Montag’s internal conflict results from his job. He is a fireman, which means he burns people’s houses — sometimes while they are still in them. He develops this internal conflict when he meets his neighbor Clarisse. Clarisse tells him that, unlike most people, she is not afraid of firemen. She also asks if he is happy. This prompts him to think,
Of course I'm happy. What does she think? I'm not? he asked the quiet rooms. He stood looking up at the ventilator grille in the hall and suddenly remembered that something lay hidden behind the grille, something that seemed to peer down at him now. He moved his eyes quickly away. What a strange meeting on a strange night (Part I).
When Montag steals a book, he does not quite know what to do with it at first. The book is not allowed, of course. No books are allowed in this society. He has grown up with this and it is all he knows. Clarisse and the lady who burns herself with her books prompt him to question his beliefs.
Montag’s external conflict is mostly with Beatty, his captain, but also a result of the character vs. society conflict that results from having a very restrictive society. Books are not allowed, and people seem to exist without emotions. Everyone focuses mostly on television, radio, or drugs.
Beatty arranged his cards quietly. "Any man's insane who thinks he can fool the Government and us."
"I've tried to imagine," said Montag, "just how it would feel. I mean to have firemen burn our houses and our books."
"We haven't any books."
"But if we did have some."
"You got some?"
Beatty blinked slowly.
"No" (Part I).
Beatty knew Montag was hiding something. As Montag became more involved in the book idea, it was clearer and clearer that Beatty know what was going on and was just waiting for a chance to get Montag. Eventually, the conflict is resolved when Montag's wife turns him in and Montag is called to his own house and Montag attacks Beatty with a flamethrower.
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