Stage 3: Text
Explorations
Context: Before Clarisse asks
Montag if he’s happy, the two were walking home and just getting to know each
other. Although this is the first time
they’ve met, Clarisse already begins to question Montag about his life as a fireman,
almost as if she’s known exactly who he is for a while now. Some questions become personal, such as “Are
you happy?” and others more about his job.
After Clarisse asks Montag this question, he continues on his way home
convincing himself that he is happy. I
chose this scene of the book because I believe it’s one of the most important
questions that are brought up, as well as it really shows that Montag isn’t
living his virtually “happy” life.
"Are you
happy1?" she said. "Am I what?" he cried.
But she was gone—running2 in the moonlight3. Her front
door shut gently4.
"Happy! Of all the nonsense5."
He stopped6 laughing.
1: Word Definition/Connection: The Oxford
English Dictionary defines “happy” as a “feeling or
showing a deep sense of pleasure or contentment, esp. arising from satisfaction
with one's circumstances or condition.” The
word “happy” connects greatly to the moment where Beatty begins to manipulate
Montag into believing that firemen keep the people happy, as they protect
everyone from the conflicting theories that books bring out. (Pg. 62) Is Beatty right?
2: Word Definition/Wording/Figurative
Language: Not only does the word “running” simply mean “a movement using
the legs and related senses,” but the OXE also suggests that this word can mean
an “action of moving rapidly with hostile
intent.” It’s quite interesting how
Bradbury adds a word with this negative undertone. The word “running” in this case may mean the
movement of legs, but why would he use this word if it can also mean to move
quickly with a malicious purpose? Is Bradbury
trying to create the image of Clarisse “running in the moonlight” to get away
from Montag?
3: Word Definition/Connection: The word
“moonlight” is defined as “the light of the moon;
the moon's radiance.” I’ve noticed that Bradbury
also mentions the word “moonlit” when Montag first encounters Clarisse (Pg. 5)
and here again, he depicts her as “running in the moonlight.”
4: Word Definition/Connection/Syntax: When
something is done “gently,” it is meant to be done “in
a quiet, moderate, or subdued fashion; slowly, softly.” In addition to how Bradbury describes
Clarisse as “pale” and “white,” he expresses her face as “slender and
milk-white, and it in was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything
with tireless curiosity.” (Pg. 5) The
author seems to repeat this idea of “white” and “gentle” when he portrays
descriptions of Clarisse.
5: Word Definition/Wording: The word
“nonsense” refers to “a ridiculous notion or
idea.” When Clarisse questions Montag
about his happiness, he thinks of it as such “nonsense.” He believes he is happy and at first, tries
to convince himself that he is, but then later realizes that he isn’t.
6: Word Definition: When something has been
“stopped,” it means that it has been “cease[d];
brought to a standstill; barred from further progress or action.” The question that Clarisse proposes to Montag
seems to suddenly change his attitude.
He stops laughing and really thinks about his happiness.
Context: Before
Montag expresses his feelings he mentions to Clarisse that he feels as if he’s
known her so many years. After she
questions him why he doesn’t have a daughter, he begins to really think why he
doesn’t. He ends up saying that its
because his wife, Mildred, never really wanted kids at all. Clarisse saw how disappointed it made Montag
feel, so she ended up changing the conversation to old leaves and how they
smell just like cinnamon. I chose this
moment because it really stood out to me.
She even told him how he always seems shocked. I suppose she was trying to encourage Montag
to try new things in his life.
"You make
me feel1 very old and very much like a father2."
"Now you explain," she said, "why you haven't any daughters like
me, if you love3 children so much?"
"I don't know."
1: Word Definition/Wording: According to
the Oxford English Dictionary, the word, “feel” means to have a “feeling or sensation, [it could be] mental or
physical.” I think it’s very significant
how Montag feels like a father to Clarisse.
Is it because she makes him frustrated, yet still he’s glad that she’s there
to always talk and question him? Montag
seems to get irritated at times from the questions she asks, but he still tells
her that they are “good questions” because “it’s been a long time since anyone
cared enough to ask.” (Pg. 29)
2: Word Definition/Trouble/Connection: The
“father” is the male parent. It’s
fascinating to think that Clarisse acts like she’s actually Montag’s
daughter. It troubles me to think how
exactly she makes him feel like this? He
doesn’t have a daughter, but loves Clarisse so much – almost as if she’s his
real daughter. Clarisse also makes
Montag feel as if Clarisse is older than his 30-year old wife. (Pg. 23) Could it be because he thinks Clarisse acts
more mature and sophisticated for her age, while Mildred doesn’t have a job and
watches T.V. all day?
