In the book, Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse McClellan is a thought out, important motif. A motif is a recurring object, theme, or item in a literary text that contributes to the plot of the story. Clarisse makes for a good example of a well-written motif. Clarisse McClellan is a character who is different from most of the other people in the book. Her face is described as being, “Slender and milk white.” She is curious and has a wise, but innocent aura about her. Clarisse also asks a lot of questions. She tells Montag early in the story that her school teachers call her anti-social. She goes on to explain that this is because she isn’t interested in the same things that most kids are interested in. They are content with killing each other, watching television, and playing sports 24/7, all while Clarisse would prefer to sit and talk to people. …show more content…
And of course, like many other people in their futuristic world, he thought he was content. After thinking about her question though, Montag realized that he wasn’t happy at all. Describing his happiness, “Like a mask…the girl had run off across the lawn with,” saying that, “There was no way of going to knock on her door and ask[ing] for [the mask] back.” When Clarisse and Montag met for the second time she was rubbing a dandelion under her chin. When Montag asked what she was doing, she explained that, “If it rubs off, it means [she’s] in love,” and according to the dandelion trick, she was, in fact, in love. On the other hand, when Montag rubbed the flower under his chin, nothing showed up. And, naturally, of course, he immediately began to make excuses on why the yellow powder hadn’t rubbed off onto his chin. This added to the idea that his perception of everything was a little skewed. He wasn’t truly in love with his wife, as one would find out later in the book, and Clarisse triggered this
As he smites the very man that had driven him mentally unstable and had manipulated his basic morals into near nothingness, he exercises the use of an instrument he’s grown to resent and hate for it’s true purpose, showing that one must enforce the very rules he despises to create some dent in a system built on selfishness and a lack-luster stance on human life. Yet another oddly human thing was Montag’s obvious guilty conscious upon taking the breath of another human being.
She is considered antisocial and odd by people including her teacher and classmates and the way she thinks and talks is different, “‘Well,’ she said, ‘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 sun rise.’” (5) The way her mind works is complex and unique to the society. Clarisse shows the side of people in her society who like books because she herself is a book reader and her unusual display of her knowledge represents the human side of this
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
Clarisse is known as an outcast and “guilty”. She lived on the edge and she was happy instead of the people following the rules to “achieve” happiness.
Clarisse affected Montag by showing him how to be curious and adventurous and teaching Montag to try new things. Montag being a fireman doesn't know what he is doing for his society, by him burning books everyone's knowledge goes down. Clarisse is not for society, she is more free minded then Montag "'I rarely watch the 'parlor walls' or go to races or Fun Parks. So I've lots of time for crazy thoughts, I guess.'"(9). She is against watching the parlor and doing stuff society wants you to do. Montag will be affected by this and learn from this, he will later be against watching the parlor. Clarisse's attitude to life is good too, it seems like she is the light in a dark room. She also always has something interesting to say this makes Montag want to be around her "'Let me come in. I won't say anything. I just want to listen. What is it you're saying?'" (17)Montag wants hear what she has to say for there is always something interesting to be heard when she is talking.
Clarisse is one of the characters who influenced Montag by showing her own world. Clarisse remind Montag the fireman’s real job. Clarisse said ‘”strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames”’ (pg 8). Clarisse is the one of character who read a book in conflict read society. She confused Montag on
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.
Clarisse is the first people who Montag considers to be a true friend. When Montag is speaking to his wife about friendship, he speaks about Clarisse. He tells his wife, "She's was the first person in a good many years I've really liked" (Bradbury 68). Montag liked Clarisse because he felt listened to and appreciated when he was speaking to her. He said, "But Clarisse's favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me" (Bradbury 68). Clarisse was good at conversation and genuinely was interested in what Montag had to say. Montag did not have a lot of people in his life he could openly to talk to, who not judge his opinions.
Clarisse is a very curious individual. Some would see her as an attention seeker, peculiar, or even insane. All of these things due to her differences. Her outlook on the world and society is completely opposed to others she is surrounded by. For example, she explains to Montag that she and her family talk. This catches him by surprise and bring curiosity because in their
Clarisse helps Montag look around him and see everything, from the smallest snowflake to the biggest tree. Montag never really thinks about what is happening in his life, or why it seems he never shows much emotion towards anything. Clarisse teaches Montag to look around and to pay attention to what is really important in life, just not what his society tells him. Even though I believe Clarisse was the reason for Montag’s major metamorphosis, I believe that there were two additional individuals that had a role to play in Montag’s expedition to find answers to fill the void in his life.
First and foremost, Clarisse McClellan is a seventeen year old who is completely different than those her age. Not to mention, she opens up a new door for Montag with her strong desire of learning new things as well as her curiosity based on their relationship. In addition, Clarisse is extremely a lover of life and nature. On another note, she is also delightfully considered as an “odd” human being who is aware of her surroundings. Unlike any other teenager in the book, Clarisse is also an outcast that has an interest in different topics.
Clarisse helps Montag start caring for others because he sees that she cares for him. According to page 72, Montag stated, “ ‘But Clarisse’s favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me. She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted. These men have been dead a long time, but I know their words point, one way or another, to Clarisse.’”
In the story, Clarisse is happy because her family talks and lives like people used to. But she asks Montag, “are you happy?”, which causes him to question his happiness. Montag thinks about her question and realizes that he is not happy (page 10). He meets with Clarisse again and this time she has a dandelion. She says that if it rubs off on his chin, he is in love. The dandelion does not rub off and she says, “What a shame, you’re not in love with anyone (page 22).” Montag realizes that he is not really in love with his wife, and he had been believing a lie. Clarisse was happy because she was what Beatty called “antisocial” which is actually considered social our society. Beatty called her “a ticking time bomb,” because he noticed that she was different than everybody else (page 60). Whenever Beatty suspected someone to have books, he would keep a close eye on them
In Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse is a unique teen who sees the world differently from others. At one part, she mentioned something peculiar about people
Clarisse, the young women, impacts Montag’s life and changes his perspective on the world. When Montag first met Clarisse, he noticed she did not behave like the other citizens. Clarisse does not obsess over technology. Instead, Clarisse liked to enjoy the outside world and pay attention to it. As Montag and Clarisse interact and become friends, Clarisse says something to Montag that shocks him. For the first time Montag contemplates his life and job. While in this state of shock, Clarisse tells Montag that she finds him unique because he does not ignore her. Instead he listens and comprehends what she says, "...You're one of the few who put up with me. That's why I think it's so strange you're a fireman, it just doesn't seem right for you, somehow."(23-24). After Clarisse says this, Montag decides to do something Clarisse suggested. He stopped to feel the rain drip on his tongue, something he has never done before. Clarisse impacted Montag's life in a way that made him realize and appreciate the world around him. Until Montag met Clarisse, he never thought of the world as something to take care of and appreciate. Clarisse shaped Montag into the person he became. Other