In Ray Bradbury’s famous novel, Fahrenheit 451, the relationship between Guy Montag and Clarisse McClellan is one of the most important and interesting. These two characters are so different, yet so similar. As a result of these differences, the characters are able to develop more independently through understanding one another. Clarisse has permanently influenced Montag’s life by demonstrating a part of it that he had forgotten about. While Clarisse is able to see the life in the point of view of another, and watch that change before her eyes. Montag and Clarisse have similarities, as well as differences in their outlook on life, emotions and lifestyles. It is established in the novel that Clarisse and Montag are two very different types of people in the beginning. One trait that differed in the beginning of the novel is curiosity and awareness. This story takes place in a world where the people considered normal do not think for themselves, therefore are not aware of what’s around them. Those like Clarisse, stick out like a sore thumb. Page 7 states, “”Have you seen the two-hundred-foot-long billboards in the country beyond town? Did you know that once billboards were only twenty feet long? But cars started rushing by so quickly they had to stretch the advertising out so that it would last.” “I didn’t know that!” Montag laughed abruptly. “Bet I know something else you don’t. There’s dew on the grass in the morning.” He couldn’t remember if he had known
Clarisse, Montag’s neighbor, is a person that introduces him to a world without technology. She is the catalyst that turns Montag from a mindless drone into a free-thinking and questioning intellectual. She does this when they first meet at the beginning of the novel and they have a conversation. "’I rarely watch the 'parlor walls' [...] So I've lots of time for crazy thoughts [...] Have you seen the -two-hundred-foot-long billboards in the country beyond town? [...]’” [(7). When Montag realizes that he has not been paying attention to these little things in life, he starts to become more interested in talking to Clarisse because she shows him another perspective on life other than a world filled with technology. She shows
The first time Montag and Clarisse meet, Clarisse shows that she is very curious by questioning everything. Many of these questions insult Montag or make him angry. Some make him wonder and question things that he has always known. In the very first conversation Montag and Clarisse have, Clarisse asks “'Are you happy?'she said.” (Bradbury 10). At first, Montag thinks this is a stupid question. Then after he goes home and ponders this question, he realizes that he isn't happy at all. Clarisse also tells Montag of a time when
“Fahrenheit 451,” written by Ray Bradbury, is a futuristic, dystopian novel based upon a society secluded by technology and ignorance. In this future society, books are outlawed and firemen are presented with the task of burning books that are found in people’s homes. Montag, a fireman, finds himself intrigued with the books, and begins to take them home and read them. As the story progresses, Montag learns the truth behind why books are outlawed and flees his city to join the last remnants of age-old scholars. To progress the story and help the reader easily understand the events, Bradbury uses certain steps to write his book. The novel “Fahrenheit 451” possesses all of the steps of narrative structure, which includes the exposition,
Fahrenheit 451 is a very interesting book that shows its many themes in different ways. Through a compare and contrast between the our world now and the world presented in Fahrenheit 451 we will be able to see the different themes and the factors that influence them. The four main factors that influence the story are the controlling government, terrible social conditions, advances technology and censorship. Although, some a play a bigger part than others, without all the them the book 's final outcome could have changed in a drastic way.
When an author produces a work of literature, they are greatly influenced by the world around them. Inspired by life in society, authors are able to create work that speaks to their observations and views on society and its functions. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury incorporated the corruption of the society in which he lived in into the dystopian society created in his book. Fahrenheit 451, a fictional book about a protagonist’s attempt to overcome a dystopian society’s corruption, was written by Ray Bradbury while living in 1950’s America. The book focuses on themes of censorship, and illustrates the effects of when a society is controlled and limited. The correlation between the story and the time it was written is
Clarisse is a curious girl about her environment, how the earth has evolved, and the past. She rubs off on Montag, which could lead to a dramatic change in his life.
“"I’m hungry" "Last night" he began. "Didn’t sleep well. Feel terrible" she said. "God I’m hungry I can’t figure it" "Last night" he said again. She watched his lips casually. "What about last night" "Don’t you remember"”. Mildred doesn’t really listens to Montag He always tries to tell her something but she seems careless about it. He feels like he’s not getting the attention he wants from her. ““When did we meet? Where?”… “It doesn’t matter.” She was up, in the bathroom now, and he heard the water running, and the swallowing sound she made. “No, I guess not,” he said. This demonstrates that all this years of marriage meant nothing to Mildred. By her not remembering how they meet tells that Mildred doesn’t really care about their marriage.
