Conflict is at the core of every compelling story. Whether your protagonist is grappling with their greatest fears, doubts, and insecurities (internal conflict), or wrestling with an outside force such as a rival, society, or nature itself (external conflict), these struggles drive character growth and plot development. Today at What We Writing, we’re exploring the key differences between internal vs external conflict, providing powerful examples of both from across film and literature, and showing you how to use both to create suspense, depth, and momentum in your works. If you’re looking to take your storytelling to the next level and better understand the types of conflict in writing, you’ve come to the right place.
What Is Conflict In Storytelling?
Conflict is a disagreement or collision of values, motivations, desires, or ideals. It is one of the most defining characteristics of humans; it drives us to accomplish so many great things, and it is what kick-starts our own stories forward. In the world of writing, conflict is a literary tool used by authors to create narrative tension.
All conflicts in storytelling can be split into two categories: internal conflict and external conflict.
What Is Internal Conflict?
Sometimes referred to as “character vs self conflict,” internal conflict centres around a psychological or emotional battle that takes place within a character. This is normally triggered by their own emotions, fears, conflicting desires, or mental illnesses. Typically, internal conflict is shown as a struggle of reconciliation between two opposing forces within the same person.
What Is External Conflict?
On the flip side, external conflict is a type of conflict that pits characters against forces outside of themselves. These external forces stand in the way of a character’s aims or goals, and create tension as an obstacle between a character and achieving their motivations.
External conflict in storytelling can be split further into three different types:
- Character vs character: This type of conflict occurs when two characters with different viewpoints lock horns with one another. Each of these characters is carefully developed through indirect and direct characterisation, so that the audience is able to understand the heart of their disagreement (and in the best cases, empathise with them both).
- Character vs society: Unlike character vs character, this type of external conflict pits the character against wider forces of society. These sorts of forces can range from social morals to government wings. While society can be personified with one or more characters, these individuals tend to be representatives of a larger system. With this conflict, society’s judgment can feel united and overwhelming, or entirely random. It all depends on your protagonist.
- Character vs nature: With this type of conflict, characters are threatened or separated by a natural force. That force could be represented by a particular creature, a storm, an infectious disease, or some other natural occurrence. Because nature is a silent opponent, characters are forced to look back on their lives and decisions, usually resulting in them accepting their mistakes, flaws, or mortality.
Internal Vs External Conflict: What’s The Difference?
Any and every bit of conflict in storytelling falls into two categories: internal and external.
- Internal conflict is when a character grapples with their own opposing desires or beliefs. It happens within them, and it is the driving force behind their development throughout a narrative.
- External conflict pits a character against something or someone beyond their control. External forces stand in the path of a character’s motivations and create tension as the character attempts to reach their final goal.
Stories feel more authentic and more powerful when they mirror real life, which is why including both internal and external conflict is so vital.
Internal Vs External Conflict: Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Internal Conflict | External Conflict |
| Definition | A struggle that occurs within a character | A struggle between a character and an outside force |
| Examples | Guilt, fear, self-doubt, moral dilemmas | Other characters, society, nature, technology, fate |
| Source of Conflict | The character’s own thoughts, emotions, or beliefs | External obstacles or antagonists |
| Character Growth? | Drives inner transformation and emotional development | Tests resilience, courage, and decision-making |
| Common Genres | Literary fiction, psychological thrillers, character-driven stories | Action, fantasy, adventure, dystopian fiction |
| Example Characters | Hamlet, Offred (The Handmaid’s Tale) | Harry Potter, Katniss (The Hunger Games) |
Example Of Internal Conflict In Literature
One of the most famous examples of internal conflict in literature comes in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, one of the best demonstrations of a character grappling with their inner demons.
In the play, the ghost of Hamlet’s father tells him that he was murdered, and that Hamlet needs to avenge him. Throughout the play, Hamlet feels torn over whether his father really was murdered and how he might find revenge in a noble fashion. The play’s iconic “To be or not to be” soliloquy has Hamlet struggling with this internal conflict and lamenting his self-doubt. Overall, this mental struggle ends with Hamlet’s own downfall, as he does not take action until it is too late.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Write A Monologue
3 Character Vs Character External Conflict Examples
There is a wealth of examples of character vs character external conflict in some of the most famous stories:
1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter’s constant battles with Lord Voldemort push all seven novels in the series toward their final, dramatic climax. Within this conflict, we see characters align their loyalties with either Harry or Voldemort, who embody the forces of good and evil.
2. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Most thriller books are driven by some kind of external conflict. The Da Vinci Code is one of the best examples of character vs character conflict, with Dan Brown introducing a number of antagonists at his primary and secondary characters, throwing tension and danger into a story of slow-building romance and family secrets.
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Protagonist Katniss Everdeen is forced to battle other characters during the Hunger Games, a ritual which involves a fight to the death. As the novel unfolds, her conflict switches and transforms into a personal vendetta against the oppressive leaders of this dystopian society.
