Skip to main content

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

Montag’s internal conflict results from his job. He is a fireman, which means he burns people’s houses — sometimes while they are still in them. He develops this internal conflict when he meets his neighbor Clarisse. Clarisse tells him that, unlike most people, she is not afraid of firemen. She also asks if he is happy. This prompts him to think,


Of course I'm happy. What does she think? I'm not? he asked the quiet...

Montag’s internal conflict results from his job. He is a fireman, which means he burns people’s houses — sometimes while they are still in them. He develops this internal conflict when he meets his neighbor Clarisse. Clarisse tells him that, unlike most people, she is not afraid of firemen. She also asks if he is happy. This prompts him to think,



Of course I'm happy. What does she think? I'm not? he asked the quiet rooms. He stood looking up at the ventilator grille in the hall and suddenly remembered that something lay hidden behind the grille, something that seemed to peer down at him now. He moved his eyes quickly away. What a strange meeting on a strange night (Part I).



When Montag steals a book, he does not quite know what to do with it at first. The book is not allowed, of course. No books are allowed in this society. He has grown up with this and it is all he knows. Clarisse and the lady who burns herself with her books prompt him to question his beliefs.


Montag’s external conflict is mostly with Beatty, his captain, but also a result of the character vs. society conflict that results from having a very restrictive society. Books are not allowed, and people seem to exist without emotions. Everyone focuses mostly on television, radio, or drugs.



Beatty arranged his cards quietly. "Any man's insane who thinks he can fool the Government and us."


"I've tried to imagine," said Montag, "just how it would feel. I mean to have firemen burn our houses and our books."


"We haven't any books."


"But if we did have some."


"You got some?"


Beatty blinked slowly.


"No" (Part I).



Beatty knew Montag was hiding something. As Montag became more involved in the book idea, it was clearer and clearer that Beatty know what was going on and was just waiting for a chance to get Montag. Eventually, the conflict is resolved when Montag's wife turns him in and Montag is called to his own house and Montag attacks Beatty with a flamethrower.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more