In part two of Fahrenheit 451, why does Montag believe books might help? What is Faber's reaction to Montag's belief that books might help?

"You weren't
there, you didn't see. . . There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to
make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for
nothing" (51).

The above
passage is taken from Montag in part one talking with his wife about the woman who
burned herself along with her house and books the night before. There are many events
that place Montag on the path to discovering what books hold for him, but the woman
choosing to be burned just like her books is an event that pushing Montag over the edge.
In an effort to gain more understanding, Montag contacts the former English professor he
met a year before--Faber.

Montag shares his frustrations
and feelings with Faber who listens carefully. Montag tells Faber that he feels
something is missing, but he isn't sure just what. Faber's response is the
following:

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"No, no, it's not books at all you're looking
for! Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and
in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one
type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There
is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they
stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us"
(82-83).

Montag does not take
Faber's advice. Faber claims he's a coward, so that's probably part of the reason he
doesn't listen, but there is a lot of truth to be found in what Faber says. Even Captain
Beatty said that people turned from reading books to movies and radio for entertainment.
The majority of the populace wants to be happy without dealing with difficult issues
found in books. As a result, the illiterate society developed and they won't be able to
change it until the majority brings it back again.