Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury conveys and explains the internal conflict of Guy Montag in many different ways throughout the book. Guy comes off to be a pretty happy man, seems to have a good job, loving wife, okay surroundings, and enjoys his life. But, when Clarisse asks Montag if he is happy he has to think about it. Even though Montag seems to be content on the outside, Montag now is questioning himself if he is really happy on the inside, he starts thinking about his job, his wife, his surroundings, and even about being in the world. Montag is a firefighter but not like your ordinary firefighter, Montag’s job is to go around the community and burn the residents’ books. Some residents are attached to their books and often get offended when they are burned. A lady died in a house fire with her books because she refused to leave the house without her books. Thinking back on that incident Montag started to question his job. Then with the lacking relationship with his wife Montag started to question his marriage also. When Montag starts to question if he should even be in the world it is mostly because he is questioning himself about his “criminal side.” Not that Montag is a criminal but figural speaking when he realizes the answer to Clarisse question is that he is not happy, Montag begins to steal books and hide them in his house for answers. Montag wants to change but doesn’t know how or even where to start. When the books are not giving Montag the answers he is looking for he turns to Faber for guidance. Therefore the internal conflict of Guy Montag is that he seems to be content on the outside but once is asked if he is happy he has to question himself noticing all the imperfections in his life.