Clarisse McClellan was the girl that first got Montag questioning his happiness. Clarisse was 17 years old; she had moved in across the street from Montag. Clarisse was a lover of life and nature. When she first met Montag she asked him if he was happy. This made Montag start thinking about his surroundings, his marriage, and his job. His encounter with Clarisse made him wonder what he was missing and why he wasn't happy. Sadly, Clarisse died in a tragic automobile crash. Although Montag was not able to continue hearing about life before books were burned, Clarisse left a permanent impression on him.
Another person that had a major impact on Montag was his wife, Mildred (Millie) Montag. Through Millie he saw how fake society had become. Millie had overdosed on sleeping pills. We do not know if the overdose was intentional. Millie had a boring existence. Most people like Millie just sat around and watched the "family"� on the wall televisions; they never had conversations about issues or ideas. This showed Montag that people really weren't happy. People needed to be able to think to enjoy life. Montag learned from Millie that he no longer wanted to be just another person in society with no feelings.
The unidentified woman may have only been in the book for a few pages but she had a lasting affect on Montag. Montag was sent to go burn the unidentified woman's house along with the books that she was hiding. She didn't want to leave the house and decided to light a match and incinerate herself with her books. Montag realized that books must have something very important for this woman to die with her books rather then go to jail. This made Montag, again, have doubts about what he was doing: burning books. He saw how awful and wrong it really was. The unidentified woman changed how Montag conducted himself in the rest of the book.
In Fahrenheit 451, Montag transitioned from being a dedicated firefighter to becoming an outlaw. Three women had a overpowering influence Montag's thoughts and actions throughout the book. Clarisse helped him to see a world with ideas and books, Millie helped Montag realize how unhappy people really are, and, finally, the unidentified woman gave Montag an unintended push to turn away from being a firefighter. These were the people that influenced the changes in Montag's life the most.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
In life some people change, and others do not. In the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag is a courageous, strong firefighter who constantly changes throughout the book. Reason how Montag is a dynamic character is when he kills Faber, when he starts to read Mildred’s friends the poem, and when he starts to take the books.…
- 471 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
This woman had a tremendous impact on Montag. She burned with her books. When he is talking with Mildred about it later, he says "There must be something in books, things we can't imagine to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing." (pg 51) Mildred tries to say that the woman was simple-minded and that it is water under the bridge. Montag knows that the experience will last him a lifetime. He cannot put it out of his mind. He goes on to explain that for the first time he realized that a man wrote the books He had to think them up and put them down on paper, and then he came along and in two minutes burned it all up and it was over. It seriously bothered him.…
- 281 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
At first, he feels comfortable with his job, but when Mildred tells Montag that Clarisse is “gone”, Montag starts to have thoughts on the questions Clarisse asked him (Bradbury 23). “”How did it start? How did you get into it? How did you pick your work and how did you happen to think to take the job you have?”” Clarisse asks Montag (Bradbury 47). This makes him take a new perspective on his life setting him on his journey to find the truth about his society. While Montag is going through the events, the stress rises within…
- 508 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Montag spends the rest of the damp afternoon reading uneasily through his books while Mildred sits slowly. Whenever Montag reads, he is often reminded of Clarisse. Mildred then complains that there’s no reason that their house should be burned down if anyone finds out just because of reading a book. Montag then talks of the ongoing wars and how people all over the world are suffering and starving while they live well, after hearing Mildred complain. Soon after giving Mildred a leisure, Montag wonders what he will be doing next and soon, then recalls an encounter with an English Professor named Faber. Montag calls Faber and questions him about how many copies of books he stole from the old woman that are left in the country.…
- 126 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Throughout Ray Bradbury’s bestselling novel Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag’s wife Mildred is introduced, described, and explored. From start to finish the novel tells us of Mildred’s fears, changes our perception of her, and most importantly, describes who and what she represents. But the question is, who is this apparently cowardly, inconsistent zombie of a character.…
- 1143 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Imagine a world where everything has changed-- firemen start fires instead of putting them out, books are illegal, and TV dominates life. Imagine a world where family dynamics have changed, and society is about as twisted and delusional as possible. In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, this world becomes a reality. In this novel, the firemen start fires, not put them out, because they live in a world where television is life and the family dynamics and definition of social have changed quite a bit. In this world, a fireman named Montag changes his perspective on life after he meets a young girl named Clarisse, who teaches him the true value of life. In the wonderful book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury creates a world where family dynamics…
- 1661 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