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3 Character Vs. Society External Conflict Examples
When a character takes on society, they push back against its rules and expectations, often finding themselves with hero status, fighting to fix what they see as wrong. Here are some famous literary examples of this in effect:
1. 1984 By George Orwell
The main protagonist in 1984, Winston, lives in a dystopian society with an omnipotent government that persecutes individualism and individuality. While Winston is outwardly an upstanding member of the ruling Party, he inwardly hates it, driving him to rebel by entering into an illegal affair with a suspected informant. In “Big Brother,” readers are shown a typical example of utilising a specific individual to represent wider society.
2. The Trial by Franz Kafka
Kafka introduces the central conflict of this classic work in the very opening line: “Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested.” The Trial is a story of one man’s struggle against a society that has inexplicably targeted him. Having landed in the middle of the conflict, the audience experiences the same sense of overwhelming confusion as Josef, our protagonist.
3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale is an oppressive republic where fertile “handmaids” are sent to infertile couples to serve as surrogate childbearers. The totalitarian state is rife with xenophobia, protectionism, and strict religious order, until one brave handmaid named Offred threatens to break the status quo.
3 Character Vs. Nature External Conflict Examples
Some of the most feared antagonists in the literary world are the forces of nature that threaten to stop a character from achieving their aims. Examples of stories featuring character vs nature conflict include:
1. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a classic tale of survival, charting the titular character’s fight to survive when he finds himself washed up on a remote island. Deprived of modern technology and conveniences, Crueso must build, hunt, and farm to avoid succumbing to his inhospitable new surroundings.
2. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, 13-year-old Brian is left alone in the wild with only a hatchet for company. He must learn how to survive against hunger, weather, wild animals, and his own fears. Brian’s struggle is primarily grounded in the harsh, unfamiliar environment as he adapts to survive.
3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
In this classic story, an ageing fisherman facing poverty struggles to pull in a huge marlin that could transform his fortunes. As the old man comes into conflict with nature – not only the marlin, but sharks and storms – he must make peace with his past and a possible death at sea. Hemingway’s smart use of both internal and external conflict in this short tale helped revive his literary career.
Layering Conflict For Character Growth
Layering internal and external conflict isn’t only about making your story more exciting – it’s how you develop complex, evolving characters. Here are some quick tips on how to do it more effectively:
- Begin with the internal struggle.
What belief, fear, flaw, or desire is driving your character? Perhaps they crave approval, fear rejection, or struggle with guilt? - Introduce an external challenge that puts the internal flaw under pressure.
For example, if your protagonist has a fear of failure, throw them in a situation where the stakes are high and failure seems likely.
- Allow the two conflicts to grow together.
As external obstacles grow more intense, your character should be forced to confront (or resist confronting) their inner demons. - Use the resolution of internal conflict to mould the external outcome.
Growth happens when a character changes internally, and that change influences how they tackle the world outside.
Example:
In Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, Ove’s external conflicts (with his neighbours, bureaucracy, and grief) gradually reveal and challenge his internal despair. As he learns to connect with others, his internal healing allows him to shift his role in the world around him.
Tips For Writing Conflict In Fiction
3 Ways to Add Depth to Conflict
Conflict becomes truly compelling when it’s more than just surface-level drama. Here are three key strategies to make your conflict resonate more deeply with your readers:
1. Tie Conflict to Character Motivation
Conflict should challenge what your characters want and what they believe. The more personal it feels, the more invested your audience will be.
Tip: Ask, “What does this character fear most – and how can I force them to face it?”
2. Use Conflict to Show Character Growth
Don’t allow conflict to exist purely for tension. Internal or external struggles should gradually change how the character thinks, feels, or behaves.
Example: A scared character who decides to act bravely – even if they are still fearful – shows growth that has been driven by conflict.
3. Let Conflict Grow in Layers
The best stories escalate. Begin with smaller problems that hint at deeper issues, then gradually introduce more serious problems. Layer internal and external conflicts to reflect and amplify one another.
Example: In The Queen’s Gambit, Beth faces external challenges (tournaments, addiction, societal expectations), but each also represents her deeper internal conflict: a fear of abandonment and a loss of control.
Mistakes to Avoid
Even the strongest of story ideas can fall flat if their conflict isn’t handled with care. Here are some of the most common pitfalls, and how you can steer clear of them:
Mistake 1: Conflict That Feels Random or Forced
If your conflict doesn’t emerge naturally from the plot or the character’s decisions, it can feel contrived.
Fix: Make sure every major conflict is grounded in your character’s goals, flaws, or fears.
Mistake 2: Relying Solely on External Conflict
A story full of explosions or arguments without any inner tension can soon feel shallow.
Fix: Balance action with introspection. Even an epic battle should have emotional stakes.
Mistake 3: Resolving Conflict Too Easily
A conflict that resolves without consequences feels unrealistic and unsatisfying.
Fix: Make your character earn the resolution. Allow them to struggle, fail, and change before succeeding (if they succeed).
Remember: The most gripping stories don’t just pit characters against challenges; they show how those challenges shape who the characters become.
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
