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Wise Beyond Her Years Clarisse McClellan is an extremely inquisitive and thoughtful seventeen year old who, at first, is irritating to Montag, the main character in Fahrenheit 451. Through questioning, she challenges everything that is ingrained in Guy Montag’s brain. Clarisse forces Montag to loosen the mask of happiness and take a deeper look into his soul. The author, Ray Bradbury, uses Clarisse as an important tool to further the impact of the many themes in Fahrenheit 451. Her relationship with Montag causes him to question the purpose of life and through questioning, he sees that true happiness is not a reality if books are banned. She is also a symbol that seeking knowledge is of utmost importance. Lastly, she represents hope that future of mankind will be a prosperous one. Clarisse McClellan only appears briefly, yet is crucial in furthering the development of several themes in Fahrenheit 451. Clarisse sparks an interest to learn in Montag. For Montag, she creates an urge to ask questions. When Guy Montag first meets Clarisse, before s