When writing the introduction to Fahrenheit 451, author Neil Gaiman stated that “ideas--written ideas--are special. They are the way we transmit our stories and our thoughts from one generation to the next. If we lose them, we lose our shared history”. Gaiman is absolutely correct; especially because what he is saying heavily applies to books. Books are a critical aspect in shaping humanity as a whole, they create and share a network of creative ideas, history, and overall entertainment; to lose books would be like losing patches of humankind’s history. Creativity, history, feelings and thoughts: all of the aspects that make us human...gone. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury illustrates the story of a man named Guy Montag, who struggles to live in a futuristic dystopian society where censorship through book burning is prominent. Throughout Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury uses multiple motifs to emphasize a certain idea or convey a message to the reader better. A motif is a recurring subject, theme, idea, or even a physical object that appears in literature. Ray Bradbury’s hostile tone towards technology gives meaning to the reader by depicting the message that technology has the power to completely detach people from their genuine emotions, as well as urge readers to not get too attached to technology because it separates them from relationships in real life.
Albert Einstein once said, "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." Back then there was very little technology that was controlling humanity. Today, phones are captivating societies around the world. Based on this, what will happen in the future? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, portrays a world where technology goes too far. Throughout the novel, Bradbury proposes the idea of mindlessness of mass culture. It is a warning to societies everywhere because one day that could be the reality. The definition of happiness changes along with interest and care. They no longer care about anything. The definition of knowledge is also changed. They no longer read. This book was written when T.V First came out, and now seeing how technology is driving society today, this book is a cautionary novel. Their happiness, knowledge and mindlessness is all changed due to technology. This may be a society someday.Bradbury proposes warnings about the mindlessness of mass culture
In the beginning of Fahrenheit 451, Montag becomes fascinated with his new neighbor, Clarisse because of her unusual way of living. “Isn 't this a nice time of night to walk? I like to smell things and look at things, and sometimes stay up all night, walking, and watch the sunrise." They walked on again in silence and finally she said, thoughtfully, "You know, I 'm not afraid of you at all." He was surprised. "Why should you be?”, “How immense a figure she was on the stage before him; what a shadow she threw on the wall with her slender body!” This supports the fact that the
“People need quality information, the leisure to digest it, and the freedom to act on what has been learned.”(Bradbury 85) When these aspects are removed from a society, human beings lose every right to freedom and individualism. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 and the short story Harrison Bergeron, this proves to be more than true. These pieces of literature each display similar values of society, technological advancements, rebellious acts, and a human desire for fulfillment of equality.
When is the last time a person has eaten dinner with their family while using their cellular device? When is the last time a person has eaten dinner without their family and instead, he or she watched an interactive TV show? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury has a powerful message for readers today as the world described in the novel and our world today share many similarities. Fahrenheit 451 is about futuristic firemen who burn books because they are illegal. Due to the neglecting force towards books, people have an increased interest in technology and are using it all the time. Our world today is quite similar to the world in the novel because in both worlds interactive TV shows are watched often, people are using their technological devices all the time, and tracking devices are used.
For example, Montag has never really thought about much so Clarisse tells him to “just sit and think” so he can analyze the world (23). Clarisse wants Montag to see the world around him and think about what he is seeing. Also, Clarisse is outside with Montag as it is raining and say, “rain even tastes good”, with her head back drinking (21). This shows that Clarisse is more outgoing and adventurous than Mildred. Montag tells Clarisse that his wife is thirty, but Clarisse seems “much older [than her]” at times (23).
Winston Churchill, a politician and an author, once said,“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often” (Churchill). Change is always occurring weather it be on a small or a large scale. You could be a billionaire businessman or a fast food worker, anyone has the power to change and impact society. The main character from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Guy Montag, a fireman who burns books, is no stranger to changing society for the better. The novel is set in a future dystopian society where technology fills everyone’s day to day lives. The government censors the people of all of the problems and destroys knowledge to keep people from thinking for themselves and revolting against the corrupt government. Clarisse McClellan, a
Instead of spending their days shut indoors, these people go for walks and read. Clarisse loves to talk to people. She also enjoys nature and is extremely curious. Clarisse stays up late conversing and laughing with her family. During the day. she spends time outdoors. The average person in the book would never think of these activities as fun. Her conversation with Guy Montag shows how the common man or woman does not take the time to notice things around them. “ ‘Bet I know something else you don’t know. There’s dew on the grass in the morning.’ He suddenly couldn’t remember if he had known this or not, and it made him quite irritable.” (Bradbury 16) At this point in time, Montag was a conformist and, like his peers, does not want to explore or