Censorship in peoples minds.
In Fahrenheit 451, owning and reading books is illegal. People focused only on entertainment coming from the parlor walls, If books were found, they were burned and their owner were arrested. If the owner refused to abandon their books, as is the case with the Old Woman, he or she often dies, burning along with them. People with interests outside of technology and entertainment are viewed as strange, and possible threats. An example of a ‘strange’ character in 451 would be Clarisse. Each character in Fahrenheit 451 has a trait to them and their views or opinions on censorship. Bradbury showed examples of people that have censoring by explaining the circumstances going on in their lives and if they want to rebel or go along with it. Clarisse, Millie, Captain Beatty, Faber and Montag all resemble a person in society with different views on censorship. Clarisse is the most dangerous person in this ideal metropolis. Clarisse is the antagonist in this city’s government. She is a natural born thinker who questions everything about life. Being born into a family that is known for their strange behavior of not acting normal didn’t help her grow to be a normal child. Her family encouraged reading and questioning things they did not know about rather than go with the flow. She likes nature, she is not into violence or TV, and she is not into socializing. As Clarisse quotes “"I'm afraid of children my own age. They kill each other. Did it always used to be that way? My uncle says no. Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of them died in car wrecks. I'm afraid of them and they don't like me because I'm afraid. My uncle says his grandfather remembered when children didn't kill each other. But that was a long time ago when they had things different." Clarisse is afraid of children her own age they are too active and careless. Clarisse knows sixteen kids that have already been killed by their reckless behavior and of those around them. Clarisse is the antagonist in the goverment’s eyes they see how by her curiosity she is making Montag question society as well. She s interested in odd things, which is what draws her to Montag he’s a fireman without the typical fireman qualities. She uses him to gain knowledge for her understanding but as she is doing that she is asking questions that spark Montag’s way of thinking. For example “How did it start? How did you get into it? How did you pick your work and how did you happen to think to take the job you have? You’re not like the others. I’ve seen a few; I know. When I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon, last night. The others would never do that. The others would walk off and leave me talking. Or threaten me. No one has time anymore for anyone else. You’re one of the few who put up with me. That’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman. It just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow” (23-24). As Clarisse questions Montag she is opening up a door to make him try to understand the world around him without fully realizing what she is doing. That is what got her killed because the government saw what natural talent she had in order to make people question the society in Fahrenheit 451. Montag on the other hand was not a born thinker.
Montag was inspired by Clarisse’s questioning about his actions that he set up his mind to question society as well. Montag used Clarisse and the way she questioned the world and decided to do that as well. For example “ Montag hesitated, “‘What-was it always