3: Word Definition/Trouble/Wording/Connection:
To love means to have “an instance of affection
or fondness [for a person, or even anything].”
It’s troubling because Montag doesn’t seem to love any child other than
Clarisse. If this is so, then why does
Clarisse word her question like this?
She’s the only young girl Montag talks to, but she thinks that he if he
loves “children” then he should have a daughter like her. Really, the only other people Montag
converses with are Mildred, Granger, Beatty, and Faber.
This
connects to the moment when Clarisse pretty much commands that Montag isn’t in
love with anyone. Montag believes he has
this “instance of affection or fondness” for Mildred, but later understands
that there is no real “love” between them. (Pg. 22) Neither of the two remembers when or how they
met. When he asks Mildred this question,
her reply is “I don’t know.” (Pg. 43)
Montag
and Mildred tend to have similar characteristics. Both answer with an “I don’t know” when the
question concerns love. Montag doesn’t
seem to know why him and Mildred don’t have kids, and Mildred doesn’t seem to
know when she met Montag. Why is it that
they both don’t know something of such an important topic? Do they really care or have they ever thought
of kids and/or when they met.
Context: Before Clarisse starts
describing how the taste of rain feels to her, she claims that “rain feels
good.” She thinks that Montag would
enjoy walking in the rain just like she does.
After Clarisse leaves to her psychiatrist, Montag decides to tilt his
head backward and taste the rain. I believe that this is a key part of
Clarisse’s impact on Montag’s life. It
is showing how he tries to experience all the good stuff that she does. He must think he’s missing out since he’s
never tasted rain.
“…I
like to put my head back, like this, and let the rain1 fall2
in my mouth3. It tastes4
just like wine5. Have you ever tried it?”
And
then, very slowly, as he walked, he tilted his head back in the rain, just for
a few moments6, and opened his mouth…
1:
Word Definition: Not only does the
OXE express rain as “condensed moisture of the
atmosphere falling to the ground visibly in separate drops,” but this same word
can be used as a phrase to mean “[having an] adequate common sense or
intelligence.” Did Clarisse think that
Montag was too focused and attached to burning houses and books that he wasn’t
able see the simplest of things, or as a matter of fact, do the simplest of
things? She finds out that he’s never
tasted rain in his life, whereas she tastes the rain as an “instinct.”
2:
Word Definition: When rain falls, it
is coming down to Earth at one time or in a certain period. Clarisse is allowing these raindrops to fall
from the sky into her mouth, thinking that they taste like wine.
3:
Word Definition/Connection: The
mouth is “considered as the receptacle of food or
with reference to swallowing, eating, [and] the function of taste.” Throughout Fahrenheit 451 body parts such as the mouth, hands, and legs are
repeatedly mentioned. All three of these
body parts, in a sense, aren’t able to accomplish a task. Montag can’t control his hands. This is as if his hands and himself are
completely two different things. In
addition, he can’t seem to feel and move his leg. (Pg. 104) Lastly, in this quote, Montag hasn’t been
open to the feeling of opening his mouth and tasting the rain. In all three examples, Montag doesn’t have
the ability to control or do something with a part of his body, whether it is
his mouth, his feet, or his hands.
4:
Word Definition/Wording: What does
it mean when you “taste” something?
Well, the noun “taste” means “the faculty or sense by… the organs of
which are situated chiefly in the mouth.”
It’s interesting how Clarisse associates rain and taste. We know that rain, and water in general,
don’t have a taste. So why does Clarisse
connect the two?
5:
Word Definition/Figurative Language: Wine
is the “[brewed] juice of the grape used as a
beverage.” Bradbury uses figurative
language when he compares the taste of rain and wine. He creates a simile. Clarisse expresses the taste of wine as like
the taste of rain – weird?
6:
Word Definition: A “moment” is a
very short period of time. The Oxford
English Dictionary suggests that a moment is “one
too brief for its duration to be significant.” But Clarisse emphasizes how great it is to be
able to tilt your head backwards and taste the rain. If this is such a memorable moment for her,
then why does Bradbury say that Montag tilts his head back to taste the
wine-like rain only for a moment?
Shouldn’t this be thought of as something memorable, and not just a
“moment?”
