Clarisse McClellan

Clarisse McClellan is a character from Ray Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451".

In Bradbury's original book, Clarisse is a sixteen-year old girl (she claims to be "seventeen and insane").

As a supporting character, she is vastly alienated from society, preferring to reflect and ponder rather than engage in action-packed behaviour which the society portrayed in the novel encourages.

She represents a free-minded individual. She is described as a perfect, innocent woman - in the sense that she has not been contaminated by the hedonistic, oppresive, thoughtless society she lives in. The author clearly builds her as an angel-like figure, and she is the contrasting character of Montag's wife Mildred.

Clarisse serves as a plot device in the novel. She encourages Guy Montag to think about what is wrong with the society in which he lives, which eventually inspires him to break free from an otherwise pointless life. Montag is initially disturbed by her attitude, but later she makes him realize how empty his life is, contrary to what society would have him think. After meeting her, everything in Montag's life seems clear. He starts to separate from his way of life from that moment on. In the book, Clarisse mentions an uncle who was arrested for taking a walk at night. This is a reference to Bradbury's "The Pedestrian."

Early in the story, Clarisse disappears. Captain Beatty and Mildred Montag suggest that she was run over by a speeding car. It could be inferred that she was murdered by the government for being a "thinker", a trait that was considered unusual and threatening in her society. In Bradbury's play adaption of the novel, Clarisse is revealed to be alive at the end.

Film

In the movie, Clarisse is a young adult who aspires to be a teacher. Clarisse later meets Guy Montag at the bibliophile camp. She is portrayed by Julie Christie, who also portrays Linda (Mildred) Montag.