feel a sense of peace, because now someone knew of the beautiful memories he received. Jonas was changed himself he started to lie, and he skipped his pills in the morning. He never told anyone anything anymore. Except for Gabe even though he was just a baby. Now someone else's could see the joy of the past. Now that he makes the changes to himself, he started to pass them off to Gabe. It is like Gabe is becoming a receiver of Jonas instead of receiver of memory. These little changes may change the society forever.
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ReplyDeleteI think beatrice wood is saying that you can change yourself but not the world because if you were able to change the world, life would be very pointless. This relates to the book because in the society they cannot make their own decisions and they cannot change that because in the book Jonas wants to make his own decisions. "He was eager what experience would come next." Also he said "but I want them!" I want them to be color!" This proves Jonas is sick of the society and is changing from someone less serious. Also he said "why can't we just choose our own mate?" This shows Jonas wants to make his own decisions. This is what Beatrice wood is saying.
When Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change the yourself." she is saying that one person can not change everyone else and the society around them, however, they can change their actions and can stop themselves from being like everyone else. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 because the main character, Montag, and his friend Faber talk about how books help their society and talk about how they would like to change the world, but, they realize that they can't change their whole society but they can change what they do in their society. Montag decides to keep the books he has and begins to change his personal opinion about books. Faber, on the other hand, tries to change the world by telling Montag to "plant the books, turn in an alarm, and see the firemen's houses burn." (Bradbury 82). Montag and Faber can't do this because there is punishment and because they believe that this would not change anything. Instead of trying to change the world, Montag begins to change himself. He begins to actually like books and when Faber asks "the book-where did you-?' 'I stole it." (Bradbury 77). Montag changes the way he views books and begins to read books instead of burn them. Since he can't change the world, he changed himself. This is the message that Beatrice Wood is presenting with her quote.
ReplyDeleteI think that Beatrice wood means when he said "you can't change the world but you can change yourself" that you yourself can't change the world but you can change how you see the world in your perspective. You can do things that make you feel good about yourself and the world. When you do something small it could have a big effect and that could change how you see the world. I think that he is also saying that you can't change the world but if you doing something bad or you did something bad you can change yourself and be a good person again.
ReplyDeleteI think that quotation means that it's impossible for you to change the world alone, since it is so difficult to change what the world thinks by yourself, that it might as well be considered impossible, but changing yourself is as easy as pie. In my book, Montag learns about how books contain knowledge that nobody would even accept because they are deemed illegal by the government and its propaganda. When Montag meets Faber, he talks about how he "waited, trembling, half a lifetime for someone to speak to" him, Faber was thinking that it would be impossible for himself to change the world (Bradbury 86). But, because Montag changed his thoughts about books, Faber gains hope that he and Montag could have a chance to change the world.
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ReplyDelete"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think this statements means if you change yourself first then the world will change but you can't change the world without changing yourself. I think this can relate to Fahrenheit 451 because "Clarisse's favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else" (68). Montag is touched by the way Clarisse acts to other people. She cares not for herself but other people. Clarisse is changing herself by not thinking of herself because usually people think of themselves. Montag notices that Clarisse doesn this and envies how she acts. So by changing herself, Clarisse changes Montag. Montag is impacted by the way Clarisse acts and thinks about it a lot.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice wood is correct because we cannot change the whole world but can change a part of our wold and where we live in it. We have seen many protests about certain things on earth but most of the time there is usually parts of the citation still left alive like racism. Montag could change a part of the world by protesting to know the truth about the world to have an impact on people's life, he stole those books so he could have proof on the past and have impact. Books aren't people. You read and I look around, but there isn't anybody" (Bradbury 69). Mildred is impacted a lot by television and technology as a bad way because it is just a time consumer and does not have any involvement in her life. But as I said still many people will have that thought of that problem or issue still being there and like the issue so they think the same things that was protested about but in a good way. Just like how Mildred thinks "books aren't 'real'"(Bradbury 80). So in conclusion all things that are trying to be changed get impacted majorly but do not fully disappear they might be "dead or ancient" (Bradbury 83). but they never disappear like books in F451 because there all always "professors like yourself, former writers, historians, linguists....?" (Bradbury 83).
ReplyDeleteThis quote relates to Fahrenheit 451 because Montag can't change the world so they read books again but if he starts to read books he could maybe start a revolution where everyone reads books. Beatrice wood is saying that a new idea isn't going to happen overnight but if one person starts a revolution it may happen. Faber is helping Montag complete his mission of bringing back books. " I can get books your running a risk that's the good part about dyeing when you have nothing to lose" (Bradbury 81). People will do any thing for real information. This relates to the quote because if he starts a revolution by reading books they may catch on. This is what the quote is saying its not going to happen right away but people will start to wake up and realize what they have been missing.
ReplyDeleteIn Fahrenheit 451, Montag meets Faber, a cowardly old man who is trying to change the society’s view on books through Montag. However, Montag realizes that Faber should not be changing the world, and instead should change himself and his cowardly ways. Faber has admitted himself that he is a coward, and requests Montag to carry out his plan for him through a device he created—an ear bud, resembling a Seashell earpiece, that receives and sends sound. With this device, Faber planned to “...sit comfortably home, warning my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the firemen’s world, find its weaknesses, without danger” by giving Montag commands through the device—Montag and Faber would become one unit (87). With Faber’s commentary and advice, Montag comes home and begins targeting Mildred and her friends. He confronts them about their ignorance and obliviousness in the world because of their obsession with the parlor families, and the beauty books withhold. Montag then reads them a poem to demonstrate the glory books had, however, his attempt only offended them. Mrs.Bowles became infuriated at Montag, and causes her to exclaim, “I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now, I’ve had it proved to me. You’re nasty, Mr.Montag, you’re nasty!” (97). This made Montag realize that he, nor Faber, can change the people’s opinions and views on books, and the already existing flaws in their society, because of how deeply engraved they are in their minds; Montag realizes that “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know. I feel guilty—” and that things should be left undone instead of creating wasted effort (100). In all, Faber was unable to change the people’s views because of his cowardly approach, and the way the society currently functions. Instead of trying to change the world, Faber should change himself, and gain more courage instead of being passive.
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ReplyDeleteThe quotation "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." means that you, by yourself can't change the world, but you can change the way you act and the way you think about the world. This relates to The Giver because now that Jonas is receiving memories, he is starting to see the dark side to life. He used to think that the world was all happy and innocent, but after getting memory, many things bring back these memories. Such as when he was playing a game with Asher and some other kids. Halfway through said game, Jonas remembered "the face of the dying boy who had begged him for water" (138). This was a game that Jonas used to play, but now, since he knows about the real world, this harmless game now has a completely new message to Jonas.
The quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself," means that you can try to change the world for the better or the worse, but the only one that you can truly change is yourself. In The Giver Jonas tries to change the world with his new knowledge however Jonas and the receiver are the only ones who know this information. Jonas tries to bring love back into the lives of the people in his community but because of the stirring pills they don't feel love. The Giver gave Jonas memories of love, that no one ever feels, but when he asked his parents if they loved him they got upset saying that "it's inappropriate to use a word like love," (pg 127). Jonas was upset about this because he liked the feeling of love and he thinks that everyone should feel this. Jonas is trying to get people to feel love however he can't. Jonas also realizes that people cant feel anger. When Lily comes home and says she's angry because someone broke the playground rules. Jonas knew that she hadn't felt anger, but "impatience and exasperation, was all that Lily had felt," (pg 132). After Jonas had truly felt anger, he realized that what people could feel was something much less than that. After Jonas has had some bad memories he gets very upset when Asher and the other children play war games. He wants them to stop playing the game and make them understand how bad war really is, however he is the only one except the Giver who realizes how bad it truly feels. When Jonas saw them playing it and got upset, the kids "were all silent, standing awkwardly," (pg 134), and " the only sound was the sound of Jonas' shuddering breaths. He was struggling not to cry," (pg 134). Jonas couldn't transfer the thoughts to the rest of the kids on what it was like to truly experience war. The quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself," is shown in The Giver when Jonas tries to show what the world was used to be, but cannot.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood means that there is only so much you as a person can do to impact your surroundings, but there are many things you can do to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas comes to this realization. He concludes he can't change the way the community does things, no matter how much he wants to, but he can change the way he does them, so Jonas starts to go his own way by going against the rules. Jonas doesn't want things in his community to stay the way they are. He is starting to want "things [to] change" (128). Jonas is aware that "things could be different" (128), and he wants to figure out "someway for things to be different" (128). He now knows, thanks to the memories from the Giver, that there was a different time, long ago, and he is beginning to desire that things go back to the way they were before Sameness. Before the Community. But, his society is too big and structured a place for Jonas to make different, and "Jonas knew with certainty that he could change nothing" (Lowry 135) about it. The community that Jonas lives in has very strict ways, and is not at all open-minded when it comes to ideals, and Jonas knows that. Jonas wants at least something to change in his society, so it might as well be Jonas himself, and the way he lives his life. Since Jonas "knew he couldn't go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long," (131), "Jonas did not take his pill. Something within him, something that had grown there through the memories, told him to throw the pill away" (129). The way Jonas views his community and the people in charge of it is beginning to change. Jonas is no longer following every rule the government throws at him, but is doing what he sees to be right, even of the rest pf the community won't change their ways. Not only is Jonas beginning to stop following some of the government's rules, he is also starting to stop some of his behavior that he wants to change. For example, Jonas "didn't know it [him]self...but" the game his friends play is actually "a cruel game" (134). A memory that Jonas had received from the Giver made Jonas want his friends to stop playing this game resembling warfare. Knowing that he cannot change his friends' ways, Jonas just stops playing the horrible game that he had known up until now as a harmless pastime. The quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) means that not one person can change everything, but you can always change yourself. Jonas, in The Giver, figures out that even if he wants to, there is nothing he can do to change the way his society is. But, he can—and will— change the way he is, which Jonas later does by slowly beginning to defy some of the community's ways, and choosing his own path, unlike everyone else.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! The way everything is stated and explained it very great. Also, I like the quotes that you chose, and they help distinguish the meaning perfectly. Nice job!
