What Is a Conflict in a Story?
Table of Contents
Character Conflict is the driving force in a Short Story
Conflict is the primary problem that the main characters face in a story. It is the driving force in any short story, as it influences the turn of events in the plot and is a makes up a good story. Without literary conflict, there is no story arc and no character development. Story conflict can be broken down into four categories: man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society and man vs. self. The first three types are known as external conflict, and the last type is internal conflict.
Types of Conflict: External Conflict, Man vs. Man
Man vs. man is a classic example of a type of external conflict. The hero of the story is in central conflict with a single antagonist. For example, the primary conflict in "Hamlet" is between Hamlet and his uncle, King Claudius, who wants to have him killed. The primary conflict in "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn is between Nick and his wife, Amy, who are engaged in a psychological war that leads to potentially deadly consequences. Opposing forces between two people can be a physical fight, or it can be a battle of the minds, as with Nick and Amy. These are important elements of a story that show character wants and character struggles.
Types of Conflict: External Conflict, Man vs. Nature
Man vs. nature conflict pits a central character or group of characters against forces of nature, such as storms, animals, or natural disasters. For example, the protagonist in "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway spends days in a small boat on the ocean trying to catch a particular big fish. In "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, a boy is stranded with a tiger in a lifeboat after being shipwrecked at sea. In stories that pit man against nature, the external forces usually reveal something about human nature, such as man's fight for his own life or his perseverance in the face of chaos.
Types of Conflict: External Conflict, Man vs. Society
Society conflict stories or character vs. society, are usually about a corrupt or unjust legal system, culture or other outside force. Some examples include "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "1984" by George Orwell, both of which are about future, dystopian worlds that oppress individual freedom and expression. In these types of stories, one or two protagonists become catalysts for change. A larger group might form that fights for systemic change, such as rebel forces. This can also be an example of supernatural conflicts.
Types of Conflict: Internal Conflict, Man vs. Self
The only example of internal conflict is character vs. self. These types of stories focus on a psychological struggle that the character is having. For example, the young Esther in Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" struggles to overcome depression and define her identity as she transitions into adulthood. Similarly, Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" also struggles to figure out his identity as he moves through puberty. External sources can be considered contributing factors in these types of stories. In many stories, more than one type of conflict can be identified, such as man vs. self and man vs. society in "The Catcher in the Rye."
