What is Internal & External Conflict? | Guide

Conflict, a central element in storytelling, shapes narratives and drives character development. Literary Devices, a resource for understanding narrative techniques, highlights the significance of conflict in creating engaging stories. The Society of Authors emphasizes the importance of mastering conflict to produce compelling and relatable narratives for its members. A key distinction lies in understanding what is an external and internal conflict, where external conflict involves a character's struggle against an outside force, while internal conflict represents a character’s battle with their own emotions and beliefs. Effective use of both conflict types is often taught in writing workshops at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, enabling writers to create depth and complexity in their characters, as analyzed in John Truby's work, "The Anatomy of Story," which details how conflict enhances a story’s structure and emotional resonance.

Understanding the Universal Presence of Conflict

Conflict, in its multifaceted forms, represents a cornerstone of human existence and narrative construction. It is not merely an occasional disruption, but a pervasive force shaping our individual lives, societal structures, and artistic expressions.

From the personal battles waged within our minds to the grand clashes that define history, conflict serves as a catalyst for change, growth, and understanding. This section will explore the ubiquitous nature of conflict and its profound significance across various domains.

Defining Conflict: Internal and External

At its core, conflict can be defined as a struggle, a clash of opposing forces. These forces can be internal, residing within an individual's psyche, or external, emanating from the world outside.

• Internal conflict involves a struggle within a character's mind. This might involve opposing desires, moral dilemmas, or psychological battles.
• External conflict, conversely, manifests as a struggle between a character and an outside force. This could be another person, nature, society, or even the supernatural.

Understanding this fundamental distinction is crucial for comprehending the dynamics of conflict in its broader context.

Conflict's Significance: Literature, Psychology, and Society

The impact of conflict reverberates throughout literature, psychology, and society, playing a vital role in shaping our understanding of the human condition.

In literature, conflict functions as the engine that drives the plot. It creates tension, raises stakes, and compels characters to make choices that define their destinies. Without conflict, stories would lack dynamism and fail to engage the reader on an emotional level.

From a psychological standpoint, conflict is intrinsic to human development. It reflects the internal struggles we face as we navigate complex emotions, grapple with moral choices, and strive to reconcile our desires with societal expectations. Exploring how individuals manage and resolve conflict is a central focus in various psychological schools of thought.

On a societal level, conflict is the crucible in which norms are tested, power structures are challenged, and social change is forged. It can manifest in various forms, from peaceful protests to armed revolutions, each leaving an indelible mark on the course of history.

Conflict as a Reflection of Human Struggles and Choices

Ultimately, conflict serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of human struggles and the weight of the choices we make. It illuminates our vulnerabilities, exposes our strengths, and forces us to confront the consequences of our actions.

By examining conflict, we gain insight into the human capacity for both great cruelty and extraordinary resilience. It is through these struggles that we define ourselves and shape the world around us.

Internal Conflict: The Inner Battlefield

Venturing into the realm of internal conflict reveals a landscape as intricate and turbulent as any external battleground. This inner turmoil, often unseen and unspoken, profoundly shapes our choices, motivations, and ultimately, our destinies.

By understanding the psychological and philosophical underpinnings of internal conflict, and recognizing its manifestation in literature, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the human condition.

Psychological and Philosophical Perspectives

The exploration of internal conflict has been a cornerstone of both psychological and philosophical inquiry for centuries. These disciplines offer valuable frameworks for understanding the forces at play within the individual psyche.

Psychoanalysis: Unveiling the Unconscious

Psychoanalysis, pioneered by Sigmund Freud, posits that internal conflict arises from the interplay of unconscious desires and societal constraints. Freud's model of the psyche, comprising the id, ego, and superego, provides a framework for understanding these conflicting forces.

The id represents primal instincts and desires, the ego mediates between the id and the external world, and the superego embodies internalized moral standards. Conflict emerges when these elements clash, leading to anxiety, repression, and various psychological defenses.

