4.3 Interpersonal conflict
9 min read•august 21, 2024
drives drama in plays, creating tension and challenges between characters. Understanding its roots helps playwrights craft compelling narratives and character dynamics that keep audiences engaged.
From clashing goals to miscommunication, personality differences to power imbalances, various sources fuel conflict. Playwrights use techniques like contrasting motivations, secrets, pacing, and dialogue to heighten and shape plot structures.
Sources of interpersonal conflict
- Interpersonal conflict arises from various sources that create tension and challenges between characters in a play
- Understanding the roots of conflict helps playwrights craft compelling narratives and character dynamics
Differences in goals
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- Characters often clash when they have opposing or incompatible objectives they are striving to achieve
- Conflicting ambitions can lead to characters actively working against each other's interests (career advancement vs family obligations)
- Differences in personal values and beliefs can make characters' goals fundamentally at odds (individualism vs collectivism)
- Competing desires for limited resources, whether tangible or intangible, breed conflict (vying for a promotion, a love interest's affection)
Miscommunication between characters
- Misunderstandings and misinterpretations of words, actions, or intentions frequently spark conflict
- Characters may jump to conclusions based on incomplete information or erroneous assumptions
- Cultural, linguistic, or generational differences can lead to characters talking past each other and failing to connect
- Deliberately withheld information or deception can cause characters to operate on false premises and clash as a result
Personality clashes
- Inherent differences in personality traits, temperaments, and communication styles can generate friction between characters
- Extroverted and introverted characters may irritate each other with their contrasting social preferences and needs
- Characters with opposing worldviews or political leanings are prone to butting heads and engaging in heated arguments
- Clashing senses of humor, hobbies, or lifestyle choices can make characters grate on each other's nerves
Power imbalances in relationships
- Disparities in social status, authority, or influence within a relationship can foment conflict
- Subordinates may resent or rebel against the control exerted by those in positions of power over them (boss-employee, parent-child)
- Those in power may abuse their status to manipulate, exploit, or silence those with less clout
- Shifting power dynamics as characters gain or lose leverage can destabilize relationships and ignite new conflicts (a student surpassing their mentor)
Techniques for creating conflict
- Playwrights employ various techniques to introduce and heighten conflict between characters
- These strategies help keep the audience engaged by infusing scenes with dramatic tension and anticipation
Contrasting character motivations
- Giving characters opposing goals or incompatible desires sets the stage for conflict
- A character's actions to pursue their objectives inevitably clash with others' conflicting agendas
- Pitting a character's loyalties or responsibilities against each other forces them into difficult choices that breed interpersonal friction (professional duties vs personal relationships)
- Misaligned motivations can lead characters to undermine or sabotage each other, even unintentionally
Introducing secrets & lies
- Concealing information from characters or having them deliberately deceive each other injects conflict into their relationships
- Secrets can make characters act evasively or illogically to protect the truth, arousing suspicion and mistrust
- Lies told to manipulate or exploit others erode the foundation of relationships when exposed
- The threat of secrets being revealed or lies unraveling can keep characters on edge and in a combative stance
Building tension through pacing
- Strategically controlling the pace at which conflicts escalate and resolve helps modulate dramatic tension
- Allowing tensions to simmer and build slowly over time can make conflicts feel more consequential when they erupt
- Repeatedly interrupting or deferring confrontations between characters prolongs anticipation and keeps conflicts unresolved
- Rapidly accelerating the frequency and intensity of conflicts can create a sense of urgency and mounting pressure
Crafting impactful dialogue
- Well-written dialogue can sharpen and deepen conflicts between characters
- and implication allow characters to challenge or provoke each other without overtly hostile language
- Interruptions, overlapping speech, and non sequiturs reflect the verbal sparring and jockeying of interpersonal conflicts
- Harsh words, insults, and emotionally charged outbursts make the stakes of conflicts feel palpable and personal
Conflict-driven plot structures
- Many plays are structured around a central conflict that propels the plot and character development
- The shape and trajectory of the conflict influences the rising and , , and resolution
Inciting incidents that spark conflict
- The inciting incident is an event that disturbs the status quo and sets the main conflict of the play into motion