He never knew or never paid any attention on what was happening around him but once he met Clarisse that all changed. Montag was walking home after meeting Clarisse, once he got home he kicked an empty bottle of sleeping pills “Montag was cut in half” (13). Before he wouldn’t have cared of what happened to Mildred but now he become…
- 572 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury published in 1953 is considered one of Bradbury’s best works. The main character “Guy Montag” is an average citizen in his average town. In this dystopian time era books are frowned upon by society enough to ruin one another’s lives completely. Montag fills the occupation referred to as a “fire man”, fire men burn down houses if they contain books. However Montag thoroughly enjoys his job until a 17 year old girl named Clarisse befriends Montag. Despite their differences Clarisse does not fear Montag despite his occupation ““You know, I’m not afraid of you at all.” He was surprised. “Why should you be?” “So many people are. Afraid of firemen, I mean. But you’re just a man after all…””…
- 1325 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Clarisse is open minded because she thinks distinctively from society. She does not believe in violence that of which the firemen grasp. She is queer according to Montag because her questions to him are introspective and silly. However, the questions force Montag over the edge where he has to think about the things that society rejects.…
- 961 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Granger welcomed Montag into their group, and almost completed Montag’s transformation. Granger handed out an unknown liquid, but it changed the chemical index of his perspiration and made him smell [especially to the hound] like a different person. As Montag converses with Granger, he says that “even if she [Mildred] dies, I realized a moment ago, I don’t think I’ll feel sad.” Montag realized the relationship he had with Mildred, had zero connection and love. He says this independently and without assistance. It shows how Montag has learned to think in a more complex way than his previous members of society. Even Though Montag had just met Granger, Granger’s impact on Montag was monumental, and he is now completely dependant on his independent thoughts, which develops the theme to stand up for one’s beliefs. All in all, Montag has been developing into an intelligent character over a short period of time, with the assistance of Clarisse, Faber, and Granger, which develops the theme of standing up for one’s beliefs, in Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit…
- 480 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
This hints at Montag’s identity crisis early on. In fact, Clarisse’s few lines have sparked the catalyst that will make Montag question his society’s character. As Clarisse acknowledges Montag’s differentness, Montag feels a conflict between his duty towards his society and his subconscious. He starts to sense wrongness in the society. When he feels his body divide into opposites, he begins to realize that although this dismal culture seems content, what meets the eye isn’t always true.…
- 160 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
He never even thought to mention or think about it until he met Clarisse. Most people in this time prefers to watch tv or have a good time. Clarisse is a very knowledgable 17 year old girl who is interested in other things beyond what the society around her is interested in, or being forced and limited to. She draws Montag into the life she has lived and became so interested in. Montag starts to genuinely become interested in the things that she are saying and starts to question and also wonder what is really going on around him. After the burning of a woman’s books, house, and also herself, he decides to see for himself. After realizing that everyone is on edge about him confiscating the book from the woman’s house, he then realizes that its not only the decreasing use of books in the society that is the issue but the content that they hold. A content that could possibly change lives band change how they…
- 859 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag, the main character begins to question his life when he meets Clarisse. Before his encounter with Clarisse, Montag simply went about his business as a fireman and did as he was told. However, Clarisse challenges Montag to "think" about things, which results in Montag to question his life, his role as a fireman, and the illegality of books. This questioning of who he is and what his society has become separates himself from the norm and his wife, leaving him to be an outcast. Being an outcast, though gives Montag hope and happiness for what is to come for the future.…
- 973 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Beatty did however made the final push of drastically changing Montag's life. Stopping at his house to call him out on all the books and quotes he's been reciting the entire time. Beatty himself has also read plenty of books, of course he's not punished since he has authority. Every single person that crossed paths with Montag has at least read a book or thought differently from others. No one is really sure if Clarisse has books in her house but a numerous amount of searches have been done. It's suspicious enough that she thinks drastically different from most kids. Meanwhile, the old lady, Beatty, and Faber has read a plentiful amount of books in their lifetime. After seeing Beatty for the last time, Montag runs into even more people who have read books to some extent. A large group in fact just like Montag. Both himself and the world he sees has changed from start to…
- 898 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Meeting Clarisse, Beatty’s death and Montag’s relationship with Faber, gave Montag a new outlook on life. Before any of this happened, Montag was just a regular person in his terrible society. He did not care about anything, who it affected, or why he did what he did. All he knew was that it was what society wants him to do.…
- 465 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays