Guy Montag is a fireman who is greatly influenced in Ray Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451. The job of a fireman in this futuristic society is to burn down houses with books in them. Montag has always enjoyed his job, that is until Clarisse McClellan comes along. Clarisse is seventeen and crazy. At least, this is what her uncle, whom she gets many of her ideas about the world from, describes her as. Clarisse and Montag befriend each other quickly, and Clarisse's impact on Montag is enormous. Clarisse comes into Montag's life, and immediately begins to question his relationship with his wife, his career, and his happiness. Also, Clarisse shows Montag how to appreciate the simple things in life. She teaches him to care about other people and
statement by Clarisse makes Montag think of a time when he was a child during
Most people, without influence of other people, stay the way they already are. Guy, before he was influenced by Clarisse, acted as everyone else did in his futuristic society. “It was a pleasure to burn.” (Bradbury 3) Bradbury here states that burning books was an occupation of this society. The people obviously don’t want to do anything with the books or read them, so they burn them instead. This shows that people like
Clarisse McClellan is a crazy young seventeen year old exquisite lady, who appears on Fahrenheit 451. Clarisse McClellan is significant in the story since, she notices things that most people don’t seem to notice. She is also an inquisitive person, she thinks differently than how others do in the book. In addition, Clarisse is an outcast from the era, she is in, meaning she isn’t fitting in, since she is used to her old habits. Including, playing with flowers, hiking, and to be with her family since they’re both happy being themselves.
In the beginning of the novel of Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury uses Clarisse as a changing role in the story. He uses Clarisse and the settings of their society to be able to convince Montag and see new things that he didn’t see before. Many of the instances that Ray Bradbury uses with Clarisse to change Montag is used in when they are mostly walking and seeing many of the wonders of the world they live in. As in the story Clarisse plays a major role in the book even though she is only present for a little time. This shows the reader that only a small amount of time is needed to change a persons perspective on life and society. In the novel Ray Bradbury uses Clarisse as a guild line for Montag and for him to change his ways of how he acts in the society.
The character Clarisse in the novel Fahrenheit 451 had a very important role towards Montag’s gradual rebellion. She first appears in the novel late at night, simply taking a stroll. This in and of itself is strange, and once Montag begins to talk with her he realizes just how eccentric she is. In our society, she would not be perceived as bizarre, but in Montag’s culture just thinking, exploring, and generally being curious is a crime. Although meeting Clarisse jump started Montag’s journey, he may have been collecting books and having similar thoughts far before. She makes him think introspectively, and he begins to question his association to the firemen. Clarisse even unknowingly unearths the fact that Montag isn’t in love with his wife(19).
People’s actions and their individual perceptions can influence and develop change in another person’s character. In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, makes a complete metamorphosis with the help from his neighbor Clarisse, his wife Mildred, and his boss Beatty. In the beginning of the novel, he despised the whole idea of reading, had no thoughts or questions about his life, and was just going through the motions of life. He changes from a stolid character, incognizant of the activities of his surroundings, to a conscious person of. So enlightened, by the new world he is exposed to, he comes to the realization that there is more
One night, Montag gets into a heated debate with Mildred on the importance of books. Done with the quarrel: “‘Let me alone,’ said Mildred. ‘I didn’t do anything.’
Clarisse opens Montag's eyes to the world around him, and kickstarts his curiosity. Before granger, before Faber, even before Clarisse, Montag thought nothing much of his life at all. He went through the motions and never strayed from what society wanted. Then, suddenly, Clarisse walked into his life, quite literary. "'It's fine work. Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn 'me to ashes, then burn the ashes. That's our official slogan'"(8) Montag believes whole-heatedly that his work is "fine work" believes there is nothing wrong with relentlessly burning books, but Clarisse subtly seems to disagree, "Do you ever read any of the books you burn?"'(8) it can be assumed Montag hasn't ever read the book, assumed that his small
Cofer preserves her intelligence and gains intelligence through the use of books. This could show students that books are a great way to acquire knowledge instead of just school. Bradbury hints at the way we used books in our society and abuse them today. We do not appreciate the way that they are mistreated and basically left to rot in the unused libraries. Since we treat books very wrong and don’t use them to gain knowledge and explore the depths of our imagination, Clarisse asks a very simple, yet deep question; “Are you
If people let technology take over their lives, they will forget the more important things in life, such as books, and talking to other human beings. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the character that still thinks about talking to humans and books is Clarisse. According to Clarisse, everyone thought she was very peculiar and ‘antisocial’,and how she had more of a interest in the smallest unimportant things in life. Clarisse in the novel opened Montag's mind to see the world he really lives in. But, she took more interest in thinking about yourself. She took an interest in nature, talking to other people, and above all else books and how they taught society to think, to question, to answer. With the little time Clarisse had in the novel,
Clarisse McClellan- She is a happy, worry-free teenage girl at age 16. She moves in beside on Montag in the beginning of the book. Her character questions everything that she hears and takes time out of her day to think about it. Clarisse tells Guy Montag what the uncle said about the time before when books weren’t illegal and firemen were meant to put out fires not start them. She changes Guy’s perspective of life, making him think about the everyday things more in depth. Adj. adventurous, bubbly, complex, and flighty.
The text starts off with rather stirring imagery, the imagery of books being set ablaze by the protagonist, Guy Montag. As a member of a modern society where there is always a plethora of books available and therefore, a plethora of knowledge at one's fingertips it bothersome that one would want of rid the world of that commodity. Bradbury starts off his work by painting the vivid beginnings of a tale of a dystopian culture.
All in all, Clarisse and Mildred differ in their influences on Montag as Clarisse represents the beacon of hope for individuality in their society, whereas Mildred represents the status quo of conformity. Clarisse provides Montag with the desire to question and search for the true meaning of this life, as her true happiness shows Montag what he can provide to the other members of society. This fuels his desire to stop being a fireman, read books, and explore the reality of life they provide. Mildred constantly angers Montag with her actions and her lack of empathy, which causes him to have an even greater desire to change the way people live so they don’t become even more consumed by insensitivity like Millie and the others have. As well, the extremities of ideologies Clarisse and Mildred represent similarly impact Montag, as it creates tension or opposing forces that he is trying to battle against. Mildred represents the past unhappy life he is attempting to get rid of whereas Clarisse represents the quest for happiness and truth. However, every time, Montag makes a progression in changing the society, Millie as a symbol of her society, drags him back down. However, although both women influence Montag in different ways, in the end they both must suffer so he can complete his journey.
Clarisse McClellan is different. Or as depicted in the book, Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, she is an “odd” one. She was not different, but for the humanity in their world, she is. People were more isolated, they were more liberated, and advanced. Individuals conventionally follows with the status quo, the rules, and the knowledge that their society has to offer to them. But no one usually questions it, unlike Clarisse.