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When Montag and the rest of the firemen set out to burn a house with books in Chapter 1, they are surprised to find that the owner of the house, an old woman, refuses to leave despite knowing that her possessions will go up in flames. Montag continuously attempts to convince the woman to leave, but instead, she strikes a match of her own and sets herself and the house ablaze. Although Bradbury does not spend much time fleshing out this woman’s backstory, her choices in this moment reveal a considerable amount about her character. The first thing she does when the authorities arrive is recite a line spoken by Englishman Hugh Latimer as he was being burned at the stake for treason in 1555, and this reference highlights both her intellectual background as well as her belief in the significance of her actions. She hopes that, by sacrificing herself, she will “light such a candle” that her legacy will never die. As the firemen begin searching her house, the old woman maintains a very matter-of-fact attitude, and her noticeable presence eats away at Montag’s conscience. This persistence she displays in the face of danger emphasizes her strong and independent will, a seemingly rare quality in their modern world. In the end, the old woman’s internal fortitude is what allows her to fully embrace her personal agency and take her own life. She sees committing suicide is the ultimate act of rebellion against the government as it prevents them from taking anything, whether it be books or her life, from her.
