In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses a dystopian era to create a depiction of a world without knowledge. Most of the community does not believe in diversity of thought; literature is seen as outdated, and firemen burn books because of the provocative and offensive material they occasionally contain. However, one character, Clarisse McClellan, believes that independence and intellect are important, and she uses this philosophy to influence the protagonist of this novel: a fireman named Guy Montag. Clarisse’s curiosity serves to demonstrate that knowledge is crucial for members of a society to be progressive, independent, and educated.
From the beginning of the novel, Clarisse’s curiosity has impelled her to question her surroundings and think differently than the characters she interacts with. When she hypothesizes that people in cars cannot identify their surroundings, she displays her powers of observation, refusing to blindly regurgitate facts and making inferences instead. “‘I sometimes think drivers don't know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them, she said slowly…‘You think too many things,’ said Montag uneasily (Bradbury PN). Montag’s puzzled response shows that such curiosity is not the norm in the society depicted.
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In one interaction with Guy Montag, she hands him a leaf and asks, “Have you ever smelled old leaves? Don't they smell like cinnamon? Here. Smell” (PN), to which he responds, “Why, yes, it is like cinnamon in a way” (PN). Clarisse presents Montag with an unusual idea and then supplies him with evidence to prove her point, thus eliciting an engaging response. In doing so, she not only spreads knowledge but also encourages Montag to be aware of his surroundings on his