Stage 3: Text Explorations (Wordcount: 1,712)

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?”