Montag compares Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps to programmed robots due to their lack of critical thinking and emotional depth. He sees them as shallow and disconnected from reality, absorbed in their mindless entertainment and conformity.
Mrs. Phelps cried during the reading of "Dover Beach," showing emotional depth and contemplation. In contrast, Mrs. Bowles was more focused on her appearance and materialistic concerns, demonstrating a lack of interest or connection to the profound meaning of the poem.
Mrs. Phelps
Mrs. Phelps think Huck is Tom Sawyer
Kat Groat
Mrs. Phelps' husband is off fighting in the war, so she does not know his whereabouts and is indeed worried about his safety like any wife would be in such a situation.
Mrs. Phelps describes her husband as always being late, saying "If there's a delay, he always has a reason." She also mentions that he is always looking for new ways to improve his job.
Tom Sawyer
Matilda said she saw her mother yell at Mrs. Phelps during one of her school visits. She saw her mother intimidate and harass Mrs. Phelps, making her uncomfortable.
Mrs. Phelps acts as if she is a part of a "television family" and is desensitized to the reality of the world around her. She is more focused on her TV shows than on the troubling events happening in society, making her character unsettling and strange.
Mrs. Phelps is upset because the poem makes her reflect on the emptiness of her life and the lack of genuine connections with others. She cries because she is moved by the beauty and depth of the poem, which contrasts starkly with the superficiality of her daily existence. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional void in her life and prompts her to confront suppressed feelings.
Mrs. Phelps in "The Sand and the Sieve" feels a sense of sadness and disappointment towards her children. She struggles with the fleeting nature of time and the inability to hold on to meaningful moments with her children as they grow up. Ultimately, she comes to accept the passage of time and finds peace in her memories.
Mrs. Phelps hides Huck behind the bed because she is protecting him from being discovered and potentially captured by people looking for him. She wants to keep him safe and away from harm.