In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, why does Granger read Plato's Republic?

If one actually reads the final pages of Ray Bradbury's classic novel of a futuristic dystopian society in which books are banned, Fahrenheit 451, then the context in which Plato's Republic is discussed provides the answer to the student's question. Plato's Republic, of course, is one of the philosophical pillars of Western democratic thought. Plato's contemplations on the nature of a just society have been interpreted as condoning autocratic forms of government, but his writings on justice emphasize the importance of individual liberty, including freedom of thought and expression. As Bradbury's fictional totalitarian society is antithetical to the Platonic concepts of liberty and justice, his words would carry great importance to those, such as Granger, who seek to preserve such vital works of literature. Not for nothing, after all, does Montag, midway through Fahrenheit 451, ask a highly suspicious Professor Faber during their brief phone conversation, "How many copies of Shakespeare and Plato?" This early reference to Plato proves prescient when, following his flight from the city to the country, where he encounters Granger and the others, Granger notes that each of these intellectual rebels have taken responsibility for memorizing the great works of literature. Such tactics, they know, are the only remaining way to ensure that the knowledge contained in such volumes will survive the destruction of the autocratic system they have fled. Note, in the following exchange between Montag and Granger, the latter's explanation of this primitive but effective system for retaining the contents of the great works of literature:

"All of us have photographic memories, but spend a lifetime learning how to block off the things that are really in there. Simmons here has worked on it for twenty years and now we've got the method down to where we can recall anything that's been read once. Would you like, some day, Montag, to read Plato's Republic?"

"Of course!"

"I am Plato's Republic. Like to read Marcus Aurelius? Mr. Simmons is Marcus."

"How do you do?" said Mr. Simmons.

"Hello," said Montag.

"I want you to meet Jonathan Swift, the author of that evil political book, Gulliver's Travels! And this other fellow is Charles Darwin, and-this one is Schopenhauer, and this one is Einstein, and this one here at my elbow is Mr. Albert Schweitzer, a very kind philosopher indeed. Here we all are, Montag. Aristophanes and Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha and Confucius and Thomas Love Peacock . . ."

The point is that Plato's Republic is not mentioned in isolation. It is but one of many important volumes these individuals hope to preserve through memorization. All of these works of literature, in some way, address the relationships of man to his society and to the natural world. That is the significance of the references to Plato. The Republic is a work of literature worth preserving. It addressed the relationship of man to society and argued for the imperative of individual liberty. Such liberty was sublimated by the now-destroyed regime that Montag, Granger and the others fled. If these survivors hope to rebuild, and to rebuild a more just society, then Plato's thoughts were essential to their efforts.