Clarisse McClellan is another character throughout the
course of Fahrenheit 451 that holds
influence over Montag. She was the
character that brought Montag to the realization that there has to be something
more to life. There was just something
about her that caught his eye. She was a
beautiful seventeen year old girl who was choosing not to conform to her society. She was the odd one out when it comes to
comparisons. Montag noticed that
Clarisse seemed so happy and alert all the time. She did not mask her feelings and views like
everyone else did. She was a unique
individual and Montag wished he could be the same. Both her and her family are seen as outcasts
to society because they do things like sit on their porch and socialize, hike,
and pick flowers. In a society that
demands conformity, Clarisse was in the wrong place, but her awareness of
Montag really has an impact on him. “So Clarisse isn’t trying to teach Guy anything. She’s
trying to learn from him. It’s just that her constant questioning ends up
pushing the already-doubt-ridden fireman over the edge. Clarisse never tells
Montag what to think; she just shows him that thinking is an option. She
invites him to do it for himself, and he walks through the door she opens.”
(Shmoop 1). Because Clarisse is so
unique, she continued to influence Montag late into this novel. Even when she dies being hit by a car, she
leaves an impact on him. Her death has
some thematic significance to it. “It
could be that, in this world, a girl like Clarisse just can’t exist. She’s
incompatible with her surroundings, so she’s not allowed to live. We don’t know
all the details of her demise, nor is the confusion reconciled by the end of
the novel. But we can’t help but think of Clarisse when Granger discusses the
thumbprint on his mind left by his grandfather.” (Shmoop 1). Clarisse remains one of the most startling
yet enjoyable characters in Fahrenheit 451.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1967. Print."Fahrenheit 451." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2012. <http://www.shmoop.com/fahrenheit-451/>.
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