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Illustrated portrait of Mrs. Phelps

A character in Fahrenheit 451

Mrs. Phelps

Mrs.

The book

Cover of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 451Ray Bradbury, 1953

Books burn easily in a culture already trained to prefer speed, noise, entertainment, and easy answers.

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Who they are in the book

Spoiler-free

Mrs. Phelps is one of Mildred’s friends. She treats an approaching war and her husband’s military service with rehearsed carelessness. Montag’s reading of “Dover Beach” makes her cry, revealing emotion she cannot explain or tolerate. She leaves angry, and her fate in the bombing is not stated.

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