“Some people cross your path and change your whole direction.” This quote relates to Ray Bradbury’s character Clarisse, who moved the plot even after her death. Before Clarisse, Montag had never met someone who asked, “why” instead of “how.” Clarisse is the reason Montag started thinking about the world, the good and the bad things. She sparked his questioning of everything, and made him appreciate the small things in life. Even after her death she remained the voice and strength Montag needed to speak out and “fix” the world they had both lived in. In the end, she was just a girl who knew way too much for her own good. McClellan made Guy Montag acknowledge and enjoy the small things in life. Before Clarisse, Guy never walked or drove slow to see the color of things. This disturbed her, she loved to catch raindrops on her tongue, and watch the world along with listen to the voices or sounds around her. For this exact reason, Clarisse would leave small surprises for Montag on his …show more content…
Soon enough she is ran over by a car and killed, but this does not stop her from affecting Guy. Even with her gone, he starts and finishes the fight for the rights of books. In a way she was with him throughout the entire book, through spirit of course, mentoring him and pushing him along the way. In a way its like Montag did what he did not for Clarisse. “The 17 and crazy”, Clarisse Mcclellan greatly influenced the plot of Fahrenheit 451. With her never-ending questions and her way of thinking. Without her presence, nothing would have changed and everyone's way of thinking, including Montag’s, would have stayed the same. When Clarisse was standing in the street that night, no one thought she would have such a big impact on anyone or anything. However, she did. Montag did not know it yet, but the moment he saw Clarisse in the street that night, his life and way of thinking were forever
Clarisse's influence on Montag is evident when he starts to notice and appreciate the little things in life, such as the
(Bradbury 7). This helps the reader learn that Montag will later realize he is in fact not happy. This is important because Clarisse plays a big part in Montag character development. She helps him realize that he is unhappy with his relationship and the way society is. Ray Bradbury uses Clarisse to prepare the reader for a change in Montag’s thoughts and how he views society.
And I’d never even thought of that before.” (49) Montag begins to realize how wrong what he is doing really was. Books were powerful, Clarisse was powerful. Montag’s world was widening, his vision was expanding.
With a plethora of books on varying subject matters, the world of literature is almost endless. Quality books and authors often camouflage further meaning behind a character, theme or symbol providing a treasure for readers willing to search. Ray Bradbury includes a hidden treasure in his novel Fahrenheit 451 by contrasting two of his main characters. The overall message of the story describes a futuristic society with many technological advancements, and the prohibition of books, where Ray Bradbury shows how devastating a society is with mindless technology and lack of quality literature and interactions. However, by exploring the juxtaposition between the characters Mildred and Clarisse, a further meaning can be found through their differing
Ray Bradbury 's Fahrenheit 451 is about Montag, a fireman who burns books instead of saving them, who questions the government 's decision to outlaw reading all together. Montag 's questioning is brought up when he has a lengthy discussion with his young curious neighbor, Clarisse. This seventeen year old, asked so many questions about life ,and the meaning of things, she also spoke to Montag about the horrible society they live in. Although Clarisse was killed early on in the book, she left an imprint on Montag to speak out against the government and Beatty. Clarisse like all children was curious, she’d spend her days wandering the town looking at flowers and people.
(Bradbury, P. 9) Clarisse’s family is different than the normal family; they talk to each other, and let Clarisse be herself. Therefore, Clarisse never lost her childhood ideals. She is still free the think for herself, be kind, and be curious. When Montag meets Clarisse, the two clash in an interesting way.
In other words, Clarisse embodies joy because she fearlessly talks about things that in any other case would be considered awkward. For example, while walking back home, Clarisse remarks, “ Are you happy?”(Bradbury 7). Her question is simple, yet for some reason it leaves Montag bewildered. This quote is significant because it paves the way for a new outlook on his life. In other words, Clarisse’s question leads Montag to finding that he is actually very unhappy with his current existence.
Upon meeting Clarisse, Montag had "a brief hour of rediscovery" when his mother "lit a last candle" that made "such illumination that space lost its vast dimensions" (Bradbury 17). In agreeing to escort Clarisse on her walk, Montag wanted to remember his rediscovery and to find out who he was through conversing with Clarisse. Clarisse comment, "You never stop to think what I've asked you" forms curiosity in Montag to question the purpose of everything (Bradbury 31). Her remark hint a future that Montag will wonder into the most dangerous place where books resided to find out the truth behind the government's lies. Clarisse's introduction, "I'm seventeen
During the book, Clarisse plays an important part in Montag’s life by questioning his relationships with his job, wife, and happiness. First, Clarisse helps Montag realize that he is unhappy. On the first night, Montag and Clarisse met. Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy.
“you’re not like the others...when I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon, last night… the others would never do that… that’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman, it just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow” (Pg 21) Clarisse, 17 years old and crazy really makes Montage question who he is as a person. If it weren’t for her, he might not ever have had the thought to go against the society to do what’s right. This relates to the theme because society is trying to change everyone to be the same but because of Clarisse, Montag realizes questions who he is as a person and learns right vs wrong which helps him to stand up against the bad things that society is doing and do the right thing.
From one of his first experiences with Clarisse, Montag feels something that he realizes he never felt before in his daily life. He ponders to himself, "How rarely did other people's faces take of you and throw back to your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?" (Bradbury 8). What Montag is pondering about is how she behaved so attentive and natural towards
As Clarisse questions why Montag begins to think about his actions and how they affect people as well as society. The reader realizes Montag is a puppet in the dystopian society following the protocol as he is told by society. Montag’s inability to reason with what he is doing makes him gullible. Montag’s society would consider him dangerous within his society, but in reality he is escaping what is a dysfunctional.
She is the first person who challenges Montag and gets him to truly think. She triggers Montag’s questioning of life, what he is doing, and his relationship with his wife Mildred. Upon their first encounter Clarisse begins asking Montag questions, questions about a time when firefighters put out flames not started them, a time when life was a bit slower. She asks, “Are you happy?” once Clarisse is home Montag responds, “Of course I’m happy.
Throughout the story, Clarisse makes Montag question his surroundings; she makes Montag rethink his marriage, society and job. Clarisse’s claims eventually cause Montag to read books and rebel. Clarisse causes Montag to question his marriage when she claims, “You’re not in love with anyone.” (19). This realization allows Montag not to be dragged in Mildred’s world of drugs and
Clarisse enlightens Montag on the past when people were not afraid to share their thoughts and opinions. Speaking without a filter in her mind, Clarisse immediately connects with Montag. He had not felt like that in a long while as his wife can get caught up in her own mind. Clarisse asks