Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury

Everyday, people make decisions that define their lives. Some people act selfishly, and only act for personal benefit, while some give of themselves for the benefit of others. In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, two characters exemplify these converse ways of life, one of them being alive and selfless, and the other being dead to humanity and selfish. Mildred, the wife of Montag the protagonist, epitomizes such a selfish lifestyle, while Clarisse, an eccentric seventeen year old, lives for the fullness of life and for the benefit of others. Through their contrasting actions, two lifestyles surface, and they demonstrate what it takes to truly live. Mildred is not truly alive because she simply meanders through the motions of life, immaturely,

Mildred would not give of herself, or reflect anything back to others, yet in her last moments she saw her reflection which is so “wild [and] empty. . .all by itself. . .touching nothing, starved and eating of itself” (152). “Empty” refers to her face, as well as her intellect and personality. She is empty because she is thoughtless and selfish, even to the point of trying to ruin her own husband. “Touching nothing” describes how she did not positively influence or leave a mark on anybody or anything. She simply meanders through life selfishly, giving nothing of herself, and living as though she had not been there. She is Montag’s wife, living with him, and with the best chance to influence him, yet Montag realizes, “I don’t miss her. . .if she dies. . .I don’t think I’ll feel sad” (148). She had an immense number of opportunities to give something, yet she failed to do so. Conversely, Clarisse would give of her time to Montag, and he is amazed that “her face. . .[is] like a mirror” (8) in that she showed you your true self, she could “take of you and throw back to you your own expression. . .[and] thought. . . [with] incredible power of identification” (8-9). “Mirror” refers to how one could see their true self through her probing questions and thoughts. She could reflect back who one really is, thus influencing Montag more than his wife, Mildred, ever knew possible. Clarisse has the ability to see others more deeply, and then expose people’s good side to them, as if they were wearing a mask; on one side are the things that one feels good about others seeing, and on the opposite, hidden side, there is one’s true identity and self, which she exposes. Thus, she touches lives, and gives of herself, for “the difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardner is in the touching. .