Clarisse McClellen, the girl that turned Montags life upside down. Where in the world is she?Is she really dead as Millie says? We can not forget about this situation. As the book goes on, I believe this situation is slipping our minds, but it is still pondering in my mind. Clarisse's affect on Montag and this whole novel changed everything. The simple question of " Are you happy?" by Clarisse to Montag sparked the start of the whole novel. Her character was so diverse to the book characters, but to us, is completely normal. It seems to show that she was raised in a different environment or by someone who has a different belief. This makes me feel as if what Millie said is not the truth. I have a speculation that maybe the government has something to do with the disappearance of her and her family. They leave out very little detail about what happened to her family, which makes me think that maybe the government took her family into captivity or into some sort of asylum for being what they call "different".
Though I do feel that it is very odd for Ray to take such a vivid character out of the book so suddenly, I believe he had a purpose for it. Clarisse changed Montags whole view on the society he was living in. I believe this was the starting point of change for Montag, and now that Clarisse is "dead" he is on his own. Montag seems more scared I believe, because now that he has broken through this mind set of monotonous and oblivion, he has no one to relate to anymore. I think Ray took Clarisse out of the novel because he wants to send Montag off on his own now with a whole different mind set. Montags quick change in mind set and more rebellious acts against the society will lead to more drastic happenings in the book. Maybe he will turn into something even more drastic then Clarisse and put himself out there more than she did. This can easily turn him into a huge target. If Clarisse was just a teenage girl who did not have much impact on anyone else but Montag and she got killed for being different, what will happen to a grown man working for the fire department? These are just some of my many thoughts on this situation. I do not think we should let this situation slip our minds because I believe Clarisse is not dead . . .just MIA.
Leave comments please! peaceee, syd:)
As I read this, a few things walked through my mind:
ReplyDelete1) A simple question created a big change. How often have you taken time (or me?) to ask a simple question to show you care or provoke someone to thought? When was the last time you asked someone, "Are you truly happy?" or "Where do you find purpose in life?" These questions can be unsettling, but they are also life-changing questions to help focus our brief lives to make a difference. Take the time to talk, as Faber would say, about the MEANING of things, not just things.
2) Clarisse was a teenager, right about your age. Never underestimate your influence as teens to make a positive, lasting difference in people of all ages. I'm here to attest that you can and do!
~Mrs. Stoller
I agree with you Syd. I do not believe that Clarisse is dead, she is just not around at this point in time in the book. She will be back.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you Sydney. Why would Bradbury kill off one of his most important characters. She changed Montag with her thoughts and her asking him, "Are you happy?" I think she is going to come back near the end of the book after Montag goes through his big change. The change that will get him thinking more about the world and books then what the government is telling them.
ReplyDeleteClarisse is the driving force behind Montag. She shows him that you can be different and ask questions. I really think that the government took Clarisse and her family and am hidding them some where, questioning them. Clarisse is differnt from everyone else and it seems that her family is the same way. The government probably thinks they are a threat and will start asking questions that they shouldn't be and reading books. They will find no proof of this and later release them in time for the end of the book. She will come back and Montag will be able to tell her about what he learned.
:)Erin