Clarisse McClellan, the Trigger

Clarisse McClellan, a ‘crazy seventeen year old’ girl from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, is a vital character in developing the book’s main themes. Even though Clarisse’s presence in Montag’s life (the main character) is brief, her wonderful sappiness would drastically change Montag’s perspective of the world. Clarisse motivated Montag to see and think beyond society, inspiring in him feelings that would affect the course of actions he would then take. Clarisse McClellan’s liveliness and happiness represents the love of life that her society lacks. Her passion for living advocates for knowledge, emotion, and freedom of expression against censorship, all themes she helps develop through the influence she had on Guy Montag.
Being a distinguished member of such an ignorant community, Clarisse appreciates small details around her. As Clarisse parades her unique personality to Montag, she subconsciously inspires him to see the beauty in life as she does. At first, Montag sees Clarisse as a peculiar female with inimitable character. However, by spending more time with her, he comes to welcome her eccentric and schmaltzy character. To Montag, Clarisse is somewhat opposite of the society, as he spends time with her he appreciates aspects of life absent in his society. What is Montag’s society against and a key part of his life? Book reading. Through Clarisse, Montag develops an intriguing interest in books and knowledge. This increasing interest propels Guy to read and act against book burning. His fascination in literature assists him to distinguish the difference between the richness in books written in previous generations in contrast to the dullness and ignorance of the society he lives in. Knowledge versus ignorance, a theme of the book, is present due to Clarisse’s distinction from society reflecting on fireman Guy Montag.

Even today, the world lacks of people who look at the little details in life. Having Clarisse as a neighbor who collects bugs and flavors the succulent rain would make anyone adore life more than they already did. Clarisse’s loving personality produces Montag’s new surge of emotion. She unveiled the sentiment in Montag by making comments such as: “People don’t talk about anything. . . . They name a lot of cars or clothes or swimming pools mostly and say how swell! But they all say the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else.” The inertness of society now stands out in Montag’s eyes because he now feels passion and interest as opposed to being satisfied by simple pleasures. Montag then demonstrates another theme of the book, emotion versus dullness. This theme is extraordinarily displayed when Montag reads “Dover Beach” to Mildred and her lifeless friends Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles. Montag lets emotion out of his spirit by expressing himself to boring women who underestimate and fear freedom of expression. Clarisse unintentionally gave Guy the desire to feel. She made Montag’s mind swirl with emotion ever since she asks him, “Are you happy?”
Though Clarisse’s appearance is brief, she indirectly points out censorship to Montag. She tells Montag about how school lacks real content, education or interaction as well as how she is considered anti-social when everyone else is so fast-paced and impersonal… All these minute details cause Montag to realize how censored society really is. Clarisse freely expresses her emotions to Montag as a book would; they both share unique qualities which are not accepted in Guy’s society. This symbolic similarity between Clarisse and books causes Montag to question the burning of books. He fears that burning books is like Clarisse’s death, a sudden end to beauty. Once Montag grows lucid and realizes how oppressive and hedonistic his society is, he decides to fight on behalf of the oppressed, on behalf of the books. Clarisse makes Montag a soldier against book banning and censorship of education, books, and philosophy.
Clarisse’s love of life sparks Montag’s motivation to learn, to challenge society, to be captivated by emotion and act against censorship and ignorance. Clarisse might not have survived to see Montag change, but what she said and did inspired Montag to love life and challenge a lifeless society. Clarisse triggered Montag to be knowledgeable, alive and a threat to censorship.

Afghanistan versus Soviet Union: America Prevails

During the 1980’s Afghans surprisingly overcame the Soviet Union invasion; however the fate of Afghanistan would have been a gloomy one if not for American assistance. During the late 70’s, the Americans notice a marvelous opportunity to weaken the Soviet Union, and to help the Afghans. This happened when Afghanistan’s communist party came to power and would ask for the Soviets’ help to contain the rebellious movements of the mujahedeen. The Americans would not permit the Soviets to take control of Afghanistan. The determination to cause a Soviet defeat in Afghanistan motivated US government officials to act astutely and swiftly. Due to their covert operations successes, the United States was able to achieve their goals. Even though the local mujahedeen pushed the Soviets back to their own side of the border, the support of the Americans must be credited for the Afghans’ victory. The Americans were the real victors in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
It all started in the late 70’s, these were years of turmoil in Afghan soil; when the communist party took control of the government and the US’s eyes opened. The United States predicted the Soviets would want to invade in order to prevent revolt against the communist government. This was seen as a perfect opportunity by the Americans to take action in the Middle Eastern country. The American government saw the chance of decreasing the Soviets overwhelming power, contain communism, and help the Afghans, goals that would be worked towards. The motivation to be involved in this possible war led to immediate action escorted by the Jimmy Carter administration. Thus, even before the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, the Americans had organized secret aid for Afghan rebels, and “knowingly increased the probability that they [the Soviets] would” invade Afghanistan (globalresearch.com). Operation Cyclone, the name given to this covert CIA operation, proved effective in 1979’s Christmas Eve, the day Afghanistan was invaded. However, this invasion would not be a walk in the park for anyone involved.
Nonetheless, hearty determination from distinguished individuals in the United States made the whole movement occur. American involvement was vigorously supported by many lawmakers and government officials, such as Charlie Wilson, whose efforts were dedicated to Afghanistan prevailing in this Vietnam-like-war. Former Congressman Charlie Wilson (Texan Democrat) witnessed the atrocities the Soviets had caused the people of Afghanistan when visiting Pakistani aid camps; this made him a noticeable advocate of the Afghans as well as a fierce Anti-Communist. He was extremely influential in Congress; in less than a decade he increased the CIA’s budget “from a few million dollars… to about $750 million”, he also helped convince the Egyptian and Israeli governments in supplying the mujahedeen with modern weaponry that the United States would pay for (Johnson). American advocates opened the doors of victory for the Afghans and closed the doors of USSR optimum efficiency.
As a result, American’s efforts were obviously paid off. Through this movement sponsored by the CIA and financed by Congress, weapons such as AK-47’s and Stinger Missile Systems reached the hands of Afghans fighting for their nation. Hundreds of thousands of weapons were given to the mujahedeen regime and thousands of members of this group were trained for combat. These American-provided mechanisms and training enabled the mujahedeen to overcome the Soviet invasion. The Red Army was effectively defeated, resulting in their retreat on February 15, 1989.
The USSR was also affected greatly by its failure. It lost fifteen thousand troops, but the true damage done was in the degradation of its image, and the billions of dollars it spent during the war. This fall from invincibility and vast expenditure of money to finance the invasion in part caused the USSR to fall apart in the early 1990s (Zhang and Jacobs).
Not only was the USSR put in debt due to the invasion, it was weakened to such an extent that it would dissolve around a decade after the war. The war also made Russians question the efficacy of a Red Army, their imperialistic government. These ideas were motivated by the accounts of the scarred war veterans, and propagated by the media. It is not enough to say that the US promoted the defeat of the Soviets, it undeniably caused it.
Overall, with the right motivation, ardent determination, and precise execution, America’s mission to ensure the mujahedeen’s triumph succeeded. Operation Cyclone was not only ingenious; it was also the largest covert CIA operation in US history. The US’s effort caused the Soviet Invasion to be costly, unproductive, and unwise. Communism was contained, the Soviets were taken out of Afghanistan and the Afghans were liberated war. The American’s victory in this war was one worthy of celebration, given that not one drop of American blood was spilled, neither civilian nor military. All goals that the United States of America wanted to achieve in this war were surpassed, but most importantly, its efforts lead to an Afghan victory. America prevails.


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