Internal Conflicts

Definition

Internal conflicts refer to the psychological struggles that a character faces within themselves, often involving opposing desires, beliefs, or emotions. These conflicts are crucial for character development and can add depth and complexity to narratives, allowing readers to connect with characters on a more personal level as they navigate their struggles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Internal conflicts often arise from a character's moral dilemmas, fears, or desires that clash with their values or circumstances.
2. These conflicts can manifest as feelings of guilt, anxiety, or indecision, impacting how the character interacts with others and progresses through the story.
3. Writers can use internal conflicts to create tension and suspense in a narrative, compelling readers to invest in the character's journey.
4. Resolving internal conflicts is a key element in a character's development and can lead to growth, change, or even tragedy.
5. Characters experiencing internal conflicts are often more relatable to readers, as these struggles reflect real-life human experiences and emotions.

Review Questions

• How do internal conflicts enhance character development in narratives?
  • Internal conflicts enhance character development by providing depth to characters' personalities and motivations. They illustrate the struggles characters face when making choices that align with their beliefs and desires. As characters navigate these conflicts, they undergo transformation and growth, allowing readers to witness their evolution and connect emotionally with their journey.
• Discuss the relationship between internal conflicts and character motivation in storytelling.
  • Internal conflicts are deeply intertwined with character motivation because they often originate from the conflicting desires or beliefs a character holds. A character's motivations drive their actions throughout the narrative, but when faced with internal conflict, these motivations can become complicated. As characters confront their inner turmoil, it reveals their true motivations and leads to critical decisions that shape the plot.
• Evaluate how internal conflicts can shape the overall theme of a story and its impact on readers.
  • Internal conflicts can significantly shape a story's theme by highlighting universal struggles such as identity, morality, and human emotion. By weaving these conflicts into the narrative, writers can create powerful messages that resonate with readers on multiple levels. When readers see characters grappling with their internal struggles, it encourages them to reflect on similar experiences in their own lives, making the themes more impactful and relatable.

Related terms

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often influenced by their internal conflicts.

Motivation: The driving force behind a character's actions, which can often stem from their internal conflicts and desires.

Theme:

The central ideas or messages that emerge from a narrative, which can be significantly shaped by the internal conflicts of characters.