Examples Of Dualism In Fahrenheit 451

Society is slave to technology. As technology continues to advance we decrease our appreciation for the simple things in life. However, there are a few people left who enjoy the smaller things in life and choose to turn away from the “normal” of society. In Fahrenheit 451 we see these characteristics through both Clarisse McClellan and Mildred Montag.
Clarisse is Montag’s 17 year old neighbor. She is a complex character who thinks for herself, unlike the rest of society. She enjoys things such as hiking, playing with flowers, and asking questions, which is seen as “unusual” in society. She even shares with Montag that she is forced to go to a psychiatrist for her “non-social” activities. “The psychiatrist wants to know why I go out and hike around in the forests and watch the birds and collect butterflies” (20). Another thing that makes Clarisse unusual is that she engages in actual conversation with people and truly cares about peoples emotions. Montag is very interested in all these things that make Clarisse different, but he is mainly fascinated with her happiness. He takes notice to

She doesn’t think for herself and is almost like a robot, empty inside and just going along with the rest of society. Her only hobby is watching her TV “family” all day. She is unhappy with her life; even attempting to kill herself. However, she is oblivious to this unhappiness .“‘You took all the pills in your bottle last night. ‘Oh I wouldn’t do that,’ she said, surprised” (17). Montag also describes her as childish, where on the other hand he sees 17 year old Clarisse as mature. “How odd. How strange. And my wife thirty and yet you seem so much older at times. I can’t get over it” (21). Mildred and Montag have no real relationship and barely even know each other. This is another contrast to Clarisse because Montag knows more about Clarisse and enjoys being in her