DeleteThe quote from Beatrice Wood, is telling us that in order to make a change, we need to change ourselves rather than the world. In Fahrenheit 451, Faber sets a perfect example of trying to change the world. When Montag meets Faber, he admits that he is a coward, and has a lot of evidence about it ("proof of my terrible cowardice" 86). But he wants to make a plan to change the society's view on books, because many people look at boos as bad things. "Poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush" (97). Faber's plan is to leave an ear piece in Montag's ear, and try to gather evidence from others to see if they look at the world the same way that he and Montag do, but Faber does not see, very much into the job. "You will be the drone, the traveling ear...if the drones die, I'm still safe at home, tending my freight with a maximum of comfort and a minimum of chance. See how safe I play it, how contemptible I am" (87)? Faber is trying to change the society, since not many people view books as good things to have, but as bad things because they only haunt you of bad memories. Faber is trying to change the society, not himself.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood, in our society and real life means that you can't change others, you can only change yourself. It goes without saying, that the quote doesn't mean to literally change your lifestyle and get a whole new life, it's saying that you can change your actions, tone toward others, posture, and much more. Additionally, if you were able to change the world, then people would not just be very spoiled, but very bored and ungrateful. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is basically the lone wolf that still cares about knowledge, books and not just about the parlor families. According to Montag himself, "Nobody listens to me." I can't talk to the walls, because they are yelling at me", I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to her what I have to say" (Bradbury 78). Comprehensively, in Montag's society, the people are very indifferent or careless about what others have to say. To emphasize, in their society, everything in the world, is all about them, and no one else. The society, is also very self centered, meaning that it's all about what others think and only what they think. In the society, other people's opinions are almost completely forgotten, because, the world to them, is about themselves, and only themselves. Additionally, "go home and think of your fist husband divorced, and your second husband killed in a jet, and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarean sections, too, and your children who hate your guts!"(98). Montag at that point, completely lost it, and he was so agitated and furious he decided to take a stand against his own wife's friends. Additionally, the stand he is taking about him not being able to do anything and always being ignored, also show him standing up to his society. Today, most people don't completely ignore others opinions about things, but in Montag's society, they do and he's sick and tired of being ignored. Correspondingly, Montag still stands up for him self and he has much more self esteem. Additionally, "Go home and think about how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it" (98) . Albeit, Montag is being a bit rude, but he is showing and telling the world about how he is sick of being forced to do this and that. Beyond the shadow of doubt, the quote: “You can’t change the world, You can only change yourself", relates to Montag because in his society he is the lone wolf who still wants to read and be listened to, and he hates living in a world that's very self centered and full of restrictions.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury has a highly prevalent idea running throughout the book that relates to the words from Beatrice Wood stating, "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." The main character Montag feels nobody but him cares about the rest the world when he tells his wife Mildred, "'We've started and won two atomic wars since 2022! Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten about the rest of the world. Is it because we're so rich and the rest if the world's so poor and we just don't care if they are?"' (Bradbury 79). Montag feels change is needed in the world, but he is helpless because nobody cares about these issues and wants to take action but him. Montage desire to stop people's ignorance and have them acknowledge the world's issues relate to the first part of Wood's quote. Even though he can't change the world, Montag doesn't stop trying to change himself. Montag tried to get his wife and her friends to talk when he unplugged the tv, which was something they where very attached to and didn't know how to live without, they just "turned slowly and looked with unconcealed irritation and then dislike at Montag" (Bradbury 90). He then asked a very though provoking question when he said "'When do you suppose the war will start?'" (Bradbury 90). Montag took time to try to get Mildred's friends engaged in thoughtful conversation, but they didn't know how to talk to one another and repeated the same phrases they heard from others over and over. At this point, Montag realizes that he can't change the world but he can change himself, which connects to the second part of Wood's quote. In other words, Montag's different experiences and realizations bring him come to the conclusion that he can't change the world, but he can change himself.
ReplyDeleteI think when Beatrice Wood said, "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she was saying that you can't change how others think of things, but you can change the way you think about them. Like in the giver, Jonas is surrounded by people who are living in ignorance to all the wonderful things in the world. Jonas couldn't change the way they thought about the world, but he changed the way he thought about the world. Although Jonas has tried to make others see the tongs he sees, he then realizes that he can't change the way others see and think. "'Asher, look at those flowers very carefully.' He put his hands on Asher shoulders and concentrated on the red of the petals, trying to hold it as long as he could and trying at the same time to transmit the awareness of red to his friend." Pg (99). Jonas soon realizes he can't make Asher see the color like him, and he's disappointed. But Jonas now sees the color and thinks it is beautiful anyway. Jonas also tried to tell his mother about love, but she wouldn't think about it like Jonas would. "'Do you love me?' There was an awkward silence for a moment. 'Jonas. You, of all people. Precision of language, please!' 'What do you mean?' Jonas asked. Amusement was not at all what he had anticipated. ' Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete,'" This shows Jonas can't make his family think the way he can, because they don't know about what he knows. Although Jonas can't change the world around him, he can still change the way he thinks about it.
ReplyDelete"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." - Beatrice Wood
ReplyDeleteThis quote is saying that although we can't change the whole world singlehandedly, we can change the way we look at it. In Fahrenheit 451, upon meeting Clarisse, Montag realizes that something is wrong with the society that he lives in. They are under the impression that society is perfect, but in reality, "he was not happy. He recognized this as a true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask..." (Bradbury 9). He finally decided that he needed to change something about his life, so that he could figure out what was wrong; this turning point occurred when he experienced a woman who was willing to burn herself for her books. Later in the book, Montag meets with Faber, an old English professor. After a thorough conversation about Faber's passionate history with books, Montag comes to a certain realization. He explains to Faber: "we have everything we need to be happy, but we aren't happy. Something's missing...the only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burned...so I thought books might help" (Bradbury 78). Montag begins to become obsessed with the idea of reading and, even knowing that he cannot change all of society's view on reading, decides to change his own outlook on books and what they're all about.
I like the quotes that you chose. They accurately reflect to the main topic that you were talking about. Good job!
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ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.", is related to Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, indirectly. In Montag's society, the government keeps a close watch on the people. Montag, being a simple fireman, working with a retired english professor, cannot change the society as a whole. Montag instead, is starting to change the way he acts. He has gotten braver and has kept and even started to read his books. Even with people at his house, he left and came, "...back in a moment with a book in his hand." (Bradbury 94). Even if he is so brave to read the book, he cannot use it to change the world because society has manipulated people into thinking that books are useless. Even reading them, people would be confused, and they would just report him. Faber knows this and tells Montag to, "play it as a joke..."(Bradbury 95). He cannot change the world and must be passive about his approach to changing the view of books. While Montag is changing his attitude, Faber is staying cozy in his house yelling at Montag. Faber should be changing his life instead of the world. He is a coward who can't do much himself. He can be safe and, "sit comfortably at home, warming my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the fireman's world."(Bradbury 87). Faber should not be trying to impossibly save the ruined world, but save himself. This is how Beatrice's quote, indirectly is related to the book.
