The theme of self-destruction is prominent through 'The Sieve and the Sand'. We come to know Mildred through the eyes of her husband as, "a wax doll melting in its own heat." By using the familiar images of heat and fire, Bradbury presents Mildred as igniting her own self destruction by choosing to ignore and abandon reality rather than seek out truth, as her husband aspires to do. And, despite his intentions, we watch Montag display a self-destructive streak when he insists, despite Faber's insistent advice to stay quiet, on engaging Mildred and her friends by reading poetry to them. The theme of self-destruction is also visited during Montag and Faber's initial conversation in Faber's apartment, when Faber speaks of the proposed plot to undermine the authority of firemen by planting books in their homes by saying, "the salamander devours its tail." I loved that quote; it stands for so many different things, has so many implications.
At work, Montag deals with a bombardment of quotes from Beatty, degrading books and their intellectual value. Meanwhile, Faber speaks in Montag's ear via radio, urging him to bite his tongue and not to accept Beatty's arguments. This scene, in which we can almost picture the angel Faber and the devil Beatty competing for Montag's sympathy and attention, illustrates the ongoing struggle between good and evil that has, until now, been building in Montag's mind.
In keeping with its frazzled tone, 'The Sieve and the Sand' ends in a climax: the arrival of the firemen at Montag's house. At this point, Montag is void of his former life. Because he deviated from the norm, choosing books and truth over the illusion of happiness he once embraced, Montag will lose his home and livelihood. But it is my hope and belief that he will find redemption, as well as the lifestyle he desires, so long as he isn't killed in Part 3.
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