In Fahrenheit 451, the role of people in society is to maintain censorship and to ensure the destruction of books. This is shown through a comment made by Faber:
Remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority. Oh, God, the terrible tyranny of the majority.
Historically, it was the majority who spurned books and education in favour of entertainment. For them, being happy and care-free was more important than the pursuit of knowledge and, over time, this led to the creation of the firemen system. This provides us with another role played by the people in Montag's society: they work as the firemen who burn books and the homes of those who possess them.
In addition, it is part of the people's role to report others who may be in possession of books. It is Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps, for instance, who first report Montag's books after he reads the poem, "Dover Beach," to them when they are visiting his home. While Captain Beatty ignores this, Mildred's report forces him to act. As such, we should view the people as the guardians of censorship in Montag's society.
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