"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," relates to Montag because Montag knows he can't change the world, but he's trying to change himself. "Nobody listens to me any more. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). Montag is trying to change himself and figure himself out but he can't because no one will listen to him. "He was not happy...he wore his happiness like a mask..." (Bradbury 9). Montag realizes in this moment that he was not happy, and he had to change himself in order to become happy and figure out why he wasn't. Montag wants to change himself even though the world around him won't and he knows that. The main reason to this is Clarisse giving him a new outlook on life but, he continues to work on it throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood said, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself," I think that she meant you can have an opinion or view on the world, and change it, but you cannot change everyones view on the world to match exactly how you think.
ReplyDeleteMontag wants the world to change their opinion on books. But, he stated that "Nobody listens to me." I can't talk to the walls, because they are yelling at me", I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to here what I have to say," (78). No one likes books except Montag and a few others. People do not want to hear what Montag has to say.
In an attempt, Montag decided to change the parlor 'family' opinion on books. Montag read part of a poem to them and one of the members said “I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now, I’ve had it proved to me. You’re nasty, Mr.Montag, you’re nasty!” (97) As hard as Montag tried, he could not get the parlor to have the same perspective on society.
Montag realizes that “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know." (100).
Therefore, when Beatrice Wood said, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself," she means that you can change your opinion, but you can't change everyone else's.
I think that when Beatrice Wood said "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she meant that it is not possible to change what everyone in the world thinks or does, you can only change that about you because thats what you belive and lots of people dont belivie the same thing. In "the Giver" Jonas is trying to get change in his community but this would be hard to do because things have been the same for decades.Jonas talks about change on page 128 when he is talking to gabe and says "Things could change gabe," jonas went on"things could be different,i dont know how but they could be. There could be colors and grandparents and everyone could have memories" (128). Jonas is trying to explain there is a better world out there but people dont know it and hes trying to change that. Well jonas is trying to get people to realize that theres more to the world but people wont realize this because, the way they live now is how they've lived for some odd years and they dont want to change because there told this is right. Jonas is also showing that he is trying to change people when he wants fiona and asher to remeber him but they cant becaus ethey have no meomories this is quoted on page 135 in the giver "he felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those" (135).
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ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice says "You can't change the world, you can only change yourself.." This is explaining how Montag feels when he's trying to explain that books are important. In the text it says "Nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls." (78). This shows how Montag feels when he can't get anyone to listen to his ideas, people look at him like he's mental and his ideas are irrelevant. Montag wants to change people's perspective on how they view books but this is basically impossible because they won't listen. The quote "You can't change the world, you can only yourself." goes with my textual evidence because the quote is saying how you can't change people's thoughts, they will have to want to change themselves. And the society doesn't want to listen to Montag, because they think he's crazy. The society just wants to see the bad the about books, including the harsh topics. But they don't want to hear the new input from someone who's actually read a book, they just listen to the government and allow the government to control.
When Beatrice Wood said “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” she means that you can't singlehandedly change the world but you can definitely single handedly change yourself. Montag and Faber meet in section 2 of the book and Faber tries to bring back books through Montag. The author is trying to tell us that Faber can't change what other people are thinking but he can only change what he is thinking. In the text, it says "nobody listens to me any more. I can't talk to the walls because they are yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read." (Bradbury 78). Just because Montag has an interest for books doesn't mean he can change the whole word to like books. Everyone has a brain of their own and can choose to listen to Montag or not. Another quote that shows how you can only change yourself and not the rest of the world is on page 95 and it says "Ladies, once a year, every fireman's allowed to bring one book home from the old days, to show his family how silly it all was, how nervous that sort of thing make you, how crazy."(Bradbury 95). This shows that they are moving past burning books and are starting to appreciate the value in them. Montag is finally changing his feelings towards books, and rather than burning all of them, he at least is saving them even though he's not saving them for a good reason (making fun of them). This is how Beatrice Wood's quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” is applied in the book Fahrenheit 451.
ReplyDeleteI like how you explained the quote about Montag feeling helpless about nobody listening to him anymore, and how you connected it to your topic sentence. I agree that it shows how he has different opinions but can't make anyone else listen to him.
DeleteI think when Beatrice Wood said "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she meant that you can change what you do, and try to make the world a better place by influencing other people and convincing other people of acting better. You can't all of a sudden change people's thoughts and their perspective about the world and the society that they live in. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is one of the only people in his society who thinks about life in general and why his society is the way it is. Montag realizes that he isn't satisfied and that something is missing in life, "he was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs" (Bradbury 9). After these thoughts he realizes that changes must be done. With many questions about life and curiosity about why his city is the way it is today, he decides to talk to someone, who is thinking like him as well. So he visits a man named Faber, looking for an answer to his questions. He realizes that people could be happier in his city, and he tries to learn how to make it better. This is very difficult for him because nobody cares and nobody listens to him, "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls" (Bradbury 78). As you can see Montag wants someone to hear about what he has to say, and therefore visits Faber, who is willing to listen to what he has to say about the society nowadays. Later on in the story he tries to convince Mildred's 'family' that books are a good thing in life and are used to gain knowledge of there society and what it was like before. So Montag reads parts of a poem and their reactions are, "silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words" (Bradbury 97). Montag now knows that it's going to be very hard to change people's opinions, especially on something that is illegal. All of the quotes above relate to Beatrice Wood's quote and how it is possible to change your opinion and perspective about something, but not always other people's opinions and perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote you chose: "silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words" because it clearly shows how Mildred and her friends think that Montag's poem is useless. No matter how hard he tries, he can't sway them into agreeing with him, that books are valuable.
DeleteWhen Beatrice Wood said, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," she meant that it is relatively easy to change yourself, but to change the world is extremely challenging and technically impossible. This quote definitely applies to Fahrenheit 451, because Montag wants to change the way people think about books. He wishes for people to stop burning books and start to read and understand them. Montag believes that books can give people knowledge about the past, as well as the future. Montag went to an old friend of his, who always read books, and said ,"My wife's dying. A friend of mine's already dead. Someone who may have been a friend was burnt less than twenty-four hours ago. You're the only one I knew might help me" (Bradbury 77). Montag wanted help to understand everything anyone knew about books. He wanted to know why books were hated from as many people he could, what was so special about books, and how he can make everyone start to like them. Faber, Montag's friend, explained to him that he was a fool doing this. Faber explained to Montag, "The whole culture's shot though. The skeleton needs melting and reshaping. Good God, it isn't as simple as just picking up a book you laid down half a century ago. Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own record. [...] In any event, you're a fool. People are having fun" (Bradbury 83). Faber, in other words, was trying to tell Montag exactly what Beatrice Wood said. People were having fun, and most were happy the way they were living. According to Faber, Montag and the other firemen were entertaining the 'happy and ignorant' people by "provide[ing] a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but its a small slideshow indeed, hardly necessary to keep things in line" (Bradbury 83). The job of burning books isn't needed at all, because people decided to quit reading books on their own - or atleast most did. Faber also told Montag that, "When we had all the books we needed, we still insisted on finding the highest cliff to jump off. But we do need a breather. We do need knowledge. And perhaps in a thousand years, we might pick smaller cliffs to jump off" (Bradbury 82). Montag realized that what Faber said was true, and he formed a plan. He needed to make copies of the books he had, such as the Bible, to make people understand that books are a necessity. From the beginning to the book, to the end of section 2, Montag had changed greatly. He realized the importance in books, and now he wishes to change the view of others. But as Beatrice Wood said, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself". As the book goes on, it will be interesting to see whether he fulfilled his goal, or not.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood means that there is only so much you as a person can do to impact your surroundings and community, but there are many things you can do to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas comes to realize this. He finalizes that he can't change the way the community does things, no matter how much he wants to because of all the strict rules and high security, but he can change the way he does them, so Jonas starts to go his own way by going against the rules by breaking them. Jonas doesn't want things in his community to stay the way they are because they are unfair to all people. He is starting to want "things [to] change" (128). Jonas is aware that "things could be different" (128), and he wants to figure out "someway for things to be different" (128). He now knows, from the memories from the Giver, that there was a different and easy time, long ago, and he is beginning to desire that things go back to the way they were before the community they now have. But, his society is too big and structured a place for Jonas to make different, and "Jonas knew with certainty that he could change nothing" (Lowry 135). The community that Jonas lives in has very strict ways, and is not at all open-minded when it comes to ideals, and Jonas knows that. Jonas wants at least something to change in his society, so it might as well be Jonas himself, and the way he lives his life.
