Fahrenheit 451 Analysis
Fahrenheit 451 Analysis
In Ray Bradbury's futuristic set book Fahrenheit 451, there are many conflicts that drive and bring it's central character, Guy Montag, to a halt. This all came about while one night, on his way home, he ran into a precocious young girl who was about to change his life. Clarisse McClellan embodied a calm innocence midst the harsh reality of a world that was corrupt, a cradle of humanity that must be rid of it's flaws. It was because of Clarisse that Montag came to realize what really surrounded him.
Clarisse had left quite an impression on Montag from their first encounter. "Montag shook his head. He looked at a blank wall. The girl's face was there, really quite beautiful in memory: astonishing, in fact." (14) It wasn't just her physical appearance that lingered in his mind, it was her words, her ideas, her vision of how she lived her life and how others around her lived their lives. She was observant and carefree. "She didn't want to know how a thing was done, but why (64).
"But Clarisse's favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me. She was the first person in a good many years I've really liked. She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted" (74).
Now he had somewhat of a newfound self-concept. He reflected on himself and others around him. People that encompassed Montag daily weren't like Clarisse at all. This brought to his attention how people really were. "These men were all mirror images of himself!" (37). It had occurred to him that all firemen had a strong resemblance to himself, or he had a striking resemblance to them. Either way, he noticed it, something he had never noticed before.
"Are you happy?" (14) Whatever the circumstance may be, this simple question can surface some complex answers. Up until that night, he had never given his happiness a second thought. She had inquired this question just as she ran off into her house, he had time to think alone about what he really felt.
"He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there...