Essay Questions For Fahrenheit 451

Living in a society where books are banned, and citizens are supposed to go along with everything, is it the right thing to stay silent or is it the right thing to question society? In Fahrenheit 451, a science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag goes along with everything. In fact, he is a fireman, which means he burns the books. He stays married to his wife, Mildred, although they never really interact. Overall, he seems to agree with society. That is until he meets Clarisse McClellan, his 17 year-old neighbor. Clarisse asks him questions that make him rethink his life. After talking with Clarisse, Mr. Montag questions his family, his job, and his own thoughts.

After meeting Clarisse, Guy starts to doubt the value of his marriage. One

Clarisse’s questions even make Montag have an severe physical reaction. Bradbury writes: “He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other ” (21). Guy is torn between wanting to fit in society and following his heart because he knows he is different from the others like Clarisse stated. After the whole conversation, Guy feels unsure about his job and whether he has chosen the right path in

Later during the exchange, Guy starts saying things he knows are acceptable in society, but Clarisse makes him admit to what he truly feels. At one point, he even suggests that Clarisse is mentally ill:

“I'm inclined to believe you need the psychiatrist,” said Montag.

“You don't mean that.”

He took a breath and let it out and at last said, “No, I don't mean that.” (20)

Clarisse sees a deeper part of Guy and forces him to question his own ideas and his knowledge.

In Fahrenheit 451, science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury, when Guy Montag meets Clarisse McClellan, he can no longer live his normal life. She makes him question his marriage, his job, and his knowledge, but she also became his closest friend. During one scene in the book, a character quotes Samuel Johnson, an English critic, biographer, poet, and lexicographer : " `We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over, so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over' "(67). This quotes fits Clarisse and Guy’s relationship perfectly. Although Clarisse may sometimes overstep her bounds, the two remain great friends because they fill each others life with so much