Writing
7 Types of Conflict in Literature
Feb
Conflict in literature refers to any battle that characters must face in order to accomplish their objective. It may be a ‘real world’ barrier or adversary (external conflict) or some inner anguish that our heroes must overcome before obtaining what they want or need (internal conflict).
Conflict is at the heart of all excellent tales. Understanding what stands between characters and their objectives allows us to get a better understanding of their tales. The following are the seven most frequent kinds of conflict in literature:
- Character vs. character
- Character vs. society
- Character vs. nature
- Character vs. technology
- Character vs. supernatural
- Character vs. fate
- Character vs. self
This article will examine various kinds of conflict and offer examples from popular literature.
1. Character vs. Character(s)
Pesky people: they create havoc wherever they go! This is the core of the kind of external conflict seen in many, if not most, tales. “Character against character” may refer to both black-and-white conflicts (cops vs. robbers, hero vs. villain, etc.), but it can also refer to more nuanced types of personal confrontations, such as love entanglements and family disagreements.
Character versus. character conflict is often shown as the classic “protagonist vs. antagonist” structure, in which the two major characters have diametrically opposed objectives. For example, the protagonist might be a cat burglar trying to steal a valuable artwork, whereas the antagonist – a corrupt gallery owner – is only interested in stopping them.
Examples of character vs. character conflict
The Great Gatsby: Self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby wants nothing more than to win over his childhood crush, Daisy Buchanan. Standing in the way of Gatsby’s goal is Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan, an old-money cad with a mile-wide mean streak.
2. Character vs. Society
This kind of external conflict, which is especially common in literature these days, puts the individual against the group. In this instance, “the collective” might take the following form:
- an oppressive government,
- adults (as seen from a teenager’s perspective), or
- systemic corruption.
In this kind of struggle, society will put pressure on our character to alter and fit neatly into place. Our protagonist, on the other hand, will oppose change and, in extreme instances, will attempt to mold society to suit their vision. Our hero, like David in the tale of David and Goliath, has an uphill fight, but the reader believes that ‘the little man’ can conquer a seemingly insurmountable task.
Examples of character vs. society conflict
The Hate U Give: When her friend is killed by a policeman, African American adolescent Starr seeks justice, but she is met with a system of structural racism that extends from the police and media all the way to her privileged school and internalized racism.
The Devil Wears Prada: Andrea “Andy” Sachs, an idealistic university graduate, comes to New York and quickly gets a highly sought job as the junior assistant to Miranda Priestly, the dictatorial editor of a fashion magazine. Andy, a fish out of water, joins a world that clearly contradicts her beliefs, but she is forced to adapt to the cutthroat world of fashion journalism in order to further her career.
3. Character vs. Nature
How do you think you’d fare in a battle with Mother Earth? That is precisely what our heroes are up against in this kind of battle. The adversaries in this kind of battle cannot be reasoned with, whether it be animals (Jaws), natural catastrophes (The Day After Tomorrow), weather (The Perfect Storm), or a post-apocalyptic environment (The Road).
Typically, stories with a “character vs. nature” conflict revolve on a character’s survival. In the absence of a human adversary, our heroes will often find that “character vs. self” conflict (which we shall discuss later) is central to their narrative journey.
Examples of character vs. nature conflict
The Martian: Astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and must endure its harsh environment in order to be rescued. Using his ingenuity, he must overcome the challenges that Mars offers by producing food and figuring out how to connect with Earth.
Moby Dick: Ahab, the captain of the Pequod, sets off on a journey to find a white whale that had previously taken his leg. On this ill-fated voyage, the group confronts many natural obstacles, including storms, rough seas, and the eponymous whale Moby Dick.
4. Character vs. Technology
Humanity has had a tumultuous relationship with technology since the beginning of the industrial era. Some view scientific advancement as a defiance of God and nature, while others utilize technology to test the boundaries of human morals, patience, and avarice. While the concept of ‘character vs. technology’ may conjure up images of a Terminator-style robot catastrophe, this kind of conflict may be as simple as someone trying to teach their Grandma Millie how to use emojis!
