Conflict in Fahrenheit 451 Literature Essay Example

Montag thought it was just a phase, Mildred thought it was just a phase, even Beatty thought it was just a phase. But that phase turned into an obsession and that obsession turned into Montags will to live. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag is opposed to a society that believes books are useless and only serve the purpose of deception, and that is why they are to be burned no matter what. Throughout Fahrenheit 451, the conflict of person vs. person is illustrated between Montag, Captain Beatty, Mildred, and the mechanical hound. 

One major source of conflict in this novel is with captain Beatty. During and after Beatty’s visit to Montag’s home when he was ‘sick’, the Captain seems to threaten and guilt trap him. Beatty himself admits to this behavior right before he forces Montag to burn his own home. Captain Beatty says, “Now you did it. Old Montag wanted to fly near the sun and now that he's burnt his damn wings, he wonders why. Didn’t I hint to you enough when I sent the hound around your place?”(Bradbury 107) He is a manipulative character. Beatty uses his own knowledge of books to try to get Montag to own up to his wrongs. The Captain says, “If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none.” (Bradbury 58) He uses this quote to explain to Montag that the meaning of happiness is to have no worries, and that books cause worry and give a reason to ask “why?” and that is the motivation to burn books, and to make Montag give them up. Not only is Beatty a conflictive character, but so is Mildred. 

Another central conflict in this novel is Mildred. Mildred has a consistent, manipulative, gas lighting personality in which she believes she is the main character. Mildred uses her emotions to manipulate Montag and his thoughts “He opened the book to read over Mildred’s laughter. Poor Millie, he thought. Poor Montag, it’s mud to you too.” (Bradbury 70) Montag constantly thinks about Mildred through the process of reading all the books he had taken. He knows what could happen to the both of them if he kept the books, and how this all might be affecting Mildred. Mildred voices this to Montag but only keeps herself in mind. Now, both partners are usually supportive of each other's decisions and will talk through the disagreements. But here, Mildred just wails at Montag to get rid of the books immediately. This just makes Montag upset and unable to comprehend his own emotions because he is trying to grasp Mildred’s emotions instead. In addition to the emotional conflicts with Beatty and Mildred, the mechanical hound is another significant conflictive character. 

The most important conflict in Fahrenheit 451 is between Montag and the Mechanical Hound. In the beginning of the book we meet the hound for the first time in the firehouse. Montag touches the hound with fascination, but it growls. This speculates that there is tension between the two characters from the very beginning. It is known that the machine does not act the same with the other firemen because of this conversation between Montag and Beatty “It doesn’t like me.’ said Montag. ‘What, the hound? Come off it. It doesn’t like or dislike. It just functions.” (Bradbury 24) This is specially abnormal because the hound only does its job, sniffing out books. So the hound already knows that Montag has books, and Montag knows that the hound knows. The hound is almost like Montag’s conscience, it is the only being to know at this point. Not only does the machine know that Montag has the books, but it also follows him around like a conscience would. At his own home, the hound sat outside the front door while he read aloud the books. In section three Burning Bright the hound attempts to attack Montag, as if his conscience has finally caught him, but instead Montag burns the hound with the flame-thrower, getting rid of the guilt. Undoubtedly, the hounds' two-faced personality gives it a very important role to play. 

The characters Montag, Beatty, Mildred, and the hound embellished the conflict of person vs. person throughout Fahrenheit 451. All the characters contributed to Montag’s mentality, causing ups and downs throughout the book. Captain Beatty makes Montag rethink the purpose of book burning. Mildred influences Montag’s thoughts and actions about his relationships. And finally the hound is a lingering guilt inside Montag that makes him go in circles. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a book that deepens the meaning of getting inside the characters head, knowing what they are thinking and why.