OVERLAY REPORT

I'll search for information about the primary conflict in Barton Fink to supplement my knowledge. Based on my internal knowledge and the search results, I can provide you with a detailed analysis of the primary conflict in *Barton Fink*. ## The Primary Conflict The primary conflict centers on Barton Fink facing off against Charlie Meadows, who is revealed to be the movie's primary villain—a sensitive, loudmouthed insurance salesman who initially compliments Fink early on in their relationship. ## How It Started The conflict begins with what appears to be a friendly relationship. Charlie Meadows, a traveling salesman who lives next door, says he could tell Fink a lot of interesting stories, but Fink, who claims to be the poet of the working man, is not interested in a real proletarian. Charlie tells Barton: "You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton. I live here." ## The Turning Point The conflict escalates dramatically when the true nature of Charlie Meadows is revealed. After Taylor is murdered in Fink's bedroom, a traumatized Fink becomes increasingly emotionally dependent on Meadows. Shortly after, two police detectives inform Fink that Meadows is actually wanted serial killer Karl Mundt, who typically decapitates his victims. ## Thematic Significance The conflict represents deeper thematic tensions in the film. The script crafts characters that seem as if they are the physical embodiment of various facets of the protagonist's inner struggle, rather than stock characters that simply would make sense to exist in his world. The clash between Barton's pretensions about understanding "the common man" and Charlie's actual status as a working person (who turns out to be something far more sinister) forms the core of the film's psychological and moral conflict.