"This whole game is just designed to make us hate ourselves" (Westerfeld 43).

Tally and her best friend Shay are living in a dark, confusing, and futuristic world that has a caste system, where the only way to move up is to endure the operation and become perfectly pretty.
Man Vs Self

"The girl leaned forward, grimacing as if she was also sore from remaining still for so long. Her face caught the light. She was ugly too" (Westerfeld 27).

Tally's life has minimum stress until she meets Shay. Shay is daring and makes Tally's life more risky and dangerous. The venturesome adventures they have together make Tally's life dangerous and hazardous. Shay shows Tally the Rusty Ruins, a place that's abandoned and creepy, where people go in order to escape.
Man VS Society
Man VS Man

"Any more delays, and they won't believe you. They'll guess what happened. So decide now" (Westerfeld 131).
Tally's life is about to change for the worst. The mood portrays danger and warning as she goes out into the wilderness on her own.
Man VS Nature
Man VS Self

"A noise thundered to life on Tally's left, unmistakable even above the roar of fire" (Westerfeld 167).

When Tally's on the run, she finds that nature is cruel and unforgiving as she hikes through dense forests.
Man VS Nature

"The scents of wood and cooking drifted up to Tally, smells that made her think of camping. And outdoor parties" (Westerfeld 186).

Tally finds the hide-out spot she's been looking for, The Smoke, and is surprised at what she finds. The people that call The Smoke home live in huts and have no electricity. They reuse everything fight and to stay hidden. Tally soon has to choose and things are tenser than ever. Should she betray her best friend or live with her ugly face? Lies and backstabbing are in the air as Tally decides her fate.
Man VS Destiny/Fate

"Tally smiled. At least she was causing trouble to the end. 'I'm Tally Youngblood,' she said. 'Make me pretty' " (Westerfeld 406).

Tally returns to the city in order to undergo the operation that will make a clone of all the other pretties, meanwhile finally betraying her friend and The Smoke for good.
Man VS Self

In order to be accepted in Tally's city, you must undergo a supernatural and permanent change. Yet, when she journeys to The Smoke, she is accepted for her natural looks and ways. This conflict reveals that if you are not accepted where you are, maybe that's not where you're supposed to be.