Captain Beatty is the captain of the fire department. He seems to be well educated about books but strangely enough, he hates books and people who insist on reading them. Professor Faber is a retired English professor who Guy came across about a year before the book starts. He is very intelligent and still keeps a few works of literature hidden. He believes society is full of cowards who won't speak out against things that could help the future of the world, such as books. There are many other minor characters such as Clarisse McClellan and Granger who play vital roles in the development of Guy's realization about books.
Some characters in the story change throughout the book. Guy is the most changed character in this story. He was transformed from a man who didn't think twice about burning books to a man who stood up for their meanings, even if it meant death. He forgot everything that mattered to him and decided that knowledge overruled ignorance.
On the other hand, some characters end up staying the same. Mildred thinks society is perfect and wonderful; she pays no attention to what really means the most. She ends up betraying her husband and moving away. Captain Beatty is full of contradictions. It seems as if he loved books at one time but now he only wishes to see them burn. He thinks of books as weapons, yet he uses his own knowledge to trick Guy. Beatty does not change and he remains determined to stop any reading of literature.
Throughout the book there are many conflicts, but one sticks out from all the rest. When Guy goes to work one night, a call comes in. They take off for the job and soon Guy realizes they are at his own house. After he is forced to burn down his house, he is put under arrest. Without realizing it, he turns the flamethrower on Beatty and burns him to ashes. He escapes and suddenly it seems as if the whole world is after him. .
Underneath the central conflict are many minor struggles.