Saturday, June 29, 2019

What two observations does Clarisse make about Montag’s conversational mannerisms?

The two observations that Clarisse makes about Montag's conversational mannerisms are as follows:

"You laugh when I haven't been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think what I've asked you."

Clarisse's two comments reveal truths about both herself and Montag. They show, first, that Clarisse really listens to and notices how Montag responds. He has her full attention, which makes her interaction with him much different from the distracted conversations he and Mildred share.
Clarisse's observations also suggest that Montag is ill-at-ease because he laughs inappropriately at comments that aren't funny. The particular comment he laughs at is her idea, which he immediately dismisses as false, that firemen once put out fires. His response to this idea also shows that he is answering her mechanically, because, as she says, he doesn't stop to think about what she is asking. Both observations indicate that Montag is not used to real conversation that challenges him to think. He has been living in a rote, empty way, a subject he will ponder when Clarisse has left.


Clarisse makes a number of observations during separate conversations with Montag. In the first one, she asks him if it's true that firemen once used to put out fires instead of start them. Montag, laughing, says no. Clarisse wants to know why Montag is laughing even though she hasn't said anything remotely amusing. She also observes that he answered her question without hesitation. This indicates not just his blind acceptance of the prevailing ideology—it most certainly is true that firemen used to put out fires instead of start them—but also Montag's initial nervousness in Clarisse's presence.
In a later conversation, Clarisse observes that Montag is considerably more relaxed. Now when he laughs, it sounds a lot nicer than it used to. Montag no longer laughs out of nervousness, but because he genuinely seems to enjoy being in Clarisse's company.

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