The old woman, who lights the match that leads to her own
demise, is a catalyst for great change in Montag's life. When he met Clarisse and was
so moved by her, and realized after speaking to her that he was not happy at all, he
started thinking and pondering the reason why. Then he comes across this woman who
would rather die with her books than live without them. This floors Montag--why would
she possibly want that? He puts two and two together in his mind--he is miserable, and
this lady loves her books so much that she won't live without them. He thinks that
possibly, somehow, books have to have the key to happiness. He has never met anyone
before who was willing to fight for something they believed in; this woman was, and it
made him think that perhaps she had some answers.
It is the
old woman's death that sends Montag on a journey to find out exactly what it is about
books that brings meaning to life. He is so impacted that he is ill in the bathroom
when he gets home, can't sleep that night and is sick the next day. In comparing his
life to the old woman's, he asks himself, "How do you get so empty? Who takes it out of
you?" He feels like he is spinning out of control and describes it as being the "victim
of a concussion" or being "thrown from a cliff" or being "whilred in a centrifuge." He
realizes, after the old woman kills herself, that something had to change. He had to
find answers.
The next day, he starts to read books and
seeks out Faber, who he feels can help give him answers. Montag begins his journey of
self-discovery, revelation, and eventually, revolution. I hope that those thoughts
helped; good luck!
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