Jung's Archetypes and the Shadow Self

Carl Jung, a contemporary of Freud, expanded upon psychoanalytic theory by introducing the concept of archetypes, universal patterns of behavior and imagery residing in the collective unconscious. The shadow self, one such archetype, represents the darker, repressed aspects of the personality.

Internal conflict, in Jungian terms, often stems from the struggle to integrate the shadow self into conscious awareness. This process, though challenging, is essential for achieving psychological wholeness.

Existentialism: Freedom, Responsibility, and Absurdity

Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus emphasized the individual's freedom and responsibility in a seemingly meaningless world. This freedom, however, comes with the burden of making choices in the absence of preordained values.

Internal conflict, from an existentialist perspective, arises from the tension between our desire for meaning and the inherent absurdity of existence. We are condemned to be free, constantly grappling with the implications of our choices.

Cognitive Dissonance: The Discomfort of Inconsistency

Cognitive dissonance, a concept in social psychology, refers to the mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This discomfort motivates individuals to reduce the dissonance, often by changing their beliefs or behaviors.

Internal conflict, in this context, is driven by the need to maintain cognitive consistency. We strive to align our thoughts and actions to minimize internal tension.

The Inner Child: Reconciling Past and Present

The concept of the inner child suggests that unresolved childhood experiences can continue to influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in adulthood. Internal conflict may arise when the needs and desires of the inner child clash with the demands of the present reality.

Healing the inner child involves acknowledging and addressing these unresolved issues, fostering self-compassion, and integrating past experiences into a coherent sense of self.

Literary Examples of Internal Conflict

Literature provides a rich tapestry of characters grappling with internal conflict, offering profound insights into the human psyche. These narratives serve as powerful illustrations of the psychological and philosophical concepts discussed above.

Shakespearean Tragedies: Hamlet and Macbeth

Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth are iconic examples of characters tormented by internal conflict. Hamlet's famous soliloquies reveal his agonizing indecision, torn between revenge and moral restraint. Macbeth's ambition clashes with his conscience, leading him down a path of paranoia and destruction.

These plays demonstrate the devastating consequences of unresolved internal conflict, highlighting the destructive potential of unchecked desires and moral compromises.

The Great Gatsby: Illusion vs. Reality

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is consumed by the internal conflict between his idealized vision of the past and the harsh realities of the present. His relentless pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a symbol of his lost love and unattainable dreams, ultimately leads to his downfall.

Gatsby's story illustrates the dangers of clinging to illusions and the importance of accepting the complexities of human relationships.

Pride and Prejudice: Social Expectations vs. Personal Desires

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice explores the internal conflicts faced by Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates the social expectations of 19th-century England. Her initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy clashes with her growing attraction to him, forcing her to confront her own biases and misjudgments.

Elizabeth's journey highlights the challenges of reconciling personal desires with societal norms and the importance of self-awareness in overcoming prejudice.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Morality and Justice

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird portrays Scout Finch's struggle to understand the complexities of morality and justice in a racially prejudiced society. Her internal conflict arises from the clash between her innocent childhood perspective and the harsh realities of racial inequality and injustice.

Scout's story demonstrates the power of empathy and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

The Catcher in the Rye: Alienation and Identity

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye captures the angst and alienation of adolescence through the eyes of Holden Caulfield. Holden's internal conflict stems from his disillusionment with the adult world and his struggle to find his place in society.

Holden's story resonates with readers who have experienced the challenges of navigating identity, loss, and the search for authenticity.

Crime and Punishment: Guilt and Redemption

Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment delves into the psychological torment of Rodion Raskolnikov, who commits murder and then grapples with the weight of his guilt. His internal conflict intensifies as he wrestles with the moral implications of his actions and the possibility of redemption.

Raskolnikov's journey illustrates the profound impact of guilt on the human psyche and the potential for transformation through confession and acceptance of responsibility.

Key Concepts in Internal Conflict

Understanding the following key concepts is crucial for analyzing and interpreting internal conflict in literature and life.

