Plot Question ~Fahrenheit 451
On page seven Montag meets Clarisse and she infuenced him throught the story like on page 145 where it says, "... as he moved onto the bramle bushes and the lake of smelling and feeling and touching among the whispers and the blowing down off leaves... Once, long ago, Clarisse had walked here, where he was walking now." (Bradburry 145) In my opinion that is where Montag's whole perspective of life changed and meeting Clarisse was what sent Montag on this crazy journey. In your opinion what plot points made Montag go from a firefighter to a literature enthusiast?
There are some points in being a firefighter that have an impact on Montag. When he met Clarisse, they immediately connected. When he learned that she was keeping books hidden in her house, he began to see the importance of books through her. Seeing how much she as well as others like Faber have a love for books, he notices that books have values that things like television cannot give. There are several characteristics now that Montag did not agree with about being a firefighter and therefore made his decision easier to leave. Clarisse’s perspective of books was now reflected on Montag; he made changes to his lifestyle to create an affect on his newfound love for literature. He was also able to find new reasons for disliking and hating his firefighting job; such as Beatty. He was a negative influence toward Montag, making his everlasting hatred for books clear throughout the book. The way he portrayed books made Montag realize the values that Beatty and the other firemen were fighting for were not true. As a new “literature enthusiast”, Montag went into great depths to fight for books. In different ways, the drastic heights of the actions he took not just for the books, but to protect his friends and family gives more of a reason for him to keep fighting. In a way, the change from I firefighter to literature lover was a positive new aspect in his life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of your points and to add to it there was another part in the book that helped influence Montag to change. After Montag met Clarisse I think that one reason why he liked her so much was that she and Mildred are polar opposites. Mildred was a woman who was obsessed with watching TV and didn’t want to talk to Montag at all about their marriage or her feelings. While Clarisse on the other hand was a young girl who was gentle, innocent, and curious and liked to hiking, playing with flowers, and asking questions. So when Montag and Mildred fought about the books, after Montag showed her his stash in the vent, he was trying to convert Mildred to his newly found way of life that was inspired by Clarisse.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for the late comment, but I also wanted to answer your question. In the beginning I think we can all agree that Montag had no qualms about his responsibility and that he treated books like they had no meaning to them. But then he meets Clarisse McClellan, a seventeen year old Bohemian girl who happens to be his neighbor and also changes Montags life. Her character is very chatty, friendly and Clarisse opens Montags eyes to the world of nature. But the main plot point that made Montag think a bit of his actions when Clarisse asks him “Are you happy?” (Bradbury, 10). From then on, Montag Begins to doubt himself and think clearly about his lifestyle. In the town people have stopped thinking critically. They allow the parlors to keep them entertained and as you previously said that his wife Mildred also is addicted to her TV. But Montag doesn’t want to live a life without books, because that’s what brings him joy and he becomes enthusiastic about literature.
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