Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury The Meetings

Betwe Essay, Research Paper

Fahrenheit 451The Meetings betweenMontag and ClarisseThe novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is about a futuristic society that hasbanned books. Firemen that start fires are used to burn the books when they are found.One fireman, Guy Montag, remembers a time before book burning and tries to right thishorrible metropolis of zombies. An important part of the novel Fahrenheit 451 is themeetings between Montag and Clarisse. The meetings between Montag and Clarisse begins a series of events and changesin Montag’s way of thinking and lifestyle. Clarisse remarks ” Are you happy? ” (10).Montag begins to realize that he is not happy after Clarisse asks the question and arrivesin his home. Montag observes ” Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy. Hesaid the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs ” (12). Montag’sawareness is triggered at the point in which Clarisse states ” But you’re just a man, afterall ” (7). This statement by Clarisse makes Montag think of a time when he was a childduring power failure, and he wishes it not to end. In Montag’s second meeting with Clarisse, the two of them find a dandelion andClarisse tells Montag of rubbing it under his chin. Clarisse explains ” If it rubs off, it

means I’m in love “(22). Clarisse rubs the dandelion under Montag’s chin and Clarisseremarks “What a shame, you’re not in love with anyone ” (22). Montag thinks that he isin love, but realizes that he is not in love and not at all happy. In the third meeting, Montag begins to feel that he has known Clarisse forever.Montag states ” You make me feel very old and very much like a father ” (28). Clarisseremarks ” Now you explain why you haven’t any daughters like me, if you love childrenso much? ” (28). Montag realizes that it is a long time since anyone has cared enough toask a good question rather than sit around and worry about themselves. Montag answers” My wife, she . . . she just never wanted any children at all ” (28). Eventually Montagrealizes that he must make an effort to stop the chaos of his society by bringing booksback to life and destroying the current firemen. The meetings between Montag and Clarisse trigger an awareness and change inMontag’s life. Montag realizes that his life and the lives of all the other citizens are notas great as they are worked up to be and that he is not happy at all. In the end Montagdecides that he must change the way society is run once and for all. All of this is a resultof the meetings between Montag and Clarisse.