Types of Character Conflict

Any good story has conflict. Without conflict, nothing happens and the story dies because the reader won't care enough to finish the story. Even true-to-life stories revolve around conflict of one type or another. Conflict and struggle can be either internal or external in nature. Either conflict leads to moving the story along to a resolution or acceptance of the conflict or reason for it.

With Self
Conflict in a story means struggle between opposing people, wills or forces. While many thin of conflict in terms of fighting fires or military operations, conflict may be something else entirely. !nner conflict means that a character is struggling with himself in some tangible or intangible way. "or example, the character may have two choices. #ne choice lines up with the character's inner morals, feelings and values or is simply the present life pattern. $he other pulls in another direction with new choices that may be either right or wrong. %et each choice has barriers until the choices get confusing. Will choosing values or the present situation, mean that the loss of a friendship or even harm to another& !nner conflict may also include struggling with mental illusions or illness of some fashion with which the characters must deal with or overcome. Conflict may involve dealing with feelings of inade'uacy or intimidation. $he film (A )eautiful *ind( is an example of an inner conflict with self.

With Others
Character conflict includes conflict with others outside of self. External conflict means that the character may deal with a relationship that doesn't always go smoothly. A female character may struggle with choosing which man she truly loves and who truly loves her. A male character may struggle with commitment issues in a love relationship. )ut conflict with others is much broader than love relationships. +olitical leaders or other leaders may struggle for power, prestige or wealth. Any conflict between individuals or groups falls under this external character conflict type.

With the Environment

Another type of external character conflict is conflict with the environment. $his isn't ,ust about conflict over environmental or (green( issues. Conflict with the environment includes a story of triumph of climbers climbing, despite problems, to the top of a mountain or divers struggling to discover strange, new places and creatures under the sea. Character conflict with the environment or nature includes the young boy gentling a semi-wild horse. (*y "riend "lic a( is an example of character conflict with the environment in the ranch setting and the horse and an example of character conflict with others in -en's conflict with his father.

Spiritual Conflict
Another type of character conflict is a spiritual conflict. )ecause a spiritual conflict presupposes a greater being, this type does not fit with the conflict of character with self. $he character would be in conflict if he feels that his family or church thin s he should a missionary, while he has a passion to act and sing. $he struggle might be about wal ing away from his roots. !t might be going against his family and church, while still embracing his faith. !t might be finding a way to mesh the two. !t might mean doing what his family.church desires, but conse'uently suffering resentment. /ltimately, these are struggles and conflict between the character and the place faith ta es in the character's life. (Chariots of "ire( is an example of a spiritual character conflict.