Fahrenheit 451

  "With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his solid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black." (Pg3) The external conflict in this quote is the actions that Montag is taking. He flicks the igniter not knowing what can be inside or how valuable items are inside. Internal conflict affects Montag by his thought before and after he burns the books. A quote that describes his internal conflict is: "Montag grinned the fierce grin of all men signed and driven by flame." His internal conflict can be described as an addiction to him with his happiness of burning books compared to other firemen of his department being frightened and scared by the smell and sight of fire.

    "He saw himself in her eyes, suspended in two shinning drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny, in fine detail, the lines about his mouth, everything there, as if her eyes were torn into miraculous bits of violet amber that might capture and hold him intact." (Page 7) The quote depicted above shows how the introduction of Montag and Clarisse turned into a physical and mental interaction. Montag's external conflict was when he saw his reflection of his appearance in Clarisse’s eyes. This sight and interaction shows Montag and the reader what later will happen in the story due to his reflection on his life. Montag's internal conflict was when he thought of the very essence of how she got to know her and how they appear to each other.

            "That's why I think it's strange you're a fireman. It just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow. He felt his body divide itself into hotness and coldness, softness, and hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other.” (Page 25) The quote shows the reader how Clarisse tells Montag how his job as a fireman is peculiar with his personality. During this interaction, Montag’s thoughts are very questionable. Montag’s internal conflict is shown when Clarisse mentioned that Montag’s job doesn’t seem right for his personality.  Montag thought very momentarily about the use of his job. Montag’s external conflict was when he decided to let Clarisse go because he did not want to hear any more negative thoughts. “You’d better run off to you appointment.” This quote tells the reader that Montag does not want to be put down by Clarisse’s negative thoughts on Montag’s mental and physical personality.

            “Once upon a time!” Beatty said. “What kind of talk is that?” Fool, thought Montag to himself, you’ll give it away.” (Page 34) The quote shows how Montag’s job and his passion for burning books have refused him to listen to and read books. Montag’s internal conflict is the thought when he burns books and enjoys the past of his passion. His mind is thinking of this moment right when Beatty reads a passage from a book that Montag has saved. Montags external conflict is when Beatty reads the first paragraph and Montag moans and groans as she is reading. That picture is very important to the future of the text because the reader knows that Montag doesn’t like books other than burning them.   

            “School is shortened, disciplined relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work.” (Page 55-56) The quote tells us that Montag is very negative about education. The internal conflict is the thought of Montag’s life during his school years. The reader knowing that Montag negates education probably flunked school getting low grades and having a negative desire for books and reading. The external conflict is his emotion telling Mildred about the negatives of education. The author shows Montag’s emotion during that moment by using a unique choice of words to describe Montag’s external conflict.