How Did Montag Change In Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is based on a society in the future, where technology is empowering. Books of all kinds are burned to ashes. Firefighters no longer put fires out, but start them instead. Guy Montag was a firefighter himself. In a world where fire and the smell of kerosene bring pleasure, Montag needed someone like Clarisse to introduce him to happiness. While coming home from work one day, Montag runs into Clarisse Mcclellan. He notices her because she is doing something very different. She was enjoying the rain, thinking, asking questions, and doing things that people in this society would never do. From the first moment they meet, something sparks inside Montag, changing him for the better. Although Clarisse does not have a big physical presence in Fahrenheit 451, she is very central to the plot, by inspiring and influencing Guy Montag. It was just one simple question that changed Montag’s life. Clarisse asked, “Are you happy?” This thought had never come across Montag’s mind, but once it did, he realized he wasn’t happy in this world of censorship. However, Clarisse was one to ignore these restrictions. She was a girl who was constantly thinking, a girl who cared about people’s feelings, a girl who was not a part of this law-abiding community. She was different, and that interested Montag. After contemplating her question, he …show more content…
She says, "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." Montag realizes that being a fireman isn’t getting him any closer to what he wants to become- happy. The life of a fireman is strict, and somewhat depressing. While at work, Montag had a job to go burn some books at an old lady’s home. The lady refuses to exit the house because of her love for books. The entire house gets burned to ashes, including the lady. Montag feels guilt for a very long time because of