Types of Conflict
Whether you're a casual reader/viewer, a student of literature, or a writer, we're all drawn to conflict in stories. Identifying and understanding the effects of conflict can make help you think more deeply about the stories you enjoy or create. Let's take a quick look at the basic forms of conflict:
Character vs. Character: Where characters with conflicting goals vs. ideas are at odds. Often violent (Batman vs. Joker) but can frequently be social (Cady vs. Regina in Mean Girls). Character vs. Characters is arguably the simplest form of storytelling: who wins? The Tortoise or the Hare?
Character vs. Nature: A character struggles with the physical form of the outside world: shipwreck, disaster, survival, or illness. Think Hatchet or Life of Pi. The stakes are often life or death.
Character vs. Society: It's not merely the people around a character that are the problem, it's the entire system. Katniss Everdeen vs. the Capital, Luke Skywalker vs. the Empire, the Colonists vs. The British Empire. Wildly popular these days because our society is going through some things.
Character vs. Self: A character is pulled in two or more directions by conflicting motivations. Do they follow their own dreams, or do what their family expects? Do they take what they want or listen to their conscience? A story without a "vs. Self" conflict is like a pizza without cheese. You can have one, sure, but you're missing out.
Character vs. Supernatural: Characters face things outside what is considered "natural" in the world. Think Percy Jackson, Supernatural (on the nose, I know), or any horror movie with a ghost. Those supernatural entities often represent forces we can't control/master (greed, guilt, or shooting a dozen more seasons because the network won't cancel you.)
Character vs. Technology: Wi-Fi problems, robots, et al. Are we in really in control of the technology we create? You should ask Siri/Google/Alexa/Cortana
Character vs. Creator: A self-aware character rages against their ephemeral, fictional nature. Deadpool is up this alley.
Character vs. Quality: A character so poorly devised that they ruin the entire story. See any Adam Sandler comedy from the past 20 years.
Character vs. "I'm still figuring it out.": You wrote a story that's going nowhere, and no matter how much you tell yourself you've "almost got it," that character has nothing to do. Two more weeks and it becomes self-aware (see “Character vs. Creator”) and punishes you for being so useless.
Character vs. Meaning: Quizzock diceslische? B'haum! Greanora Tefeslische, ick wimsy borogroves.
These, of course are the simplest forms of conflict, but think about how your favorite books and movies mix-and-match them to tell unforgettable stories! Keep an eye out for the complexities, and until next time: Dreanockhe Quizzorf F'heal!