Mariana Dinning Character sketches Clarisse McClellan played an important role in Fahrenheit 451 and acts as a protagonist. Clarisse starts the change in Montag's life and shows him that what he trusts or “loves” about his life is wrong. Though Clarisse’s life is short lived in the novel she is one of the most important parts and without her the story would not have been possible. Clarisse led herself through her life and managed to change the path of Montag's permanently. Clarisse's curiosity