After finishing this book, I can only conclude that the conflict of this story is the way society has become. It is caused not just by the firemen, but also by the future society that both allows and supports the firemen. Many things are lost because of this conflict: books, individuality, and progression. Who could progress in a world without inovation and free thought? Even with the massive amount of loss, the knowledge that Montag learns is priceless.
Montag is made to burn down his own home in the course of the book (Bradbury 116). That is a hard thing for a person to do, but he gets through it. In the same sentence, he loses his job, and is told he will lose his freedom (Bradbury 117). That is a hard thing to be told. His wife calls the firemen on him and leaves him (Bradbury 114). To top things off, he might have lost his life to the mechanical hound that was chasing him through the night (Bradbury 133). Honestly, he lost a house that could never have been a real home, a job that forced him to destroy, and a woman who did not have enough thought to really have a self. The thoughts of a person make a person who they are. As for his becoming an outlaw, and seemingly losing his freedom, he gains the freedom of his mind by being with those who know the value of thought.
Though he started off like the rest of the world- dull and unaware-, with the discovery of books, he gains the wonder that is the working mind. When Clarisse shows him all of the wonderful things in nature that he never stopped to see, he starts to enjoy himself, and it makes him happy (Bradbury 23). Since he decided early in the book that he actually was not happy, this new found happiness is quite an amazing thing for him. His gains from his discovery of books will change his life for the better for the duration of his life.
Lastly, the cause of the conflict. The conflict is obviously caused by a society of people who believe that thinking is irrevelent , and therefore do not want the thoughts and opinions found in books. It is really horrible to think about such a large group being so against free thinking. I dearly hope that this book does not come true.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
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