ReplyDelete“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Beatrice wood is saying that we don't have any control over the world but we have control over ourself and how we see the world. This relates to the giver because he's starting to see the world differently since he gets his assignment. Sometimes he gets frustrated that other people and his friends can't see the colors. "He found that he was often angry, now: irrationally at his groupmates..."(Lowry 99). Jonas wanted to share all of the colors he saw with his friends but no matter how hard he tried they couldn't see them. Jonas starts to become a new person because of the things he's experiences. Like lying to his parents the first time after the Giver shows him memories of love and his parents dismiss the comment as meaningless. "Jonas. You, of all people. Precision of language, please!"(Lowry 127). Jonas lives in a community where people aren't opened and exposed to feelings. He acknowledges that he'll never be the same after everything he's learned. "But he knew he couldn't go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long."(Lowry 131). He knew that after experiencing these feelings and emotions that he wanted something in his world to change.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood's statement: “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself,” means that before trying to change everybody surrounding them, one should first change their own behavior, and perhaps then it will make an impact on the world. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 because Montag wants to change his society and bring back books and the knowledge that comes with them, but is not quite successful. Even after Montag whips out a book, Mildred says, "'so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again, isn't that right, darling?'" (Bradbury 95). Montag tried introducing the idea of books to Mildred and her friends, yet Mildred is perfectly happy not reading it, claiming that it is "junk". It is not easy to sway them into reading books. Later, when Montag reads a poem, Mrs. Phelps cries, and Mrs. Bowles says "'I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness, all that mush!'" (97). They don't focus on how thoughtful and emotional the poem is, but on the fact that it is simply poetry. To them, poetry comes from books, and books are banned, so poetry automatically becomes something that is not good. Their minds cannot be easily changed. Mildred even says, "'Come on, let's be cheery, you turn the 'family' on, now. Go ahead. Let's laugh and be happy, now, stop crying, we'll have a party!'" (97). For their entire lives, they have relied on the "family" in their TVs to escape from reality. They are ignorant and happy and wish to stay that way, so when Montag tries to expose them to the real world by reading the poem, Mildred immediately shuts him out and wants to go back to watching TV. No matter how hard Montag tries, he cannot change their opinions. Faber also tells Montag "'don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore'" (82). Faber's advice to Montag is to start small and change himself, or else he might fail an attempt to rouse everyone at once. This is also precisely what Beatrice Wood is expressing.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, in Fahrenheit 451, the fact that Montag is trying to change the society he lives in is related to the quote: “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself,” by Beatrice Wood.
I like all the quotes you chose, especially the "so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again, isn't that right, darling?" quote. I agree that Mildred doesn't really appreciate the value of books when Montag shows them to her.
DeleteThe quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Relates to Montag because in F451. He can not change how his world his. The only thing changeable, is his thoughts. He can not change his thoughts about Literature is because his culture does not let him do this. Not even Millie who is his wife. He does not dare to tell her because she will then tell Beatty and then he will have his house burned down. Also because “she listens to the walls” (Bradbury 78.) which lets her “family" know that a fireman reads books which will cost him his house (but he reads to them anyway claiming they don’t know the beauty of books.) He also tells Faber “We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren’t. Something’s missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I’d burn in the 10 or 12 years.” (Bradbury 78.) This quote says that he can just listen to his walls or the seashells every day but he doesn’t find happiness. However wrong he thinks this is. He can not change it because too many people have already been addicted to these walls and he can not change this. So he can lay off the walls. But his city will not.
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ReplyDeleteI think that the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" makes reference that you are the only one who can make change to yourself. The world and others, have to figure out it themselves. But, overall I think it means that, only you can make a difference and that you can make it happen. A bold point in he book is that everyone is the same. In the giver no one is unique. One thing Jonas feels strong about is change. Not many people know/remember before the "sameness". The Giver spoke to Jonas, "That was before went to Sameness. Today flesh is all the same"(Lowry 94). Sameness was a time before everyone was treated equally. Jonas feels that him and his community should have more choices of their own. Another odd thing is that colors are a sort of past thing in the Giver community. They do not accept red for some reason. The Giver can "'See all of them.' 'All of the colors.' 'Will I?''Of course. When you receive the memories. You have the capacity to see beyond. You'll gain wisdom, then, along with colors. And lots more'... 'Why did colors disappear?' The Giver shrugged. 'Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness'"(Lowry 95). Jonas begins to show some impatience when in training. He asks the Giver don't fervent questions about colors and options therefore implying he was pants to know more about it. The "Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. 'But, I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!' 'Not fair?' The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. 'Explain what you mean.' 'Well...' Jonas had stopped to think it through. If everything's okay he same, the. There aren't choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide that things... But, it's always the same, always'"(Lowry 97). I think with any major changes in this, listed... If any of these really changed, it would probably be for the greater good. Change isn't always good, but, it's not always bad. I think if in their community they were allowed to make their own choices and decisions, it would better for everyone.
I think that when Beatrice Wood says, “You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.” It means that you control what you change about yourself but you can't change what other people in the world think. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag realizes that, “ ‘All isn't well with the world’ ” (Bradbury 100). He wants to change the world by bringing back books, however the people of the society are not willing to change their views of books. In fact Mildred says, “ ‘Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody’ ” (69). Although no one is open to change in Montag’s society, Montag is ready for change. I believe that is why Montag, “read the long afternoon through, while the cold November rain fell from the sky upon the quiet house” (67). Although Montag changed his views and himself, he can't change everyone else and their opinions.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood states "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she is saying that if you believe in something, you have the utmost power to support it, however you are not able to change others' opinions as easily. In section two of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag knows that his society "has everything [they] need to be happy", and by this he is representing technology. However, and he realizes that although they have technology, they aren't truly happy, and this is because something is missing--"the only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burned in ten or twelve years". Montag is explaining that although people in his society have the access to a wide range of technology, they are not quite as content as they could be. This is because although they are highly engaged through technology's marvelous works, they can't fully experience life to its fullest because they do not have access to all of the wonderful information within books. Later on in the novel, Montag explains how it is difficult for him to express his innermost thoughts and feelings about books because "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). From this, it can be deduced that since Montag never gets a chance to explain his ideas, nobody can be open to different perspectives about books and change their minds about whether or not having access to them and their rich knowledge would be a good idea. Not long after, Faber, the peculiar man Montag met at the park a year back, tells Montag "do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore" (82). Montag is wise, and takes Faber's miraculous words into pondering. He comes to a conclusion that Faber was trying to tell him that it is okay to take risks in life, and if you die, you will die knowing that you tried, rather than dying without knowing what could've happened to you otherwise. Montag, invigorated by these inspiring words, decides to recite a poem to Mildred and her fellow friends. After the poem reading, one of Mildred's friends named Mrs.Bowles rages "i've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proved to me. You're nasty Mr.Montag, you're nasty!" (97). However, Montag, unaffected by this woman's stating that she would leave and never return to the crazy fireman's house, replies "go home. Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozens abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarean sections too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened what did you ever do to stop it?" (98). This shows that Montag does not mind if other people do not agree with the ideas of his own, and he will not try to further persuade them if they act in such a manner. Evidently, when Beatrice Wood states "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", it connects to the novel Fahrenheit 451 in numerous ways. Montag learns that although others may disagree with him, it is alright for him to have a perspective of his own, towards anything in life.
ReplyDelete"You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." This quote relates a lot to the book. This quote is saying that one person can't change the world, but together, you can. In f414, montag is changing, as he realizes more and more about his society. He starts to seek books, and a friend to help him. He knows that just because he was affected, doesn't mean anyone else does. He learns that a lot of people disagree, while he thinks it will solve problems. He keeps it secret for a while, until he expressed them to Mildred's family. They were horrified, and they refused. Also when he went to the fire house, they got the alarm and went to montags. So he was like one of only. This quote fits perfectly with the . On the last page, 107, "hey isn't this my house?" That's when montag was affecte, and they knew.