Examples of character vs. technology
Frankenstein: A scientist creates a monster out of discarded human parts. This’monster’ soon becomes sentient and outperforms his creator’s wildest hopes, eventually killing Dr. Frankenstein on the tundra. Mary Shelly’s novel, titled “The Modern Prometheus,” compared her hero to the legendary Greek figure who stole fire from Zeus, placing a sharp point on people daring to play God.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter in the far future of 1999, is assigned the job of retiring (read: murdering) a gang of androids who have just escaped from a Mars colony. The only issue? These artificial beings are almost indistinguishable from actual humans. When Deckard falls for one of these androids, he begins to question the very nature of humanity.
5. Character vs. Supernatural
When your hero encounters something that cannot be explained by logic or science, they are most likely dealing with supernatural powers! While some authors use this kind of struggle to create exciting stories, supernatural novels may also examine human anxieties and unexplainable daily occurrences.
In practice, character versus supernatural confrontations often pit the protagonist against destiny, religion, ghosts, gods, demons, or aliens.
Examples of character vs supernatural
Ghostbusters: Three disgraced scientists (and a man they met on Craigslist) set up business as supernatural pest controllers, eradicating ravenous ghosts and ghostly librarians from New York. But when a Sumerian deity appears with the intent of enslaving the planet, our four heroes must confront the age-old question: does bustin’ make them feel good?
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: In Victorian London, a doctor develops a potion that transforms him into his wicked alter-ego, Edward Hyde. Author Robert Louis Stevenson uses this spooky story to portray one man’s battle against his inner demons, inspired by the real-life case of Deacon Brodie, an upstanding Edinburgh citizen by day and thief by night.
6. Character vs. Fate
This struggle, like “character vs. supernatural,” needs its own section, if only for historical reasons. “Character vs. fate” situations may involve encounters with God or the gods and their predictions, in which our heroes frantically attempt to express their free choice. This is a frequent theme in Greek tragedies, when the characters have little choice but to accept their fates.
Examples of character vs. supernatural
Macbeth: In Shakespeare’s “Scottish play,” the Thane of Glamis hears a prophesy from three witches that predicts his ascension to the Scottish throne. However, the witches reveal that his friend Banquo would sire a dynasty of monarchs, which makes Macbeth nervous. In order to avoid this destiny, Macbeth resorts to extreme methods, which prove to be his downfall.
Oedipus Rex: A boy encounters an oracle. The Oracle predicts that the boy will marry his mother and murder his father. To reject the prophesy, the kid murders a stranger (who turns out to be his biological father) and marries a lady (who turns out to be his birth mother). In a moment of rage, the boy plucks his eyeballs out. It’s an age-old story.
If these tales have taught us anything, it is that catastrophes are nearly invariably self-inflicted! Until recently, our heroes have had to cope with external forces in these kinds of battles.
7. Character vs. Self
According to author Maxwell Anderson, “the narrative must be a struggle, and particularly, a conflict between the forces of good and evil inside a single individual.” Though it may be an oversimplification, every compelling narrative will, at some time, include a character’s inner conflict. That’s because, as James N. Frey points out in How To Write A Damn Good Novel, a reader feels the greatest empathy for a character when he or she is in the midst of tremendous inner conflict.
Internal conflict will result from a disagreement inside a character. It may stem from any combination of the character’s expectations, wants, responsibilities, and anxieties. They must muddle through in order to achieve what they desire.
Examples of character vs. self
The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen, a sweet adolescent, is chosen to compete in a fatal reality show produced by a totalitarian government. According to the rules of the game, there can only be one – it seems that Katniss must overcome her aversion to killing in order to live. Will she stand firm in her beliefs, even if it means her death?
Great Expectation: Pip, a poor Blacksmith’s kid, is pulled from obscurity by an unknown benefactor and given the opportunity to become a London gentleman. Pip is caught between obtaining everything he ever desired and preserving his principles, seeing this as his last opportunity to ‘improve himself’ and win the love of his childhood sweetheart. Will he dedicate himself to becoming a heartless upper-middle-class member, or will he stay loyal to his family and genuine self?
