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One of the most interesting parts of telling a story is seeing how different characters get on with each other. Some are more friendly, developing strong bonds of friendship that persist all the way to the last page of the story whereas others are more hostile, going so far as to either having a war of words or getting into physical altercations. Many creators use what is called ‘character conflict’ to generate compelling drama and they do so to great aplomb.
In the simplest terms, character conflict refers to a confrontation of some kind between two or more characters. This can occur at any point in the tale, even right at the start just as the audience is discovering them for the very first time. The conflict takes many forms, from insulting each other to even taking someone’s life. Thus, it’s important that these confrontations feel organic and not artificially generated for the sake of the plot.
The driving force between character conflict is the personalities of those involved. While this is more likely to occur due to two differing ones, even those who are similar aren’t immune from said clash. Their personalities influence how they perceive each other and the world around them as well as the information they have at that moment in time.
The drama from two characters having a heated conflict doesn’t just end there. No, it continues after said event is over, making the fallout far more interesting. How they manage it determines their next move, for better or worse, which can and will affect not just the plot overall but their relationship with the other characters as well.
This is the twenty-seventh article in The Sunlit Hearth series. If you like this article and are interested in seeing what else we have, our blog page is the perfect place to go to since we explore all kinds of topics related to fantasy!
An overwhelming majority of fantasy stories don’t just revolve around the protagonist working to defeat the rising forces of evil and save the world. They also delve deeply into the relationships of the other major characters, how they interact with each other, and so on. Throughout the tale, they’ll meet all kinds of people, some they will get along with famously, others not so well.
Every major character has his own goal to achieve and how he goes about it can and will put him on a collision course with either someone he considers a friend or a hated adversary. This collision course forms the basis of character conflict and it takes many forms, all of which serve their own purpose in advancing the plot, both good and bad.
Most of the time, character conflict features two or more characters having an argument. It can be either verbal where they have a heated conversation that either goes nowhere or is resolved one way or another or physical where they get into a tussle or throw objects at each other. Sometimes a conversation can devolve into a physical altercation that involves other characters having to intervene to pull apart the warring belligerents.
Character conflict doesn’t just need to be wholly adversarial, it can also serve to force a recalcitrant character to reconsider his stance on an issue. For example, suppose the protagonist is unwilling to commit to a particular action and the sage can spell out what will happen if he doesn’t follow through. In this scenario, the latter is just trying to help the former make a decision despite knowing that such a move could make him at odds with the other.
The clash of characters occur at all points in the story. In some cases, it serves as the driving force of the plot where the characters of the tale are forced to take sides and work to advance their side at the expense of the other. This is reinforced by the theme of good vs. evil where both sides are actively working against each other and make strategic moves at key points in the plot.
Confrontations between characters do not occur out of nowhere. Rather, several factors put them to be on a collision course with each other, the most important being that of their personalities. How they perceive each other also influences what is likely to transpire during said confrontation which, if used correctly, can steer the plot in unexpected ways.
There are a number of things that make up a character’s personality. They range from how he was brought up to the things he believes in. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, and so on also shape his personality. They form the basis of how he sees other people and interact with them which can lead to his having tumultuous relationships with them, especially if he views them negatively.
When a character comes into conflict with someone else, his personality shines forth. It is here where his true self emerges as he chooses an option that is most in tune with who he is at heart when interacting with his opponent. A wide choice of options are available to him, from blackmail to bandying insults to physically fighting him. The choice he goes with sets the tone for what is about to occur and while sometimes it can be reversible at a later time, most of the time it becomes one he cannot change, even if he wanted to down the road.
While people expect characters with different personalities to clash, they are usually astonished when they see two who possess a similar disposition be at odds with each other. Most of the time, this type of character conflict is verbal, especially when one is doing something that the other disagrees with or feels like is out of his character. These confrontations occur as a result of someone trying to help the other out, and the other is being ostentatious or outright unwilling to listen. Most of the time, it has a satisfying resolution that results in their friendship being stronger than before but if it goes the wrong way, it can also mark the beginning of the end of said friendship.
While most of the action of character conflicts take place when the characters are interacting with each other, usually in hostile or angry moods, the fallout is perhaps more important than the event itself. Like it or not, it will dictate not just the immediate actions the involved parties take but how they perceive each other for a brief period of time afterwards. Sometimes these negative feelings fade, other times they take hold, forever altering their personalities.
Creators showcase how their various characters manage with the fallout. Some have a desire to make things right since they value their friendship whereas others are more inclined to let it consume them. How they react illuminates who they are at heart since they are usually by themselves as they digest what just transpired and figure out what their next move ought to be.
This can serve for powerful storytelling in a number of ways. Sometimes an argument can ignite a chain of events that culminate in the complete and utter downfall of a beloved character as each action he takes becomes worse than the one before. Another character could withdraw deeply into himself and cut himself off from his friends and family, who just want him to be himself again.
In extreme cases, character conflict can lead to the demise of a character at the hands of someone else, forever altering the trajectory of the plot. The other characters must learn to live life without the deceased, all the more painful if he was beloved and a stellar role model for many. They must grieve and they all do so in their own way.
The fallout also focuses on the changes in character relationships, notably the involved parties. Depending on how they view them, their relationship with them will either be more positive or more negative and they will adjust their behavior accordingly. For instance, suppose the argument revolved over a man cheating on his wife. The latter’s family would view him in an unfavorable light and treat him accordingly whereas some members of the man’s family would encourage him to end the affair and work on salvaging his damaged marriage. Sometimes the changes in relationships are temporary but the chances of them being permanent exist and grow over time the longer they remain on opposite sides, resulting in friends becoming enemies.
Character conflict is integral in crafting a great story in that it brings two or more characters at odds onto the forefront where a whole number of things can influence how they interact with each other and the eventual resolution, if there is one. It is one of the most powerful tools a storyteller at his disposal for it doesn’t just affect the involved characters, it affects other people as well as runs the potential of forever changing the direction of the plot itself.
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