ReplyDelete“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood
ReplyDeleteThis quote is indirectly related to the book "The Giver", by Lowis Lewroy. This quote tells us that we can only change ourselves and if we change ourselves that may make us better while you cant change the world because there will always be people who will resist, and that they have to change by themselves. " 'Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often -- there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want to change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable -- so painless. It's what they've chosen. ' " (Lowry 103). This relates to the quote becuase the society only calls the reciver sometimes for their help when the reciver knows so much that the society thinks that this world is perfect while they are missing out on so much that the receivers know and have a hold of but they do not want to change. "Now it was ominous. It meant, he knew, that nothing could be changed." (Lowry 113). Jonas had finally realized that they can't change the world/society but they can change themselves so Jonas had started to not take the stirring pills for four weeks.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood said "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself", she was talking about how one person alone can't change the way everyone thinks, but you can change the way you think. In the Giver, by Lois Lowry, Jonas "receives" a lot of memories. Some memories are happy, and some are sad, but nevertheless, Jonas wants to share them, and change the way people in his world think. For example, Jonas "tried to give his new awareness to his friends"(Lowry 99). Jonas also thinks that the sameness his government functions with "shouldn't have [happened]"(Lowry 95). Though Jonas knows that his society is unjust, he can't do anything to change it, as he knows that the memories will "overwhelm the community"(Lowry 144). So, Jonas is forced to only change the way he thinks, such as how he decides to "not take his pill"(Lowry 129), as is required by the community.
The quote from Beatrice Wood, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," means that you by yourself can't to anything to change what the people in the world thinks but you can control yourself and change yourself. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the book supports this statement. Montag who is the protagonist in the book tries to think how he can change the world but in reality he can't. "'We have everything we need to be happy, but we aren't. Something's missing. I looked around. The only thing I positively knew was gone was the books I'd burn in the next 10 or 12 years'" (Bradbury 78). He wants to change the world so they can see the way life used to be and how much better it is but there are so many people that like the new way that it is hard to change that. He also tried convincing Mildred how books are useful and valuable but it was hard to "'bother out little heads that junk again'"(Bradbury 95). This book supports this book in a world that may happen which means it is hard for us to change the work which is actually true. It takes many people to do that but the good thing is that it only take you to change yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Woods explains that only you can change yourself, other people will try to change you but not the way you want to. And the other people around can change themselves to the way they want to be. Overall, it also says that if you want the world around you to change, you will have to change yourself, because changing everyone the way you want them to be is hard, everyone has their own opinions. A good point that Lois Lowry makes is that everyone is the same. In The Giver no one is unique. Jonas feels strong about making a change to his community. Not many people know what happened before the "sameness". The Giver spoke to Jonas, "That was before we went to Sameness. Today flesh is all the same"(Lowry 94). In the book they use sameness as the time (centuries) before everyone was treated equally. Jonas wants him and his community to make more choices of there own, like what color to wear, and chose their own jobs. The people do not see color. In the book, it reads, "'Do you see it all the time? I see all of them. All the colors. Will I? Of course.'" (Lowry 95). "The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. 'But, I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!' 'Not fair?' The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. 'Explain what you mean.' 'Well...' Jonas had stopped to think it through. If everything's okay he same, the. There aren't choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide that things... But, it's always the same, always'"(Lowry 97). Jonas is very frustrated about how he, The Giver, and the previous receivers are the only ones who know about colors, and all of these extraordinary creatures that had "once" lived on earth. Jonas believes that if his whole community was able to make there own choices, they would be living better lives, but little do they know that their lives could be better, because all they know about is there life right now. For Jonas' community, a change in lifestyle would be a good change, a change for the greater good.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood relates to the novel Farenheit 451 in many ways. First off, Guy Montag realized how no one else in the world is listening to him when he is trying to raise awareness, ask questions, and make suggestions. He realizes that every time he tries to talk to someone, "nobody listens" and how he can't talk to "the walls because they are yelling," or his "wife; she listens to the walls." Montag just "[wants] someone to hear what [he] [has] to say," (78). He seems to be the only one realizing that the world needs a change. When the world does not listen, Montag begins to give up. He thinks that "maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun" (100). Montag wonders if it would be better to leave alone everything—the world, himself, and the possible change. He wonders what it would be like to go back to being a man who would "sit comfortably at home, warming [his] frightened bones, and hear and analyze the fireman's world" (87). Later on, though, Montag realizes that others also need changing. He says, "'Go home and think about how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it'" (98). When it doesn't work out as he thought, Montag begins to realize what change really is. Faber encourages him by saying "Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for the shore" (82). Montag realizes that he would have to change himself until "he would no longer be Montag anymore" (99). This change is the only change that can really work. If the people cannot listen to Montag, Montag must listen to himself. He would first have to understand the world and the changes that just come. The quote by Beatrice Wood demonstrates how Montag realizes what change he must put himself through, after trying to change the world itself.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood states "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself", I agree with her statement. It is nearly impossible to be fully eligible to change the whole world, however you are capable to change yourself. In The Giver, Jonas would like to change the world. As Jonas says on page 128 "Things could change, Gabe, Jonas went on. Things could be different. I don't know how but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors. And grandparents he added..." (128). As Jonas starts to receive memories of the past, he starts to realize the different/changed way his community is run. Jonas grows to not like the changes they have made, as Jonas says "When did they decide that? Jonas asked angrily. It wasn't fair. Let's change it!" (Pg 113). Jonas and the giver agree that some of the new rules are not fair and necessary. However, Jonas does not realize that he can not change the community, or the world. Jonas eagerly says "Why can't we just apply for a change of rules? Jonas suggested. The giver laughed, then Jonas, too, chuckled reluctantly" (pg 113). The giver and Jonas laugh because they simply know they can not change something as big and powerful as their community, relating to the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself".
ReplyDeleteThe quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" from Beatrice Wood relates to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury greatly. In the novel, Guy Montag begins to realize there is something missing in life. He believes that inside of books there are messages that his society should be open to listening to. When Montag read a poem to Mrs. Phelps she got extremely emotional and began to cry. Her and her friend, Mrs. Bowles, began to rant at Montag and then stormed out of the house full of hatred towards Montag. "I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proven to me. You're nasty, Mr. Montag, you're nasty" (Bradbury, 97). Mrs. Bowles was heated. She held nothing back when barking at Montag. Clearly, she took the poem the wrong way that Montag envisioned in his head beforehand. This shows that someone, individually, might feel one way about something but someone else might not feel the same way as them and totally disagree with their ideas or actions. Others can't change entirely in just a second, it takes time and it takes thought. Just like Faber wanted Montag to think about the two sides. "All right, he's had his say. You must take it in. I'll say my say, too, in the next few hours. And you'll take it in. And you'll try to judge them and make your decision as to which way to jump, or fall. But I want it to be your decision, not mine, and not the Captain's" (104). Overall, you can't change someone who doesn't see an issue in their actions.
ReplyDeleteThis quote, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself" very closely relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 in the sense that in the society, several people have books. These people believe that books are a positive influence in the evolution of society but these few people aren't enough to change the whole world into thinking the same way. They can only change themselves. Although this is true, this does not stop Montag from trying. He comes up with a plan to "plant the books, turn in an alarm, and watch the firemen's houses burn." Him and Faber "think that it's a plan worth trying" (82) so they start plotting their revenge. It's people like this that influence more and more people so then, the world can slowly change. Knowing that there's not many people who think the same as Montag and Faber, Faber asks "you and I and who else will set the fires" (83)? If they don't get supporters, there is no chance they can change the way the world thinks. In reality, "the firemen are rarely necessary. The public stopped reading of its own accord," (83) which makes it much more difficult to convince people to start reading books again since they stopped on their own. If they were forced to stop reading, it would have been different. This is how the quote, "you can't change the world, you can only change yourself" relates to the book Fahrenheit 451.
