Answer to Question #309482 in English for Kelsey Jand

Question

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Study Guide

Directions: Answer these study guide questions as you read with as much depth as possible. Doing so will force you to stop and think about what is happening in the story and why. These notes are a more structured form of annotation. 

Chronological Reading Comprehension Questions:

Contrast Clarisse and Mildred. They’re character foils. Look up that term and then consider: what might these two women each represent?

Answer 1

Throughout the book, Mildred and Clarisse show multiple traits of themselves that are very different. They're not similar in almost anything. During Fahrenheit 451, Mildred and Clarisse are completely opposite people and that is shown in the differences in their personality, values, and relationship with Montag. A difference between Mildred and Clarisse is their polar opposite personalities. Throughout Fahrenheit 451, Mildred is a very selfish, conceited woman. This is shown when she talks about herself to Montag. “He opened the book. ‘That Favourite Subject, Myself’ … ‘I understand that one,’ said Mildred.” (Bradbury 72). Mildred's comment exemplifies her conceited attitude toward herself. She dislikes books yet chooses that one to relate to. In contrast to Mildred, Clarisse is a selfless, caring girl. There’s a lot of examples of Clarisse being selfless, but a big one is when Montag talks about her to Mildred. “But Clarisse’s favourite subject wasn’t herself. It was everyone else, and me … She was the first person I can remember who looked straight at me as if I counted.” (Bradbury 72).

Montag explains Clarisse's selfless side very well. He knows from experience that she loved others more than herself. These two contrasting examples prove that Mildred and Clarisse have different personalities. But, personalities aside, they have differing values as well.

A person’s values can show exactly who someone is. Mildred and Clarisse’s values are a big part of what sets them apart. Clarisse values nature and the world, which she explains while she is talking to Montag on a walk. “I sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly … My uncle drove slowly on a highway once. He drove 40 miles an hour and they jailed him for 2 days. Isn’t that funny, and sad, too?” Clarisse shows great example of her abnormal value of nature.