Internal conflicts

Definition

Internal conflicts refer to the psychological struggles within a character, often involving opposing desires, beliefs, or emotions. These conflicts are crucial in shaping a character's development and influencing their decisions throughout the narrative, making them essential for driving story arcs and deepening audience engagement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Internal conflicts can manifest as a character grappling with moral dilemmas, personal fears, or conflicting goals that affect their choices and relationships.
2. These conflicts are often pivotal in storytelling, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with characters as they witness their struggles.
3. Effective internal conflicts can enhance dramatic tension, providing layers to the character's motivations and challenges throughout the plot.
4. Writers use internal conflicts to create opportunities for character growth, often leading to a resolution that significantly alters the character’s path.
5. In many narratives, resolving internal conflicts is key to achieving external goals, highlighting the interconnectedness of personal struggles and broader story outcomes.

Review Questions

• How do internal conflicts influence a character's decisions and development throughout a story?
  • Internal conflicts play a significant role in shaping a character’s decisions by presenting them with dilemmas that force them to weigh their values against their desires. For instance, a character torn between love and duty may experience emotional turmoil that leads to pivotal choices impacting the plot. As these struggles unfold, audiences gain insight into the character's psyche, enhancing their development and making their journey more relatable and engaging.
• Discuss the relationship between internal conflicts and character arcs within a narrative framework.
  • Internal conflicts are integral to character arcs because they serve as catalysts for change and growth. As characters confront and navigate their psychological struggles, they undergo transformations that define their arcs. A well-crafted narrative allows these conflicts to evolve, ultimately leading to resolutions that showcase the character's development. This interplay makes both the internal conflict and character arc vital components of storytelling, enhancing depth and complexity.
• Evaluate the impact of unresolved internal conflicts on the overall narrative and character progression.
  • Unresolved internal conflicts can have profound implications for both narrative tension and character progression. When characters do not overcome their psychological struggles, it can lead to stagnation in their development or even detrimental choices that affect other characters and plot outcomes. This ongoing struggle can create suspense and emotional investment from the audience, as viewers become eager to see if the character will ultimately find resolution. Therefore, unresolved internal conflicts not only contribute to complexity but also deepen engagement with the story.

Related terms

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character as they navigate through their internal conflicts and external challenges.

Motivation: The reasons or desires that drive a character's actions and decisions, often influenced by their internal conflicts.

Resolution: The outcome of the internal conflict, determining whether the character has achieved growth or remains stuck in their struggles.