Fahrenheit 451 - Character Analysis: Beatty

Is it not ironic that someone much like Beatty, who seems to be quite thoughtful, is highly against books.  I do not understand how he could know exactly the purpose behind burning books, and still want to do it.  My theories may not be correct, but I have a couple.  It could be one, the other, both, or neither.  
The theory that seems the most accurate is that he wanted control and power over people by depriving them of knowledge.  In modern times, controlling people's thoughts is impossible, especially if they are properly informed.  But if one is able to take the thoughts away from people completely, then they are simply waiting around to be instructed.  One problem with this theory is the question of why he would want the power if the humans were no longer needed for anything.  Also, why would someone who wanted to kill himself want power over others?  Would that not be useless to him?
The other theory is that Beatty simply hated most everyone in the world.  He speaks with a sort of disgusted tone when talking about people through the story (Bradbury 61).  I think that he likes feeling superior to people, even if is through lowering them instead of heightening himself.  This way, even is he has guilt and knows what he is doing is wrong, he can still always know that he is better than the other thoughtless beings.  This theory makes more sense to me, because this would explain why he wishes so much to commit suicide (guilt),  and it also explains his superiority complex.  
I often questioned through the book why he would want to kill himself.  I feel like it is most definitely because he knows what he is doing is wrong, yet he has dug himself into a hole that he cannot get out from.  He hates himself for that, so he continues to burn wonderful books so he can at least keep what he sought out for in the first place, which is power.  I sort of feel bad for him at this point, because it would be awful to be in a situation like that, and I understand why he would want out.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1952. Print.