Why Does Montag's Search For Identity In Fahrenheit 451

“It never went away, that smile, it never ever went away…” Guy Montag, a firefighter, always had a smile on his face when he burned books. In Ray Bradbury’s futuristic science fiction story, Fahrenheit 451, firefighters started fires to burn books. Montag would ablaze a house without hesitation, until he met a young girl named Clarisse; She was Montag’s catalyst to finding out his true identity.
Clarisse and Montag instantly connected when they first met. As they locked eyes, Montag saw himself in them, as if they were a mirror. Montag sees a part of himself in Clarisse. Clarisse’s face was “fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it.” She is the light at the end of the tunnel and sparked a vivid memory of him and his mother. As a child, Montag and his mother had an hour of rediscovery. Clarisse gave Montag hope that one day he will have a genuine conversation with someone again.

She soon questions Montag with, “Do you ever read any of the books you burn?” Montag laughs and comments that it is against the law. However, Montag never says he hasn’t read any. It may be against the law, but people still do it, including Montag. She glanced over at Montag and asks, “ Why are you laughing?” He doesn’t know why and begins to laugh again, as if he is nervous; Clarisse catches onto his answer and knows he has read books before. “‘You think too many things,’ said Montag, uneasily.” It is evident that Montag is thrown off by her witty questions and feels uncomfortable by her knowledge.
Clarisse leaves Montag with one final question, “Are you happy?” Montag replies, “‘Am I what?... Of course I’m happy. What does she think? I’m not?” Although he states he is “happy,” he questions himself. She can see right through Montag and knows deep down he is not happy. Clarisse’s intriguing personality sets this sense of doubt in Montag’s