Farenheight 451

Fahrenheit 451 is a book written in 1950 that took place in the 2050, it is a book about the burning of books. This story is mainly about Montag and his life as a firefighter. Montag has two important relationships with female characters in the book; these relationships dictate wis way of life, the choices he makes, and his happiness. The first relationships is with his wife Mildred, who he is not close with. Montag also meets a young lady named Clarisse, Clarisse is not like other people she changes his life in a way.

Montag meets Clarisse when he sees her walking by and thinks its peculiar that she is walking. The more he talks about Clarisse the more she gets in his head. When Clarisse 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." (Bradbury 21) Montag starts questioning his relationship with clarisse and also starts questioning his own identity. We immediately see the conflict between his desire to be a good citizen and his belief that something is wrong. Clarisse also made Montag question his love for this wife by saying “Are you happy?" she said. "Am I what?" he cried. But she was gone- running in the moonlight. Her front door shut gently.” (Bradbury 10) This is when montag starts questioning whether or not he is happy with his wife mildred. He starts becoming in denial of the fact that mildred isn't making him happy and he tries to act as if he is happy.

Montag’s has a wife, her name is Mildred. Montag’s relationship with mildred is unhealthy. There relationship has no communication, Mildred is so wrapped in tv and electronics. “What you don’t talk through grows into a wall you cannot break through.” (Six) Everytime Montag tries to talk to Mildred she starts talking about electronics. Montag starts to lose feelings for her but is in denial. He says he still loves her. Clarisse makes Montag question his love when she rubs the flower under his chin and says he doesn't love anyone. He starts to think more and more about Clarisse and not his own wife. Montag began to become unhappy. "Nobody listens anymore. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read." (Bradbury 81)

Montag’s relationships vary from healthy to unhealthy relationships. With Clarisse he was happy but with Mildred he wasn't. He began to fall out of love, “Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself.” (Bradbury 12) he is saying all these things while standing in the dark. He doesn't want to turn the lights on because he does not want to see his wife drugged up. Mildred is addicted to painkillers.