Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

“Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings” is a famous quote said by Heinrich Heine, which relates to the concept of book burning, seen in the novel Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury uses his unique literary style to write the novel Fahrenheit 451; where he brings his readers to a future American Society which consists of censorship, book burning, and completely oblivious families. The novel’s protagonist, Guy Montag, is one of the many firemen who takes pride in starting fires rather than putting them out, until he encounters a seventeen-year-old girl named Clarisse McClellan. As the novel progresses, the reader is able to notice what Clarisse’s values are in the novel, how her innocence and curiosity tremendously impacts Montag, and finally, the reason as to why she must be silenced.

Clarisse is a distinct contrast towards the people in society. She seems lively and unrealistic in this dull, robotic society, due to her old and traditional beliefs, as opposed to the rest of society who is sucked into its ideas and agrees with their way of living. Clarisse loves watching the rain and tasting it on her lips. She takes time to notice the flowers, watch birds, and collect butterflies. In Montag’s second meeting, the two of them find a dandelion and Clarisse tells Montag of rubbing it under the chin. Clarisse remarks, “If it rubs off, it means I’m in love.” (22) Clarisse even values superstition; something that is completely against this society. Since she is tremendously incompatible with this civilization, they regard her as strange and different. She is even forced to visit a psychiatrist for her abnormal and unpractical behavior, but in truth, she symbolizes youth, question, innocence...

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...e’s inability to adjust is considered dangerous, and therefore, Captain Beatty says, “She was a time bomb…The poor girl’s better off dead...Luckily, queer ones like her don’t happen often.” (60) Meaning, according to the government Clarisse was looked at as someone who will never fit in, and always be different, which is why it was necessary for her to be silenced.

In final analysis, Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451 is an engrossing futuristic tale of an oppressive society, in which reading is considered criminal conduct. Bradbury uses his figurative language to bring the society to life where he introduces Clarisse, who plays an essential role, just for Montag. As the audience reads the novel, they can notice what Clarisse’s morals are, how her youth and questions awakens Montag to change for the better, and lastly, the purpose as to why she must be silenced.