F451 Assignment #5

"But Clarisse's favorite subject wasn't herself. It was everyone else, and me. She was the first person in a good many years I've really liked. She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted" (Bradbury 72). This quote explains why Clarisse had such a big impact on Montag in the little time they had known eachother. Due to the lack of true interaction and conversation between people of their time, Clarisse was refreshing to Montag. She was actually interested in talking about varieties of topics rather than herself and her monotonous everyday life. This brought Clarisse and Montag together immediately because he was astonished by how she carried herself and how she spoke to him. This was as shocking as it was to Montag because of his lack of experience with people like her. A good example of how most, other than Clarisse, acted towards Montag and everyone else they came across is represented by Mildred: "See what you're doing? You'll ruin us! Who's more important, me or that Bible?" (Bradbury 76). Mildred was the complete opposite of Clarisse in that she was not interested in her husband's curiousity in books and their importance. In fact, Mildred was not interested in much outside of herself and her "family" on TV. Because of this, Montag is currently beginning to question his relationship and happiness with her.