Guy Montag's Conflicts In Fahrenheit 451

In a society where everyone is forced to be exactly the same, whether it be intelligence or behavior wise, Guy Montag stands out. Montag is the main character of Fahrenheit 451. Like any main character, Montag is faced with many internal and external conflicts. Unlike most main characters, Montag solves his conflicts in a strange way. After doing some soul-searching, he begins to fight for a better society than the one he currently lives in by rebelling against the government in every way possible, such as storing books, killing people, and running away from the city he lived in.
Before the time the book is set, Montag would steal books from houses he burnt and hide them within his house. The quote, “he stood looking up at the ventilator

grille in the hall and suddenly remembered that something lay hidden behind the grille,” (Bradbury, 10) suggests that he has been secretly storing books in his house for quite a while. Eventually,though, the books became his downfall. He begins to become attached to them, and wants everyone to appreciate them as much as he does. Beatty, a former ally of Montag’s, realizes that Montag has at least one book, as stated in the quote, “at least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders,” (62) and trusts him to burn it within 24 hours, as stated in “we let the firemen keep the book 24 hours” (62). Instead of destroying the books, he keeps them until Mildred and her friends call in an alarm and the firemen burn down his house. The books end up becoming both Montag’s poison and his cure. On one hand, they are extremely dangerous, but on the other, they are exactly what he needs to feel happy.
Once Mildred decides the books are as terrible as she thought they were, she calls the firemen to burn her and Montag’s house down, as stated in the quote, “was it my wife turned in the alarm? Beatty nodded.” (117) Montag seems to have many problems with controlling his actions throughout the book, but they become more prominent toward the end, as said in “Montag saw the surprise there and himself glanced to his hands to see the new thing they had done.” (119) Beatty’s taunts set Montag off and he impulsively kills Beatty. The worst part is, he doesn’t really feel bad for killing Beatty, as stated in “You always said, don’t face a problem, burn it. Well, now I’ve done both, good-bye captain.” (121)
Montag killing Beatty starts a city-wide manhunt. Montag goes to Faber and throws off hound. Montag is afraid that the hound will find and kill Faber, as stated in “there’s no use you being discovered” (135). He covers his scent to protect Faber, then he runs to the river and yhcrosses it. On the other side of the river, there is a countryside that makes Montag feel less empty than he did before, as stated in “He was not empty. There was more than enough here to fill him” (144). Later, he happens upon a group of people who are all in charge of remembering a certain book. Montag is afraid he won’t be able to remember the book he was assigned, as stated in “but I’ve forgotten!” (151). He ends up remembering parts of his assigned book and realizing that he actually does have a use in the world.
Storing books, killing Beatty, and running away from his former home changes Montag emotionally and spiritually. His spiritual and emotional changes give him the push he needs to help change his brainwashed society.