The word agriculture was coined in the 15th-century, but the process of cultivating the land to grow food has been in existence for much longer. Early farmers developed crops and livestock mainly to feed their families and local people.
Professor Faber is a retired English professor. He is a self-described coward, whom Montag turns to when he fails to understand the content of the books he's collected. Montag pushes Faber into conspiring with him to create change, although Faber believes they're too late to have any real effect. Montag's actions inspire the professor, however. It is Faber's voice in Montag's ear (via a two-way radio) that allows Montag to cope with Captain Beatty. Faber also reads to Montag through the earpiece, thus allowing Montag to hear and unknowingly retain literature.
Lured by books, Montag forces Mildred to join him in reading. His hunger for humanistic knowledge drives him to Professor Faber, the one educated person that he can trust to teach him. Following the burning of the old woman, his company's first human victim, Montag faces an agonizing spiritual dilemma of love and hate for his job.