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DeleteThe quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 because Montag faces some challenges where he realizes people won't listen to him. On page 94, Montag tries to open Mildred's friends to book and poetry, Mrs. Bowles replies with, "'As for poetry, I hate it'" (94 Bradbury). The world doesn't want to change. Everyone else has grown to not like books anymore. They believe what the government says about them. How they are full of useless junk. Montag realizes he will change himself before this happens. He says, "'I've heard rumors; the world is starving, but we're well fed'" (70). Montag changed himself by becoming aware of the world rather than his small city. Montag wasn't able to change other people, but he definitely changed himself. Now, people might look up to him and listen to what he has to say. I think that is how the quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," (Wood) relates to section 2 of the book Fahrenheit 451.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood once said, “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” The interpretation of the part “you can’t change the world” is quite straightforward: changing the world is difficult for one to do. In fact, it is near impossible, due to the fact that everyone is so unique and diverse in their own ways. However, you can “change yourself”, since you have ultimate power over your own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs, hence the quote “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” We can clearly see this quote coming into effect throughout the book of Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Montag now understands the importance of books and is also aware of how technology is running the lives of everyone. TV, radios, blue-tooth ear pieces: all these devices are just a distraction from their world, a world that is constantly at war. On the contrary, Mildred views the use of technology different, for she views technology as a way to bring happiness and joy to humans, even after Montag told her the importance of reading: “My ‘family’ is people. I laugh, they laugh. And the colors! Why should I read? What for? (Bradbury 69). In other words, even though Montag is changing, Mildred is not. We can clearly see this, for not long afterwards, she makes plans with her friends to watch “The White Clown.” During the rendezvous, Montag is angered by how clueless the women are. Consequently, he pulls out a book of poetry and prepares to “scare the hell out of them” (Bradbury 95) and let them be conscious of the beauty of reading. However, nothing changes and reading the poem only makes matters worse, for their opinions did not altered: “poetry and tears, poetry and sickness, all that mush!” (Bradbury 97). The words that have so much meaning to Montag simply were “silly words, silly awful hurting words. Why you got to hurt people with stuff like that?” (Bradbury 97). Mildred then tries to turn everything around by being “cheery. You can turn on the ‘family’ and everything will be all right” (Bradbury 97). This shows that Mildred still view technology as a remedy for pain. Montag, exhausted and bewildered with himself, realizes that he cannot change the people or the world around him. Although he might be able to change himself, he doesn't have the power to change others. As Faber told him, “most of us can’t rush around, talk to everyone. We haven’t time or money. Do you own bit of saving and change yourself” (Bradbury 82). In conclusion, we know that the quote from Beatrice Wood relates directly to Montag’s experience: “you can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.”
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" (Wood). Means you can only change yourself and what you do and your decisions, but if you change yourself the rest of the world might change because of you. "It's the choosing that's important, isn't it" (Lowry). In this quote, it shows how the Giver is asking/ making Jonas realize that Jonas wishes everyone can make their own decisions, that it's not just a group of people make everyone's decisions in the community for them. "But why can't Everyone have the memories? I think it would seem a little easier is the memories were shared. You and I wouldn't have to bear so much by ourselves if everybody took a part" (Lowry). This quote shows how Jonas wants to change the receiver of memories position and give some memories to everyone, but he can't do that all he can change is himself. "We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.' 'We shouldn't have!" (Lowry). Jonas feels like it's unfair for no one to be able to see colors unless you are capable of seeing beyond. He says that they shouldn't have change the colors to sameness, but he can't change the world now.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" relates to Fahrenheit 451. The protagonist, Guy Montag comes to realize that there are many problems in the world he lives in, and nobody will listen to him except for Faber. The only thing he can do try to prove his point is lead by example. Montag repeatedly thinks about how "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (Bradbury 78). The citizens in this futuristic Chicago are so determined that the life they have is fine, and are not open to any other ideas to change society, and everybody dismisses Montag's thoughts. People like Mildred think that if "you can turn on the family and everything will be alright" (Bradbury 97). Unfortunately, most people are too ignorant to understand that there is a huge problem in their world. The only way to have a chance to fix this problem is to listen to innovative people such as Montag and Faber. Most people have the idea that books are pieces of "junk" filled with useless information, but if people took the time to look at the books, they would think otherwise. Even after Guy tries to enlighten Mildred and some of her friends by reading a poem, the girls considered poetry to be "mush! Now I've had it proven to me. You're nasty, Mr. Montag, you're nasty" (Bradbury 97). To sum it all up, it is tough to change someone's mind about something that they feel so strongly about. The best you can do is be a good role model and hope they follow.
ReplyDeleteThe quote means that one person can make a change for everyone but one person can make a change for themselves. For example, when Faber says “patience, Montag. Let the war turn off 'families'. Our civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge”(Bradbury 84). This is relatable to Beatrice Wood's quote because Faber is warning Montag that Montag cannot change the whole world, when the world is forced to change, it will. In the book, it shows that even though Montag has changed he cannot change the world. When Montag and Mildred are looking through books to see why they are so important, “Mildred kicked at a book. “Books aren't people. You read and I look all around, but there isn't anybody””(Bradbury 69). Montag is trying to get Mildred to understand what he is now feeling, but she cannot understand. This relates to the quote because even though Montag has changed himself, he cannot change Mildred, therefore he cannot change an entire world just because he has changed
ReplyDeleteThe quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” from Beatrice Wood means that you cannot change or control other people’s thoughts, you can only control your own. This relates to the book Fahrenheit 451 because when Montag begins to think that books are an important part of society and being human he cannot implant that belief into other people’s minds. He most likely can only get help from the people that already have that belief. Montag talked to Faber about books and Faber begins to explain that the physical books is not what matters but the content of the book. He tells Montag “of course you still can’t understand what i mean i say all this” (79). Even though Faber has tried to explain what he means, if Montag does not agree with what he is saying there is no changing his mind. As they continue to talk Faber asks Montag if he sees: “‘why books are hated and feared’” he says it is because “‘they show the pores in the face of life’” (79). Some people believe that books are bad because they show the ‘bad’ part of society. To others books are great because this so called bad part of society isn’t what they see when they read. Some people, like Montag and Faber see that books tell detail and real recordings of what life could have been. Instead of seeing the life in the books as bad, they see the life they are living now as bad. But even though there are two completely different sides, the sides are just opinions. There is no right or wrong answer and there isn’t a way to change how people view life in most cases. Montag and Faber kept talking about the different views on books. Montag says that Mildred “‘says books aren’t ‘real’” (80). The books although are physically real, don’t hold any real meaning in Mildred’s eyes. Once again there are two sides where neither are truly correct. Though each side completely believes that their side is right, people cannot change how other people view society and life and the world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Woods has said this quote, " You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." Well, this is an incredibly direct quote. The quote means exactly as what is written. But, to put it in more in depth words, the quote just refers to the point of view of a human's life. The world is too big for us. There are too many people in the world. Instead of changing the ways of the world and the people, change yourself. Change yourself so that you could stand out. You can be the change instead of being the one bringing the change to the world. Why do something when you can be it? Montag faces the same thing. His point of view on his world has completely changed. The sameness and the lack of knowledge truly helped Montag comprehend the genuine aspects he is missing in his own life. So instead of changing his society, he is changing himself . Trying out a few new things like reading books and all. Only to find that this unlocks a whole new world of interests for Montag. Books and ideas gave more deep thoughts toward Montag and him understanding knowledge. Now, Montag has more interests toward books because of all the things that have been happening with his family lately. Lately he has noticed that mildred doesn't take interest toward what he does. He thinks that "nobody listens to him anymore. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls" (Radbury 78). Books turned out to be what Montag had been missing in his life. A source of happiness. Just like Clarisse. Yet, after all this Monatg tried to convince his wife that book are what they need, and not their 'parlor'. But, when Mildred's friends came over and when Montag was about to read his poetry, Mildred said " Guy's surprise is to read you one sample to show how mixed up things were, so none of us will ever have to bother our little heads about that junk again" (95). Mildred referred to book as not only junk, but also how messed up they were. Then, the audience reacted to Montag trying to convince them. Mrs. Bowels started to sob in the end, "why do propel want to hurt people. Not enough hurt in the world, you got to tease people with stuff like that" (97). Even though Montag was trying to convey the beauty and magic of literature, Mrs. bowels mistook the poem into something that it really wasn't. Faber then finally clarified for Montag, "the books are to remind us what fools we are....the things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way an average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book" (82). Fabre saying this really astonished Montag. This and other events trigger Montag into what happens in Montag's future. Then he realizes that maybe he is the one to change not the people around him.
ReplyDeleteTo conclude, Montag's life has tied in very well with the quote, "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood.
