Beatty is an extremely intelligent man. He is Montag’s captain, and he presents a paradox. He is aware that Montag is hiding his interest in books, and he does nothing. Instead of turning him in, Beatty toys with Montag like a cat playing with a mouse. Beatty can quote widely from literature, history, and poetry. Where did he get this knowledge if not from books?
The first time we are introduced to Beatty, we can see the conflict between Beatty and Montag when they discuss the Hound. Montag finds it disconcerting and is afraid of it. Beatty uses his wariness to tease him.
Beatty snorted, gently. "Hell! It's a fine bit of craftsmanship, a good rifle that can fetch its own target and guarantees the bull's-eye every time."
"That's why," said Montag. "I wouldn't want to be its next victim.
"Why? You got a guilty conscience about something?" (Part I)
This exchange is an example of Beatty’s perceptiveness about Montag. Throughout the book, he toys with Montag and manipulates him. He does this because he has power over Montag, and because Montag is frightened and always wondering how much he knows. He does not quite understand what game Beatty is playing.
When Montag steals a book and feels so guilty about it he can’t get out of bed, Beatty pays him a visit. He seems very aware that Montag won’t let Mildred mess with his pillow. Beatty gives Montag a lecture about why books have been outlawed. He tells him they have no value, and just make people unhappy.
"At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh, to scratch that itch, eh? Well, Montag, take my word for it, I've had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing!” (Part I)
Beatty knows what Montag is doing. He just wants to keep messing with his head. There is only one way this conflict can end, and that is with Montag doomed. Beatty wants to enjoy the process. He strings Montag along.
Montag does not want to face Beatty, and he makes an arrangement with Faber to use a secret communication device so that Faber can give him instructions. Unfortunately, it is not long before Beatty discovers this too. He always seems one step ahead of Montag.
Beatty struck him a blow on the head that sent him reeling back. The green bullet in which Faber's voice whispered and cried, fell to the sidewalk. Beatty snatched it up, grinning. He held it half in, half out of his ear. (Part III)
This is the culmination of the conflict, of course. Beatty has evidence against Montag in abundance now. When Montag’s house was called in, Beatty was gleeful and taunted Montag. Now, Montag lets Beatty hit him and does not fight back.
Not knowing what to do, Montag turns his flamethrower on Beatty, not wanting to get arrested.
Montag saw the surprise there and himself glanced to his hands to see what new thing they had done. Thinking back later he could never decide whether the hands or Beatty's reaction to the hands gave him the final push toward murder. (Part III)
After he kills Beatty, Montag is by no means in the clear. He is on the run, chased by the Mechanical Hound. Although he got the best of Beatty, his nightmare has come true.
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