- It forces the to confront a challenge, make a choice, or pursue a new course of action
- The inciting incident often pits characters against each other or introduces a destabilizing element into their relationships (arrival of a disruptive outsider, revelation of a devastating secret)
- It can be an overt confrontation, a subtle shift in circumstances, or a moment of internal realization that spurs characters into conflict
Rising action vs falling action
- refers to the portion of the plot where the central conflict escalates and complicates
- Tensions rise as characters' efforts to resolve the conflict are met with new obstacles, setbacks, and counteractions
- Falling action occurs after the climax, as the consequences of the conflict play out and the characters grapple with the aftermath
- The falling action sees a decrease in dramatic tension as the characters reorient themselves to their new reality post-conflict
Climax as conflict resolution
- The climax is the moment of peak tension in the play where the central conflict comes to a head
- Characters confront each other directly, secrets are laid bare, and decisive actions are taken that determine the outcome of the conflict
- The climax can take the form of a heated confrontation, a dramatic revelation, a bold sacrifice, or a definitive choice that resolves the main tension
- It represents a point of no return for the characters, after which their relationships and circumstances are irrevocably altered
Denouement & aftermath of conflict
- The denouement is the final portion of the play that explores the aftermath and implications of the climactic conflict
- It shows characters processing the consequences of their actions, adjusting to their new status quo, and reflecting on what has transpired
- The denouement can highlight how characters have changed, what they have learned, and what challenges still lie ahead
- It may offer a sense of resolution, ambiguity, or a glimpse of new conflicts on the horizon, depending on the playwright's intent
Balancing internal vs external conflict
- Effective plays often balance and interweave conflicts that are internal to characters with conflicts between characters
- This balance adds psychological depth, raises personal stakes, and highlights the interplay between the inner and outer worlds
Inner struggles of protagonists
- Internal conflicts involve a character's psychological struggles, moral dilemmas, and emotional turmoil
- These conflicts may arise from a character's competing desires, fears, regrets, or uncertainties about their identity and purpose
- Inner conflicts can manifest as self-doubt, guilt, anxiety, or a sense of being torn between conflicting impulses (ambition vs integrity, love vs duty)
- A character's internal conflicts may be expressed through soliloquies, asides, or nonverbal acting choices that clue the audience into their mental state
Interpersonal disputes between characters
- External conflicts are the tangible disputes and clashes that unfold between characters in a play
- These conflicts involve characters actively pursuing their agendas, asserting their desires, and confronting obstacles posed by other characters
- Interpersonal conflicts can take the form of arguments, power struggles, betrayals, or physical altercations
- External conflicts are typically the most visible and dynamically staged aspects of a play, showcasing characters in direct opposition
Interplay of internal & external conflicts
- The most compelling conflicts often involve an interplay between a character's internal struggles and their external challenges
- A character's inner conflicts may drive them to act in ways that exacerbate their interpersonal conflicts, or vice versa
- External pressures and disputes can force characters to confront and grapple with their own conflicting feelings and beliefs
- The resolution of external conflicts may hinge on characters overcoming their internal conflicts, or internal growth may be spurred by interpersonal clashes
Conflict in different theatrical genres
- The nature, tone, and resolution of conflicts can vary significantly across different theatrical genres
- Each genre has its own conventions and audience expectations that shape how conflicts are presented and resolved
Conflict in comedies
- In comedies, conflicts are often lighthearted, absurd, or rooted in misunderstandings and miscommunications
- Characters may be pitted against each other in battles of wits, romantic rivalries, or clashing personalities
- Conflicts in comedies frequently stem from characters' foibles, eccentricities, or social blunders that create humorous friction
- Comedic conflicts are typically resolved in amusing, ironic, or heartwarming ways that leave characters better off than they started
Conflict in dramas
- Dramas tend to explore more serious, weighty conflicts that have high emotional stakes for the characters involved
- Characters may grapple with life-altering choices, moral quandaries, or struggles against societal norms and expectations
- Conflicts in dramas often arise from characters' competing desires, unresolved traumas, or external pressures that threaten their well-being
- Dramatic conflicts may be resolved through catharsis, sacrifice, or hard-won insights that leave characters fundamentally changed
Conflict in absurdist plays
