Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
Clarisse got Montag to start observing, thinking, and exploring for himself. Mildred, instead, takes his new way of thinking and tries to squash it. This is seen when Montag arrives at his house with the fellow firemen to find out that he has to burn his own home. He
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.
Montag, like most people in his society, operates under the assumption that they are happy. Their lives are filled with mindless entertainment, the constant need for thrill seeking, and a disregard for critical thinking. Clarisse's question forces him to pause and genuinely consider his emotional state. Ultimately, Clarisse's question becomes the catalyst for Montag's transformation. It sets him on a path of self-discovery and rebellion.
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.
Before Montag met Clarisse, he never thought about reading books, and he was never curious about how things were done before (history). Clarisse makes Montag question his surroundings, such as his society, and happiness. Everything started with a simple walk in the neighborhood to Clarisse’s house, followed by the question “"Are you happy?,"” introducing Montag's first internal problem, himself (7). After his first encounter with Clarisse, Montag seemed to have a crisis over his happiness, “Of course I'm happy. What does she think?
At first Montag is confused why she would even ask him such a question. He feels as if everything is fine and that he is happy. He then “felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over, and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out. Darkness. He was not happy” (9).
At the beginning of the book, Montag is a proud fireman with a "happy" life in their society. "It was a pleasure to burn. … his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history" (1). However, after meeting Clarisse, a young and beautiful teenager with unconventional thoughts and questions challenging Montag's worldview, he starts questioning his role as a fireman and the way of their society with her question, "Are you happy?" (7).
One night, Guy Montag is walking home from work. Being a fireman, he does not hold much knowledge about the world and is only taught to burn everything in life. When Montag first meets Clarisse, he is awestruck by the way she thinks, taking every aspect of her life into interest. Before they part, she asks him if he is happy. Montag questions the young girl’s thoughts and wonders if he is really happy with his career and marriage.
In addition, taking after Clarisse, Montag begins to ask questions himself, and realizes that the way society functions isn't right, and he is no longer happy with his choice of profession.(STEWE-1) " ‘I've tried to imagine,’ said Montag, ‘just how it would feel. I mean, to have firemen burn our houses and our books’” (Bradbury 31). Here, Montag has his first realization that being a fireman is not only wrong, but also an inaccurate, untruthful version of who he wants to be.(STEWE-2)
(Bradbury 7). Montag reacts a bit offendedly, and Clarisse leaves. He wonders why Clarisse would think he may not be happy. He feels fulfilled and happy with his life. He continues walking home and goes inside his house.
She says, “That’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman, it just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow”(21). This gets Montag thinking about his life and purpose. Clarisse gives Montag a sense of repentance. This is important because this opens Montag’s eyes to real society.
and Clarisse’s relationship grows, Clarisse starts to question Montag’s whole life, starting with his relationship with his wife to his occupation. This affects Montag as despite the questions generally being simple-minded, he begins to dig deeper into his responses and how he truly feels. Montag responds, “Happy! Of all the nonsense. He stopped laughing,” when Clarisse asks him if he is happy, a simple question which he never truly thought about (Pg.8).
In order to make Montag realize that he does not actually know anything about himself, Clarisse asks him if he is happy. For instance, “she seemed to remember something and came back to look at him with wonder and curiosity. " Are you happy?" she said.”
Befor Montag meets Clarisse, Montag sees himself as someone who has the power to manipulate the things around him and gets tremendous satisfaction from this, which is inferred in the quotation “his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning”.(3). Montag is a man divided against himself. He often experiences contradictory emotions and thoughts but Clarisse makes him feel safe and appreciated. The quote “he saw himself in her eyes … as if her eyes were two miraculous bits of violet amber that might capture and hold him intact”. infers that Clarisse has a calming effect on Montag.
At first when I was told I would be able to speak my mind as to what my thoughts would be on the effects of what happened and what Mr. Wilson should receive as a time to serve I knew exactly what to say, but when you begin putting pen to paper you get lost and all the fears and anxiety continue at a high level. Below are what continue to haunt me and my children on a daily basis. I still recall the time you woke up and looked over at me with this crazed look in your eyes. You kicked me so hard in my right jaw and right upper arm. I fell into the night stand, then onto the floor next to the bed.
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