Theme Of Alienation In Fahrenheit 451
The alienation of Clarisse McClellan in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury reveals the dystopian society’s false assumptions and twisted moral values. Her alienation is shown from the views people in society have on her and her differences within the society.
One of the reasons Clarisse is alienated from society is because of her incredible curiosity of the world other than technology and likes of people gripped by the dystopian society. Clarisse didn’t conform to society’s norms; she let her imagination run free. For example, when she could be inside letting technology rule her life, she is outside playing freely, “The rain was thinning away and the girl was walking in the center of the sidewalk with her head up and the few drops falling
on her face” (19) By playing in the rain Clarisse is given a strange look by society; even Montag was surprised at what she was doing.{ } Society would assume her to stay inside and interact with her “family” on her TV walls, however Clarisse is embracing the beauty of nature. Clarisse’s curiosity of nature is given negative views by people sucked into the twisted society, thus causing her to be separated and displays society’s gruesome view on creativity and imagination.
Another reason Clarisse is disassociated from society is because she asks questions and thinks, whereas other people would just accept everything as it is. Society expects her to accept everything that is presented to her, but she asks questions concerning the purposes of something. For example, when she asks Montag a question and Montag laughs, she responds, “Why are you laughing? ...You laugh when I haven’t been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think what I’ve asked you” (6) Through her remark to Montag, it shows how she thinks differently compared to the rest of society. Also, Montag’s later response saying, “You think too many things” (6) shows how people start to alienate her because she thinks instead of accepting things as they are. This also shows the horrible morals of society teaching people to believe everything that is told to them. Clarisse doesn’t conform to society by thinking what they think and not asking questions. By thinking rather than just believing everything, Clarisse is separated from the rest of society.
One of the reasons Clarisse is alienated from society is because of her incredible curiosity of the world other than technology and likes of people gripped by the dystopian society. Clarisse didn’t conform to society’s norms; she let her imagination run free. For example, when she could be inside letting technology rule her life, she is outside playing freely, “The rain was thinning away and the girl was walking in the center of the sidewalk with her head up and the few drops falling
on her face” (19) By playing in the rain Clarisse is given a strange look by society; even Montag was surprised at what she was doing.{ } Society would assume her to stay inside and interact with her “family” on her TV walls, however Clarisse is embracing the beauty of nature. Clarisse’s curiosity of nature is given negative views by people sucked into the twisted society, thus causing her to be separated and displays society’s gruesome view on creativity and imagination.
Another reason Clarisse is disassociated from society is because she asks questions and thinks, whereas other people would just accept everything as it is. Society expects her to accept everything that is presented to her, but she asks questions concerning the purposes of something. For example, when she asks Montag a question and Montag laughs, she responds, “Why are you laughing? ...You laugh when I haven’t been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think what I’ve asked you” (6) Through her remark to Montag, it shows how she thinks differently compared to the rest of society. Also, Montag’s later response saying, “You think too many things” (6) shows how people start to alienate her because she thinks instead of accepting things as they are. This also shows the horrible morals of society teaching people to believe everything that is told to them. Clarisse doesn’t conform to society by thinking what they think and not asking questions. By thinking rather than just believing everything, Clarisse is separated from the rest of society.