In Ray Bradbury’s perplexing and intuitive novel, Fahrenheit 451, he explores many intriguing themes. He uses a variety of literary devices to increase the reader’s knowledge of the characters and the society in which they live. The characterization of Mildred and Clarisse is used through narrative description and dialogue to develop the theme of a society that no longer uses its own intellectual capability to think or question. He implies that without thinking the citizens in this society unknowingly restrict their emotional and mental growth, as well as create danger.
In the novel, Bradbury indicates through his writing that Clarisse is peculiar compared to the rest of society. When Clarisse is first introduced she is portrayed as inquisitive and curious, personality traits that are normally not welcomed. During her first meeting with Montag her nature is represented in the quote, “He felt she was walking in a circle about him, turning him end for end, shaking him quietly, and emptying his pockets, without once moving herself.” (Bradbury 4). In the novel, her sudden
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Ray Bradbury implies with his use of characterization that while the government's influence can hurt people who think as intended, it can also hurt the average people in the city. As a result, because Clarisse is a thinker, it is seen as acceptable to have her killed, but Mildred’s suicide attempt proves that even the people who act in the way the government wants are not safe from its consequences. Everyone is apt to be harmed by this government’s ability to put thoughts into their citizens’ heads and give them no way to find or question the truth about anything. Clarisse is brought into the story because of her influence over Montag and his ability to think, while Mildred reinforces what this government has made people become. Their characters’ development throughout the story intensify the theme of a detrimental
One of the main character advocating for nature is Clarisse. Ray Bradbury uses Clarisse to ignite the thirst for knowledge and start Guy on his path towards it. A seventeen year old lover of life and nature, Clarisse, an affable neighbor, mesmerizes readers with her odd personality, so different than all other characters in the novel. Bradbury uses Clarisse as the foil of Mildred, someone who loves artificial life and reality. She paralyzes Montag's simple train of thought, cutting loose a thunderstorm of curiosity.
Q: How does Bradbury make Clarisse and Mildred memorable characters? In the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury makes Clarisse and Mildred memorable characters by making Clarisse a unique, happy character, making Mildred easily dislikable, and by making them extremely opposite. Clarisse McClellan lives life to the fullest. She enjoys the little things in life and questions why things are done.
She does not do what the other kids do after school, which is beating kids up and killing them, she notices the little things around her, like the flowers, and tries to get Montag, the main character in Fahrenheit 451, to think like her instead of the old boring way the rest of society thinks. One day Clarisse disappears and Montag does not know what happened to her. It is hinted that the government made Clarisse disappear because she is different than everyone else. Everyone is expected to watch television all day and not think. Clarisse thought and did not watch television all the time like everyone else.
In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Beatty and Montag had different perspectives on books. Beatty and Montag were firefighters, and the firefighters burned the books since they were against the law in this society. Although Montag was curious about the books and what the government was hiding, Beatty was curious about the books but he thought they were fake knowledge and just messed people up. Montag had been hoarding books in his house and Beatty knew this, Beatty told him the books didn’t contain anything special and he had a day to return it else they would burn it.
(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.
In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury challenges the boring prescribed dystopian world where there is only one approved perspective on life. Bradbury’s characterisation of this life through his protagonist, Montag, and Montag’s wife Mildred, contrasts with the characterisation of Clarisse, a young girl who seems full of the joy of living because she rejects the prescribed life style, preferring instead the simple things of nature, and relationship.
(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.
When Bradbury employs symbolism, certain characters convey hidden meanings which help to further clarify the important themes in the story. As Montag is walking home from work one night, he runs into a young woman, Clarisse. Montag quickly discovers that Clarisse is not the average citizen and that she does not fall into the stereotype created by the censored community. Clarisse is a stark contrast to Montag who does his
In the fictional novel "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, the two character Montag and Clarisse, lived in the future where the government is corrupted. As time evolve and the world is changing, the sense of logic become twisted in this society. The world in "Fahrenheit 451" is a place where the idea of "firemen put fires out" appeared to be "long ago" (Bradbury 25). Firemen in this society no longer put out fire, but instead going to start them. The action of a firemen spraying "kerosene" over burning fire is described as an "amazing conductor playing all the symphonies" suggest that this society is twisted (Bradbury 2).
(MIP-2) From certain experiences, Montag comes to realize that he’s not actually happy with his life because he discovers that it lacks genuine, valuable, or humane relationships, eventually driving him to find the truth about his society by making him think about and question it. (SIP-A) Montag realizes from his experiences with Clarisse that his relationships in his life lack genuity, value, or humanity. (STEWE-1)
In Fahrenheit 451 Montag and the rest of his society have to live in a government that nearly controls everything. One character in the beginning, Clarisse, points out many flaws about their government and how controlling it is, which can also be applied to the book and power struggle throughout the novel. When talking to Montag when around the time they first met, she says, "Oh, just my mother and father and uncle sitting around, talking. It 's like being a pedestrian, only rarer. My uncle was arrested another time-did I tell you?-for being a pedestrian.
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
Ray Bradbury 's novel Fahrenheit 451 delineates a society where books and quality information are censored while useless media is consumed daily by the citizens. Through the use of the character Mildred as a foil to contrast the distinct coming of age journey of the protagonist Guy Montag, Bradbury highlights the dangers of ignorance in a totalitarian society as well as the importance of critical thinking. From the beginning of the story, the author automatically epitomizes Mildred as a direct embodiment of the rest of the society: she overdoses, consumes a vast amount of mindless television, and is oblivious to the despotic and manipulative government. Bradbury utilizes Mildred as a symbol of ignorance to emphasize how a population will be devoid of the ability to think critically while living in a totalitarian society. Before Montag meets Clarisse, he is
Everybody has a point in life where someone reminds them of something they have long forgotten and suddenly everything make sense. In the dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury titled Fahrenheit 451, the curious, sweet girl of the name Clarisse pops the bubble that Montag lives in. Bradbury includes Clarisse in the story to act as an eye opener for Montag. She introduces him to a past where firemen put out fires instead of starting them. Clarisse remains immune to the chatter of television and instead gazes through a kaleidoscope of colors that filters out the dull views of the government.
While Mildred’s characterization is an exaggeration, with today’s technologies she has become more relevant, relatable, and tragic. It is remarkable how much prescience Bradbury demonstrated in writing Fahrenheit 451. The Seashells Mildred uses resemble modern day earphones, and how she tunes out the world in favour of “an electronic ocean of sound” (19) predicted how people today would do the same while listening to music or podcasts on their mobile devices. Her TV walls are much like the numerous digital screens that permeate all parts of our lives and hold our attention. Or, the TV parlour and the scripted parts Mildred plays in the shows can be seen as an early concept for virtual reality video games.