Protagonist

The protagonist is the central character in a narrative, often facing internal conflict that drives the plot forward. The protagonist's struggles and choices shape the story's themes and message.

Moral Dilemma

A moral dilemma presents a character with a difficult choice between two or more conflicting moral principles. These dilemmas often force characters to confront their values and make difficult decisions with far-reaching consequences.

Psychological Conflict

Psychological conflict refers to the internal struggles and tensions experienced by a character due to opposing desires, beliefs, or emotions. This type of conflict often manifests as anxiety, depression, or other psychological symptoms.

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Self is a literary trope that describes internal conflict as a battle within a character's own mind. This conflict can involve moral dilemmas, psychological struggles, or conflicting desires.

Character Arc

A character arc refers to the transformation and growth a character undergoes throughout a story. Internal conflict often serves as the catalyst for character development, leading to significant changes in their beliefs, values, and behaviors.

By examining these concepts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of internal conflict and its profound impact on individuals and narratives.

External Conflict: Facing the Outside World

External conflict, in essence, portrays the battles fought outside the self.

It’s the clash between a character and the forces that challenge their existence, beliefs, or desires.

Unlike the silent struggles within, external conflict is a visible, often dramatic, confrontation with other individuals, the natural world, societal structures, technological advancements, or even supernatural entities.

This form of conflict is crucial in driving plot, shaping character development, and exploring the complexities of human interaction within a broader context.

Types of External Conflict

Understanding the different types of external conflict is essential for analyzing narratives and comprehending the myriad challenges individuals face in their lives.

Antagonist: The Opposing Force

At its most basic, external conflict often manifests through an antagonist.

The antagonist is the character or force that actively opposes the protagonist, creating obstacles and challenges that the protagonist must overcome.

This opposition can be driven by malice, conflicting goals, or simply by occupying opposing sides of an ideological divide.

Man vs. Man: The Interpersonal Struggle

Man vs. Man is perhaps the most easily recognizable form of external conflict.

It involves direct confrontation between two or more characters, whether physical, verbal, or psychological.

These conflicts can arise from personal vendettas, power struggles, or differing values and beliefs.

Man vs. Nature: The Battle for Survival

Man vs. Nature depicts the struggle for survival against the forces of the natural world.

This can involve facing harsh weather conditions, navigating treacherous landscapes, or battling dangerous animals.

These narratives often highlight human resilience, adaptation, and the humbling power of nature.

Man vs. Society: Challenging the Status Quo

Man vs. Society explores the conflict between an individual and the prevailing norms, laws, or structures of their society.

This type of conflict often arises when a character challenges injustice, inequality, or oppressive systems.

It’s a powerful tool for examining social issues and advocating for change.

Man vs. Technology: The Technological Dilemma

Man vs. Technology represents the conflict between humans and the increasingly pervasive influence of technology.

This can involve struggles against machines, AI, or the unintended consequences of technological advancements.

These narratives often raise questions about the ethical implications of technology and its impact on human autonomy.

Man vs. Supernatural: Facing the Unknown

Man vs. Supernatural delves into the realm of the unexplained, pitting characters against ghosts, demons, gods, or other supernatural entities.

This type of conflict often explores themes of faith, fear, and the limits of human understanding.

Literary Representations of External Conflict

Literature provides countless examples of external conflict, offering diverse perspectives on the human condition and the challenges we face.

Aristotle's Tragedy: The Inevitable Downfall

Aristotle's concept of tragedy often involves external conflicts that lead to the protagonist's downfall.

These conflicts can be driven by fate, the actions of others, or the protagonist's own flaws, ultimately resulting in suffering and loss.

Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey: Overcoming Obstacles

Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey is a narrative archetype that emphasizes the protagonist's confrontation with external forces.

The hero must overcome challenges, face adversaries, and ultimately triumph over adversity to achieve their goal.

