In life, individuals are constantly surrounded by influences that can potentially have a positive or negative impact on one’s life. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the character’s Clarisse and Mildred each influence Montag in distinct ways. The two contrasting personalities of Clarisse and Mildred strongly influence Montag’s character as he transitions from someone who conforms to becoming his own individual. Their different societal values, their individual relationships with Montag and the impact their deaths have on Montag’s character force him to question his life and make a change.
Clarisse and Mildred evidently have unique societal values. The reader is first introduced to Clarisse’s beliefs, after her first encounter with Montag. She immediately reveals her inquisitive, intelligent and curious nature, as she constantly asks Montag questions about life. She also shares very separate values from the individuals living in her society. This is noticeable in a conversation between Clarisse and Montag when Clarisse expresses,
“I’m antisocial they say. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed… I don’t think it’s social to get a bunch of people together and then not let them talk, do you?” (27).
The use of shortened sentences depicts that Clarisse has incomplete thoughts. In this dystopian society, individuals do not engage in many conversations. This is a difficult concept for Clarisse to grasp as she does not have the same societal views. This illustrates her confusion regarding the situation and her inability to fit into this society. Furthermore, Clarisse asks Montag a rhetorical question. This demonstrates to the reader her inquisitive nature. She has the ability to challenge Montag and is very curious about life and the world around her. Clarisse has very opposite views from the society she lives in, she is a symbol of individuality in a place that embraces conformity.
However, Mildred has very opposite values and is a symbol of conformity. Unlike Clarisse, Mildred is very disconnected and lacks the ability to build relationships. She shares very opposite values in comparison to Clarisse. After Mildred discovers that Montag has books hidden, she becomes very worried about the issues that may arise if the Captain found out. She tells Montag,
“He might come and burn the house, and the ‘family’. That’s awful! Think of our investment. Why should I read? What for?” (69).
Mildred is more concerned with her ‘family’ than she is helping her husband. She refers to the people on the parlour walls as her ‘family’ when in reality, they lack any real relationship and they are simply characters on a television screen. Furthermore, her use of rhetorical question demonstrates that Mildred has no interest in learning and she only shares the same values as the individuals in her society. She is afraid to stray from what is considered normal and break away from technology. She would rather maintain distracted then face any issues in life. Mildred distances herself from any real emotion by watching the ‘family’ on the parlour walls. Whereas Clarisse enjoys sharing her emotions and being with other people. Clarisse is very close to her real family unlike Mildred who idolizes her false family.
The relationship between Clarisse and Montag is very different compared to Mildred and Montag’s relationship. Clarisse is Montag’s affable, youthful neighbour. The two characters become very fast friends and share a unique bond. When walking back home, Montag looks at Clarisse and as they are walking,
“He saw himself suspended in her eyes, suspended in two shining drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny in fine detail” (5).
The motif of a mirror carries throughout the novel. Individuals are able to see their true selves when looking in the mirror, just as Montag is able to see himself when he looks at Clarisse. However, when he looks at Clarisse, he sees himself as very small. He is only a small part of this big world that only Clarisse is able to appreciate. Clarisse sees the beauty in all of existence and Montag is able to see a small part of himself in her, right after their first encounter. This is a testament to the bond they share and that Clarisse has a big impact on Montag’s life. Furthermore, Bradbury uses a metaphor to compare her eyes to “shining drops of bright water”. The term “bright” reveals that Clarisse is alert and lively. She is youthful and innocent and sees the world exactly as it is presented to her. Despite Montag’s current way of life, through her eyes, she is able to look at him with hope and admiration which ultimately encourages him to make a change in his life.
Unlike the unique bond Clarisse and Montag share, Mildred and Montag lack a connection despite being married. Montag describes the feeling of his home “like coming into the cold marbled room of a mausoleum after the moon has set.” (9). This metaphor is used to compare Montag and Mildred’s house to that of a mausoleum. A mausoleum is a place used to store tombs. This comparison demonstrates the lack of love and happiness within their home. It also insinuates their marriage is dead or possibly dying. A home is meant to make people feel warmth and safety. With this comparison, the reader is left feeling, not at ease and is given an image of something opposite from a home. This is a clear representation of Montag and Mildred’s relationship. It is empty, dark, lonely, unhappy and unloving. This is the complete opposite of that of Clarisse and Montag’s relationship. Unlike Mildred, Clarisse challenges Montag in unique ways and reveals to him the sadness in his life, whereas Mildred is a constant reminder of that emptiness.
Montag has very distinct reactions to the deaths of Mildred and Clarisse’s characters. The death of Clarisse was very sudden without warning and after her death, he is overcome with sickness. This prevents him from going to work the next day and is the downhill of Montag’s career as a fireman. At the end of the novel, as Montag is walking along the train tracks with Granger he is reminded of Clarisse. He thinks,
“Once, long ago, Clarisse had walked here, where he was walking now”(138).
Despite Clarisse being dead, he is able to sense her presence regardless. Bradbury uses many commas and pauses to show the reader how this is impacting Montag. Although he is walking towards a new future along the train tracks, he still thinks about Clarisse. This highlights that Clarisse has a major impact on Montag’s character development as he puts his unhappy past behind him. He is finally at peace with her death and as he walks along the train tracks he is walking towards a better future, the one that Clarisse has always envisioned.
Initially, Montag had mentioned he would not be saddened if Mildred were to die. However, after he escapes the destroyed city, he begins to think about Mildred. He realizes that she is probably oblivious to what is going on around her and unaware of the war circulating. This demonstrates the impact technology has on Mildred. It is not until then that Montag suddenly remembers where they had met. He exclaims,
“I remember… I remember. Chicago. Chicago a long time ago. Millie and I. That’s where we met! I remember now. Chicago. A long time ago.”(153).
Diction such as, “Chicago”, “I remember” and “a long time ago” are constantly repeated throughout this quotation. The use of repetition signifies that he is excited to finally remember the location where he met Mildred. This demonstrates that at one point, they did share a real relationship. It is not only until Mildred’s death that he is able to remember when they were truly happy, despite at the beginning of the novel, but neither of them could also remember where they had met. Prior to the introduction of technology and lack of education, Mildred was not empty nor unloving but she was capable of building a real relationship with another person. However, with the installation of the parlour walls and the ban of books, Mildred lost all the traits that made her human, resulting in the death of her marriage and of herself. Although Montag had said he would not cry for her death, he constantly thought about her as he witnessed the city being bombed and ultimately was saddened by her death. He also thought of Clarisse and was equally disheartened by their deaths in different ways. He thinks about these two characters as he walks towards change to reveal that he is leaving behind his past and the idea of conformity and individuality.
The characters of Clarisse and Mildred have very dissimilar values, they have different interactions with Montag and their deaths impact Montag’s character in unique yet similar ways. The contrast between their personalities is what encourages Montag to make a change in his life, as the influence of others is what alters one’s perspective.
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