You have control over your own opinions, but not the opinions of others. This idea is conveyed in the quote, “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself” (Beatrice Wood). It is fairly difficult to change your own mind about something, but once you do, it generally takes a large number of people who feel the same way already in order to make a large change in society. There are ways of convincing others your ideas are right, but it can be very difficult. Montag experienced this when he tried to convince Mildred and her friends that books were good. He tried to force them into liking and caring about books by reading them poetry. Instead of agreeing with him they got very upset and one even said, “I won’t come in this fireman’s crazy house again in my lifetime!”(Bradbury 97). The major reason that his persuasion failed was because those women didn’t want to listen to poetry, but were forced to anyway. In order for someone to agree with you, they generally can’t have any ideas against the topic before hand. In Fahrenheit 451, Faber was easier to convince because he already felt strongly about the cause and even said, “I care so much I’m sick” (Bradbury 84). However, even though he wanted to support Montag, it was still difficult to get him to help because he was scared he would get hurt. He said, “The only way I could possibly listen to you would be if somehow the fireman structure itself could be burnt” (Bradbury 81). Montag also struggled to get Faber to teach him because Faber had already “grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with [him]” (Bradbury 78). This caused him to believe that people's opinions on books could not be changed. Before any of this happened he had to first convince himself that books were good. He knew that books must have something important in them for a woman to kill herself over, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He needed Faber to teach him the meaning of books, because he could not figure it out on his own. He knew that in order to help the society open its eyes to the idea that books have meaning, he would first have to realize it for himself.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” said by Beatrice Wood, tells us that you can not change everyone’s opinions or actions, but you can change yours, which could then influence the actions and thoughts of other people. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Montag is a fireman who thinks about what he does and his life. He wants to change the fact that the firemen burn books. Montag believes he can get people to understand books. He asks his new found friend, Faber, to help him. Faber explains to him that “We do need knowledge,” (82) and “The public itself stopped reading of its own accord” (83). This means that the public stopped reading books on their own. Faber goes on to explain how the “people are having fun,” (83). They do not need books and Montag has a hard time changing their views and opinions on this subject. For example, when Montag reads a poem to Mildred’s friends, they do not like what they hear. They exclaim that the poem is just a bunch of “silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words,” (97). Montag is not able to change their opinion on books. This is exactly what Beatrice Wood was trying to say, that you can not change the world. In this case, Montag is not able to change the views of the people in their society. He then realizes he needs to change himself, until ‘he would no longer be Montag anymore” (99). Montag takes advice from Faber, and decides that if he can’t change other people, he can change himself first. Overall, Beatrice Wood was trying to get across that you can’t change the world, but you can change yourself which could lead to a bigger change.
ReplyDeleteYour quotes, expressed by Faber about how society has changed and will stay that way even without the government, really help to support how the quote relates to the book. Nice job!
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ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood, a famous American artist, said that "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself". With this quote, I think that Beatrice was trying to explain that one person does not have the capability of altering the world in which they live in. In other words, one person cannot simply adjust other people's personalities or actions, because everyone has their own set of opinions in life. However, even though it may not be possible to change the way in which other people believe and act, one has the potential of changing him/her self. Each person has the power to adjust the way in which they think about society.
In the beginning of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag's neighbor, Clarisse, was the first person that caused Montag to wonder and be curious about the society they lived in. After talking with Clarisse for a little bit, Montag figured out that "he was not happy" (Bradbury 9). He changed his view on the way he thought about society. Soon later, when Clarisse died, Montag realized that he was one of the only individuals left who had the desire to be aware of the events that occurred in reality. He realized that he was the only one who wanted to understand the important meaning behind books. Firemen were "rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord" (Bradbury 83). Not only did Montag start to discredit his job as a fireman, but he began to read literature, because he was eager to gain knowledge. He tried to convince his wife to read books with him so that they would be less ignorant to society, but Mildred was not interested in reading. Mildred was like everyone else, and enjoyed living in the present society where they were shielded from reality. She was completely satisfied with watching the television parlors and thinking about the unimportant aspects in life. Montag even tried encouraging conversation between Mildred's friends about real life topics, but Montag became extremely aggravated and angered when the woman continued to speak about nonsense. Montag felt totally hopeless because "nobody listen[ed] any more... [he couldn't] talk to [his] wife; she listen[ed] to the walls. [He] just wanted someone to hear what [he] had to say" (Bradbury 78). Even when Montag met up with Faber, who shared the same ideas with him about society, the wise man told him that he was a "fool" for trying to cause people listen to him. Faber knew that most people were "having fun" living in the present society, and did not think it was necessary to change it (Bradbury 83).
In conclusion, Beatrice's words definitely related to the novel. Throughout the section, Montag learned that it would be difficult to persuade others to join his side, because people thought differently and had different opinions about living in the society.
In a dystopian book the main character lives in a dystopian society. The main character will act differently from what his/her society is, and try changing their society when they realize it's wrong. For the following quotation “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” By Beatrice Wood, the main character knows that changing his/her society is hard, however they can change their feelings toward it and act different from their society. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag try's to change his society, yet learns that changing what's already there and accepted is hard, and soon knows that you can't change society, but change the way people think about it. Montag discovers he felt "the start of the long journey, the leave talking, the going away from the self he had been"(99). Montag is realizing that he is changing from what he was, and he know thinks differently from what the society wants him to think. Faber explains to Montag "'don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore'"(82). What Faber is saying is that don't rely on anything all the time. Also, he explains that people can only change if they are heading to shore, which means that people can only change if they don't rely on everything all the time. Faber called himself a coward for he "'saw the way things were going, a long time back. I said nothing. I'm one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the 'guilty,' but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself...now, it's too late'"(Bradbury, 78). Faber is explaining that he had the chance to change things, but he failed, and doing so made him become guilty. This missed chance changed the way he thought about himself as being a coward and guilty. In conclusion, changing the society you live in is hard with few numbers, but changing yourself will effect the way you are in that society.
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ReplyDelete"You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself." This quote relates a lot to the book. This quote is saying that one person can't change the world, but together, you can. In f414, montag is changing, as he realizes more and more about his society. He starts to seek books, and a friend to help him. He knows that just because he was affected, doesn't mean anyone else does. He learns that a lot of people disagree, while he thinks it will solve problems. He keeps it secret for a while, until he expressed them to Mildred's family. They were horrified, and they refused. Also when he went to the fire house, they got the alarm and went to montags. So he was like one of only. This quote fits perfectly with the . On the last page, 107, "hey isn't this my house?" That's when montag was affecte, and they knew." On page 97, "Mrs. Phelps was crying...'silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words! Why would people ant to hurt each other?' Said Mrs Bowles." That proves why people have a fear of books and montag doesn't. He doesn't understand,
I think that the quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself.", by Beatrice Wood, means that you cannot do anything about how other other people think and act, but only you can control your own thoughts and actions. This is shown in Fahrenheit 451. For example, when Montag decides he wants to read the books, he tries to get Mildred to join him. But she refuses, saying that she has no reason to. Montag feels sorry for her, that she only cares about technology. Later in the book, Mildred has some friends over to watch a play. They start to talk about politics, and war, and their husbands, as Montag comes home from Faber's house. After listening to them talk, he becomes very angry with how they barely care about anything, and says, "The way they jabber about people and their own children and themselves and the way they talk about their husbands and the way they talk about war, dammit, I stand here and I can't believe it!" (94). But Montag realizes he can't change their views, even when he reads to them. He realizes that it is up to him and Faber to carry out their plan, because nobody else cares.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself", means that the world is its own thing, however you don't have to change everything for just yourself. In The Giver, Jonas knows that he can't change the whole society no matter how hard he tries but what he can do is change himself. Jonas knows "things could change"(128), and he even says "things could be different"(128). He wants to think about love and what it would feel like. Jonas knows that there was a better time, a free time, before the community. In the novel, the Giver asks and kind of makes Jonas think about if "it's the choosing that's important, isn't it" (Lowry). This makes Jonas believe that he can only change himself and that the society cannot be changed now. It is clear that this quote "you can't change the world. You can only change yourself", relates exactly to the theme of the novel, The Giver.