One Hundred Years of Solitude: A Family's Struggle Against History

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude portrays the Buendia family's struggle against the relentless forces of history, war, and societal change.

Their conflicts with external forces shape their destinies and contribute to the rise and fall of their family dynasty.

Societal and Political Dimensions of Conflict

External conflict extends beyond individual narratives to encompass broader societal and political dimensions.

These conflicts shape social structures, influence political discourse, and drive historical events.

Sociology: Understanding Social Conflict

Sociology examines the causes and consequences of social conflict, including conflicts between different social groups, classes, or cultures.

Understanding these dynamics is essential for addressing social inequality and promoting social justice.

Political Science: Power Struggles and Ideological Clashes

Political Science analyzes the role of conflict in political systems, including conflicts between nations, political parties, or ideologies.

These conflicts often shape policy decisions, international relations, and the distribution of power.

Negotiation and Mediation: Resolving Disputes

Negotiation and Mediation are essential tools for resolving external conflicts peacefully.

These processes involve communication, compromise, and collaboration to reach mutually acceptable solutions.

Law: Establishing Order and Justice

Law provides a framework for resolving conflicts through established rules and procedures.

It aims to establish order, protect individual rights, and ensure justice in society.

Conflict's Impact: Weaving Through Plot, Theme, and Character

Conflict serves as the engine that drives narratives forward, breathing life into plots, enriching themes, and molding the very essence of characters. Its presence, whether overt or subtle, is the cornerstone upon which compelling stories are built. The way conflict is handled, escalated, and ultimately resolved significantly influences the overall message and impact of a narrative.

The Interplay of Conflict, Plot, and Theme

At its most fundamental, conflict initiates plot. The introduction of a challenge, obstacle, or opposing force sets the story in motion, compelling characters to react and make choices.

This chain of actions and reactions forms the narrative arc, guiding the reader or viewer through a series of escalating events.

Without conflict, a story risks stagnating, lacking the tension and forward momentum necessary to engage an audience.

Furthermore, conflict profoundly shapes a narrative's theme. The types of conflicts explored, and the ways in which characters grapple with them, reveal underlying messages about human nature, society, and the world at large.

For instance, a story centered around a "Man vs. Society" conflict might explore themes of social justice, rebellion, or the struggle for individual freedom.

The resolution of conflict is equally crucial in shaping thematic meaning. Does the protagonist overcome adversity, or are they ultimately defeated? The answer to this question provides insight into the author's perspective on the themes at play.

The way conflict is resolved also gives the audience a sense of either optimism or pessimism, and is important to consider when trying to understand the theme.

Conflict's Influence on Character Development: The Character Arc

Conflict serves as a crucible for character development, forcing individuals to confront their strengths, weaknesses, and deeply held beliefs.

It is through navigating these challenges that characters evolve, learn, and ultimately transform.

This transformation is often referred to as the character arc, a journey of change and growth that is directly influenced by the conflicts a character faces.

A character who initially embodies cowardice might, through a series of trials and tribulations, discover their inner courage and become a symbol of resilience.

Conversely, a character who begins with noble intentions might succumb to temptation or moral compromise, revealing the corrupting influence of power or circumstance.

These changes within a character are what audiences often connect with and root for.

Analytical Tools: Character Development Worksheets and Templates

Analyzing conflict effectively requires a systematic approach. Character development worksheets and templates can be invaluable tools for understanding how conflict shapes individual arcs.

These resources often include prompts and exercises designed to explore a character's motivations, values, and reactions to specific challenges.

By mapping out a character's journey, from their initial state to their ultimate transformation, analysts can gain a deeper appreciation for the role of conflict in driving character development.

These templates are also helpful for writers who wish to carefully consider the conflict(s) that drive their characters forward in a meaningful way.

So, the next time you're caught between a rock and a hard place (that's external conflict!), or battling your own inner demons (hello, internal conflict!), remember you're not alone. Understanding these forces at play can not only help you navigate your own stories, but also appreciate the depth and complexity of the narratives all around us.