conflicts with individual desire for freedom

Another example, mentioned in the introduction, is the conflict between Javert and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, who clash due to their conflicting opinions on justice and mercy. The book eventually inspired George Lucas to create the character of Luke Skywalker. In fact, the instances throughout the history of literature are so numerous that mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces, a book outlining the archetype of a hero going on a journey and overcoming an enemy.

There are countless examples of this type of conflict in literature. This type of conflict is pretty much self-explanatory, with one person struggling for victory over another. PersonĬonflict that pits one person against another is about as classic as a story can get. For example, in Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is in conflict with his society, himself, and another person (Javert)-not to mention the different conflicts other characters experience amongst each other!Ĭonsidering the many types of conflict that exist within literature, let's look at seven of the most common, using examples from famous novels to illustrate each type. Of course, each type is not mutually exclusive stories often have overlapping struggles, containing multiple characters and storylines. Given the amount of literature in the world, it's inevitable that there will be variations in the types of conflict characters experience. As painful as it is to read about our favorite characters going through hardships, these struggles are necessary to keep us engaged, entertained, and turning pages. Let's be honest-literature would be a little boring without conflict.

Conflicts with individual desire for freedom