Fahrenheit 451: Movie Analysis

You’re sitting at home watching any other daily program and you suddenly see an upcoming preview for a movie said to be based on a book. You’re interested in reading the book before hand, you do and are inspired and have a new sense of knowledge. What if I told you, these movies don’t exist, these books don’t exist, and you’re instead sitting at home mindlessly watching tv. This doesn’t seem to far from reality, people would much rather watch the movie than read the novel. In Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag a hard working, satisfied fireman meets a young girl named Clarisse McClellan who is known to be an odd girl around their town. Clarisse unexpectedly changed Montag for the better. Despite the fact that Clarisse

and Montag aren’t alike during their first meeting, Clarisse manages to make Montag question his views on society because she sparked the ideas of society’s mindless happiness, knowledge, and curiosity.
Clarisse McClellan leads Montag to the ideas of the mindless society.

Clarisse, a 17 year old girl, lives in a community in which people enjoy to drive fast, love watching television, and have ear buds that play nonstop noise. While living in this community she meets a man and questions him on his own experience in the mindless society, by saying, “‘Are you happy?’ she said. ‘Am I what?’ He cried.” (10). Clarisse, inspired by her uncle, has an intriguing personality that draws Montag towards her. She asks him something that people in the dystopian society don’t ever think or can even process. Montag’s personality changes throughout the novel due to Clarisse. He, himself, was mindless until he met Clarisse. Before their first meeting he liked his job as stated in the book, “It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (3). Montag has a special pleasure or joyful feeling when he sees burning charcoaled books. Therefore, Clarisse’s influence on Montag changed his mindless mindset and perspective in the novel with her odd

personality.
In spite of the society’s mindless happiness, Clarisse’s influence resulted in Montag’s new knowledge. Montag’s new sense of knowledge was sparked by the nuclear war that hit the city towards the end of the book, “I remember, I remember, I remember something else… yes, part of Ecclesiastes and Revelation” (160). Montag has escaped from the city after being caught with books in this dystopian society. When Granger and Montag meet, Montag realizes he isn’t the only one who has experienced the sudden rush of knowledge. He, and the group of men are described to be the last hope for society’s rebirth. Montag’s new knowledge is advanced quickly through the three parts of the novel. As easily read when Montag accidentally said an uncommon phrase from a very well known fairytale to Beatty, “‘Was-Was it always like this? The firehouse, our work? I mean, well, once upon a time... ‘“ (34). As a result of Montag using a phrase from a storybook, which are forbidden in this dystopian society, he fails to realize he is indeed using knowledge. Without realization he is exposing himself bit by bit to Beatty. Overall, Clarisse’s teachings to Montag di impact his daily activities, such as conversing with Beatty to having to memorize books.
Moreover, Clarisse influenced Montag’s curiosity towards books and knowledge. Montag describes his encounter with books during his work as a fireman, “Montag’s hand closed like a mouth crushed the book with wild devotion, with an insanity of mindlessness to his chest” (37). While Montag takes possession of something as unexpected as a book, his curiosity begins to ignite in the novel. By starting an uncommon relationship with Clarisse, he is now beginning his journey to curiosity with books. Clarisse’s sudden disappearance in the novel left Montag distraught. Reasons behind her disappearance failed to be thoroughly answered, but Beatty did mention, “Clarisse McClellan? We’ve record on her family. We’ve watched them carefully. Heredity and environment are family things. You can’t rid yourselves all the odd ducks in just a few years” (60). Clarisse’s family environment wasn’t like everyone else’s in this community. Their traditions and beliefs were still with worship in the society her family was accustomed to. This being threatening to how the society was meant to proceed, her and her family’s disappearance couldn’t have been accidental. Montag’s curiosity was majorly based off Clarisse’s own beliefs. Although she did disappear, Montag was more so motivated to continue his research and to extend his curiosity.
In the end, Clarisse’s impact on Montag’s controlled life resulted in his rebelling by her teachings of society's mindless happiness, knowledge, and curiosity.

The novel Fahrenheit 451 is an interpretation of how society would be impacted if books no longer were available to the community. Montag’s influenced by Clarisse McClellan whose ideas are more so qualified to be in an older society. Montag is intrigued by her difference, and his life is suddenly changed. Ultimately, Clarisse’s impact on Montag changed his views on society. Having a new perspective on an idea isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Montag learns the reality of his mindless society, discovers knowledge, and finally expresses his

curiosity.