- Absurdist plays often feature surreal, irrational, or existential conflicts that defy conventional logic or resolution
- Characters may be trapped in cyclical, meaningless patterns of behavior or confronted with the inherent absurdity of human existence
- Conflicts in absurdist plays may arise from characters' inability to communicate, find purpose, or escape their circumstances
- Absurdist conflicts are rarely resolved in a traditional sense, instead leaving characters (and audiences) grappling with unanswerable questions
Conflict in musicals
- Musicals often use song and dance to express and amplify the emotional conflicts between characters
- Characters may sing of their inner turmoil, clash in combative duets, or express their conflicts through symbolic choreography
- Conflicts in musicals can range from lighthearted romantic obstacles to serious struggles against injustice or adversity
- Musical conflicts are often resolved through grand gestures, emotional breakthroughs, or triumphant final numbers that unite characters
Resolving interpersonal conflicts
- The resolution of interpersonal conflicts is a key aspect of a play's dramatic arc and character development
- Playwrights can choose from a variety of approaches to resolve conflicts, each with its own implications and impact
Compromise between characters
- Some conflicts may be resolved through characters finding a middle ground or agreeing to set aside their differences
- Compromise requires characters to negotiate, empathize with each other's perspectives, and make concessions for the greater good
- This resolution can show characters growing, learning to cooperate, and prioritizing their shared goals over individual desires
- Compromises may be uneasy or fragile, leaving room for future conflicts to emerge if characters' underlying issues are not fully addressed
Shifts in power dynamics
- Conflicts rooted in power imbalances may be resolved through a redistribution or equalization of power between characters
- This can involve characters standing up to oppressive authority figures, overthrowing tyrannical systems, or asserting their own agency
- Shifts in power dynamics can be sudden and dramatic (a successful rebellion) or gradual and hard-won (a subordinate slowly gaining influence)
- These resolutions fundamentally alter the status quo and force characters to navigate their new roles and relationships
Transformative character arcs
- Some conflicts are resolved through characters undergoing profound personal growth and transformation
- A character may overcome their internal conflicts, confront their flaws, and emerge with a new perspective that allows them to resolve external disputes
- Transformative arcs often involve characters letting go of old grudges, forgiving others, or sacrificing their own desires for a greater good
- These resolutions emphasize the power of individual change to break cycles of conflict and heal interpersonal wounds
Open-ended vs definitive resolutions
- Playwrights can choose to resolve conflicts in an open-ended manner that leaves room for interpretation or uncertainty
- Open-ended resolutions may see characters reaching a tentative truce, agreeing to disagree, or parting ways without a clear sense of closure
- These resolutions can feel more true to life, acknowledging the ongoing nature of many interpersonal conflicts and the difficulty of achieving perfect harmony
- Definitive resolutions, in contrast, provide a clear-cut sense of the conflict being decisively overcome or the characters reaching a point of no return
- These resolutions can offer a stronger sense of catharsis and narrative satisfaction, but may risk feeling too neat or artificially tidy
Key Terms to Review (18)
Antagonist: An antagonist is a character or force in a story that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and driving the narrative forward. This opposition can come from various sources, such as another character, societal norms, or even an internal struggle within the protagonist. The presence of the antagonist is crucial as it shapes the story's conflict, influences character arcs, and contributes to key moments like the inciting incident and climax.
Betrayal: Betrayal is the act of being disloyal or unfaithful to someone or something, often resulting in a breach of trust or loyalty. It can occur in various relationships, whether personal, professional, or societal, and can lead to deep emotional pain and interpersonal conflict. Understanding betrayal helps to explore themes of loyalty, honesty, and the consequences that arise from broken relationships.
Climax: The climax is the point of highest tension and drama in a narrative, where the main conflict reaches its peak and a turning point occurs. It's crucial as it sets the stage for the resolution and ties together character arcs, conflicts, and stakes, ultimately influencing how the audience feels about the characters' journeys.
Conflict escalation: Conflict escalation refers to the process by which a disagreement or dispute grows in intensity, leading to heightened tensions, more extreme positions, and often increased emotional stakes. This phenomenon is critical in storytelling, as it drives characters' motivations and actions while affecting the overall narrative structure, including rising action, the role of antagonists, interpersonal dynamics, and even self-editing techniques during revision.
Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution is the process of resolving a disagreement or conflict by addressing the underlying issues, facilitating communication, and finding mutually acceptable solutions. It is essential for character development and plot progression, as it often leads to character growth, changes in relationships, and the resolution of story arcs. Understanding conflict resolution helps in recognizing how characters can move from tension to harmony, impacting both the narrative's emotional depth and overall engagement.
Conflict-driven dialogue: Conflict-driven dialogue refers to conversations that arise from disagreements or tensions between characters, often revealing underlying motivations, emotions, and stakes. This type of dialogue is crucial for storytelling, as it propels the narrative forward and highlights interpersonal conflicts that drive character development and plot progression.
Desire: Desire refers to a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something, often driving characters’ actions and decisions within a narrative. It acts as a fundamental motivator that propels the protagonist’s journey and creates tension in interpersonal relationships, highlighting the conflicts that arise from differing needs and ambitions. This longing can lead to both personal growth and conflict, shaping the overall arc of the story.
Dramatic Tension: Dramatic tension is the emotional and psychological force that keeps an audience engaged in a story, creating suspense and anticipation about what will happen next. This tension arises from conflicts, stakes, and the characters’ desires, compelling the audience to invest in the outcome of the narrative. It intertwines with elements such as character motivations and interpersonal conflicts, influencing how the story unfolds from exposition through rising action to climax.
Falling action: Falling action is the part of a story that follows the climax and leads toward the resolution. It serves as a bridge between the climax, where the main conflict reaches its peak, and the denouement, where the story's elements come together. During falling action, tensions decrease as characters begin to confront the consequences of their actions and decisions made during the climax, allowing for character development and plot resolution.
Fear: Fear is a complex emotional response to perceived threats or danger, often resulting in physical and psychological reactions. It can motivate individuals to confront or avoid situations that they perceive as harmful. In the context of interpersonal conflict, fear can significantly influence behavior, decision-making, and the dynamics between individuals, often leading to misunderstandings and escalations in conflict.
Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. It creates anticipation and prepares the audience for future events, which can enhance the emotional impact of the narrative and connect various plot points seamlessly.
Internal Conflict: Internal conflict refers to the psychological struggle within a character, often arising from opposing desires, emotions, or beliefs. This struggle can drive a character's actions and decisions, creating depth in the narrative as they navigate their conflicting feelings and thoughts.
Interpersonal Conflict: Interpersonal conflict refers to a struggle or clash between individuals that arises from differing needs, goals, values, or perceptions. This type of conflict is essential in storytelling as it drives character motivation and influences plot development, creating tension and emotional depth. Through interpersonal conflict, characters are forced to confront their differences, leading to growth and transformation as they navigate their relationships with one another.
Loyalty: Loyalty refers to a strong feeling of support or allegiance towards someone or something. It is often characterized by commitment, faithfulness, and a sense of duty, playing a crucial role in forming and maintaining relationships. In the context of interpersonal dynamics, loyalty can significantly influence the nature and outcome of conflicts, impacting how individuals interact and resolve their differences.
Protagonist: The protagonist is the central character in a story, typically facing challenges and conflicts that drive the narrative forward. This character often embodies the story's themes and is usually the one who experiences the most significant growth or change throughout the play.
Rising action: Rising action is the series of events that create suspense and tension in a narrative, building up to the climax. This part of the story introduces conflicts and complications that propel the characters towards critical decisions, while deepening audience engagement and emotional investment. It paves the way for the climax by escalating stakes and challenges, ensuring that conflicts—both external and interpersonal—are carefully developed and intertwined.
Subtext: Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or unspoken thoughts and feelings that exist beneath the surface of dialogue and action in a play. It adds depth to characters and situations, revealing motivations and emotions that may not be explicitly stated, making the narrative richer and more engaging.
Subtextual Dialogue: Subtextual dialogue refers to the underlying meaning in a character's words that isn't explicitly stated, revealing their true feelings, intentions, or motivations. This type of dialogue adds depth to characters and interactions by allowing audiences to infer what is really going on beneath the surface. It can create tension and complexity in scenes, especially when characters have conflicting desires or emotions.