ReplyDeleteThe quote, “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.”, by Beatrice Wood, connects to my book because, the quote is saying that you can't change the world, only yourself. In the book, they aren't changing the world by hiding the past, they are only changing everyone in that city to not think and to burn books or knowledge. On page 101, "with out even glancing at the title, Beatty tossed the book in the trash basket and lit a cigarette". By hiding the past, they want to burn books so with the books burned, people cant think or have knowledge.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Wood’s is a artist and author who came up with the quote or saying “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” This saying can be interpreted in many different ways. The way I look at it, I believe it's trying say that you should fix yourself before you fix others or that you can only change your opinion not the worlds. This quote is relatable to Fahrenheit, this is because a small amount of people in Montages society believe book s are good and harmless but they can't get everyone to change their opinion about the topic. Although a majority of people haven't changed there mind a small percentage has, like montage. Montage realized what he was doing after he burnt the house with the lady, he realized that there is something in books that make people do stuff like that. Although you can change some people mind there are others that won't even listen to you an example is when montage was trying to talk to Mildred, Montage explained that “I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to here what I have to say," (Bradbury 78). This is very relatable because ver small people like books but it's hard to get people to change. Sometime trying to make a statement can mean you might have to do illegal actions for example when montage said “back in a moment, with a book in his hand." (Bradbury 94). This shows how sometime actions will speak louder then words. “maybe they’re right, maybe it’s best not to face things, to run, have fun. I don’t know." (100). But sometimes you need to realize when convicting people to change you need to relive that your opinion might not be right. That it what Beatrice woods quote means in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Woods. Explains that you can't let people change who you are cause thats what they think its best for you and thinks it is best for everyone else. You have to be who you are and change yourself because if you change yourself you will become a better person
ReplyDeleteAnd people will possibly change who they are too. On the book "The Giver" Jonas learn many things about the past and feels like that his community and himself should have their own choices and not where have everyone is equal or everything is equal "That was before went to sameness. Today flesh is all the same" (Lowry 94. What you choose affects on what you do in your future, so the things the Jonas does will affect him and he hopes it will help other people to change to make themselves better "its the choosing thats important" (lowry).You choose how to live your life not other people who want to control you
ReplyDeleteThe quote "You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” – Beatrice Wood, is trying to say that you shouldn't be able to change the world but in the giver they don't follow that rule at all. They have roles in their society the go against the Beatrice's thoughts like the the community of elders who have absolute power the pick what they pick their jobs. Page 46, "I heard of a guy who was absolutely certain he was going to be assigned Engineer. Instead they gave him Sanitation Laborer". He doesn't have a say in what he wants to be for the rest of his life! So no he can't change himself. Page 49, "Like the matching of the spouses and the naming and the placement of newborns children, the assignments were scrupulously through by the committee elders". They don't even have a choice if they wanted to have a kid of their own, but they assigned them a baby instead. Page 40, "This year you start you volunteer hours", volunteer hours is hours you must preform a certain job under the close eye of the community elders that are going to pick your job that you will be doing the rest of your life. The community elder always have cameras that show them everything so they know if you break a law, and to decide what they don't like so they can stop it". They make sure you don't break their laws because it the only thing the elders know and they get very angry if you break their laws. That is why I don't think that The Giver follows Beatrice's rule.
When Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself," I think that she is saying that you first have to change your own behavior then you can starting influencing and changing the world. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag is trying to change the way people think about books. He already thinks that books are good and interesting but nobody else thinks that the books are important. He wants people to stop burning books and actually read them. Montag goes to see Faber's house and Montag says to him "My wife's dying. A friend is mine is already dead. Someone who may have been a friend was burnt less than twenty-fours hours ago. You're the only one I knew that might help me"(Bradbury 77). Montag went Faber's house because he wanted to know why books were so hated, and how he could change that so people would now like them and see the importance of books. Later in the book Montag tries to convince Mildred's friends that books are good but after he reads the poem their reactions are "silly words, silly words,"(Bradbury 97). Because people are raised to hate books they know nothing else, so they follow what they know. When Montag reads them the poem he is trying to "change the world" like Beatrice Woods says. It is very hard for Montag to change their minds about books. Montag tries to get get people to think differently about books but "nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife;she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say"(Bradbury 78). Just like in the Beatrice's quote, Montag has already changed his views on books it know he is trying to change other characters opinions, but it is not easy.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beatrice Wood says "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." I think it means it is impossible to change the world we live in but you can change your actions to help start a change in your society with other people. "The next morning, for the first, Jonas did not take his pill" (Lowry 129). Jonas is disobeying his community's rules by not taking his stirring pills so if nothing bad happens to him and other people see him not taking them, he will change their perspective on taking the stirring pills and change something in his community. Jonas is trying to change his friend so he can see colors, "and trying to transmit the awareness of red to his friend" (Lowry 99). Jonas is trying to change the look on other people's lives by showing them colors. Unfortunately it didn't work and he wants everyone else to see colors like him and the Giver. Jonas is trying his hardest to change the people around him in order to change his community's way of life.
ReplyDelete“You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself.” Beatrice Wood
ReplyDeleteThe society can not change but you can change your self, you can not change the whole society itself. But, you can change yourself. This quote shows how the giver's character Jonas is living with the society. "Things could change, Gabe, Jonas went on. Things could be different. I don't know how but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors. And grandparents he added..." (128 Lowry). The society can not change.
There is a quote that goes "You can't change the world. You can only change yourself" by Beatrice Wood, that is very much connected to the book Fahrenheit 451. The quote itself, I believe, means you can change your own opinions and view of things, but you can never change everyone else's opinion and how the world works. You really only control your own thoughts, though you can influence others to have a similar or the same opinion as you do. Montag had a realization that though they have everything they need to be happy, they aren't. He ponders that the one thing he "positively knew was gone was the books" (Bradbury 78). Him, thinking that this was an amazing realization, he thought he should get rid of the people against his idea. He would plant books in fire men's houses, so the "fireman structure itself could be burnt" (Bradbury 81). Though, this plan wouldn't benefit everyone. This may only please people who like books, but this wouldn't do a whole lot for society. Montag even tries to change some women's minds, to see how he sees books. But one lady responded with " I've always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings, poetry and sickness; all that mush! Now I've had it proved to me" (Bradbury 97). Though he thinks this will change their minds, make them rethink their whole existence, but they are content with their life and think that books are wrong. This book is a great example about how you cannot change people's thoughts, only yours
ReplyDeleteThe quote “You can’t change the world. You can only change yourself" relates to Montag's struggle in making books mainstream in his society. Faber and Montag have changed but the world they live in cant change because of how much the culture is neglecting books. When faber is talking about Montag's plan he says "The whole cultures shot through. The skeleton needs melting and reshaping....... Remember the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord." He is explaining how the world cant change because the "the cultures shot through" and that fireman are just there in case. Mostly the public is rejecting the books. A direct example of what the people think of books is when mildred's friends come over and Montag reads them a poem. Mrs phelps starts crying and mrs bowels says that "Silly words silly words awful hurting words" said mrs bowels, "why do people want to hurt people?" "Not enough hurt in the world, you got to tease people like that!" Mrs bowels represents the publics view on books. Just because mrs phelps showed emotion when Montag read the poem she feels that the words are silly and they hurt people. Montag cant change that because its what someone else thinks and the belief is widespread. Another example that represents the fact that Montag can only change himself and not society is when Beatty is taking to Montag about how books can be "traitors". He says "what traitors books can be"! You think there backing you up, and they turn on you." Captain Beatty is well versed in poetry and literature as it is displayed in various moments throughout the book. The fact that even though he has so much knowledge on all this he still wants to ensure the destruction of books is disturbing. As a fireman he decides if he wants the public to read books or if he wants to just burn it and erase it. Montag cant change him but Montag can change himself and try and fight against the firemen so that books and literature can flourish in society. Its impossible to change the world because there will always be a group of people who will not change their ideals and beliefs. However each person can indeed change themselves.
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ReplyDelete"You can't change the world. You can only change yourself." - Beatrice Wood. This quote is basically saying that worldwide change is close to impossible. You cannot change the world, but you can change what you do in the world and how you act towards different situations for the better. This relates to Fahrenheit 451 in a few ways. First of all, since reading is illegal, Montag does not try to change the law, but he starts reading himself to get others to follow his lead. "We can't do anything. We can't burn these. I want you to look at them, at least look at them once." Montag is trying to get Mildred to understand that reading is important and we shouldn't be burning things of the past. Instead of covering it up, let us learn from the past.
Have you ever wondered what a Shakespeare play is like? Well I watched a midsummers night dream today at my school, it was a great play. The actors always kept you watching and laughing. I liked the actor that played Puck, Egeus was a great actor. I enjoyed the fact that she was always moving her body and changing the level of her voice. It added to the performance because she was the one that kept me watching the play. One great technical aspect was the costumes. I liked that they didn't stay in one costume because that would make the play really boring. I didn't like that when bottom had the donkey on we couldn't hear what he was saying. I thought that it brought the play down because we didn't know what he was saying so you lost a whole scene. I think that the overall performance was good because the actors always kept you watching. If your interested then look at the date and time online.
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