4.1 External conflict

External conflict drives dramatic tension in plays, pitting characters against opposing forces. From character vs. character battles to struggles against society or nature, these conflicts shape the narrative and reveal character depth.

Understanding external conflict types helps playwrights craft compelling stories. By establishing clear goals, introducing obstacles, and escalating tension, writers can create engaging plots that resonate with audiences and explore meaningful themes.

Types of external conflict

• External conflict refers to the struggles and obstacles a character faces from outside forces in their environment
• Understanding the different types of external conflict is essential for crafting compelling stories and characters in playwriting

Character vs character

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• Involves a protagonist's struggle against another character who opposes their goals or beliefs (antagonist)
• Can manifest as direct confrontations, arguments, or physical altercations between characters
• Examples include rivalries (Othello vs Iago in Shakespeare's Othello), power struggles (Macbeth vs Macduff in Macbeth), and conflicting ideologies (Proctor vs Danforth in The Crucible)

Character vs society

• Focuses on a character's conflict with societal norms, expectations, or oppressive systems
• Often explores themes of individuality, conformity, and social justice
• Examples include characters challenging discrimination (A Raisin in the Sun), rebelling against totalitarian regimes (1984), or defying cultural traditions (A Doll's House)

Character vs nature

• Centers on a character's battle against natural forces or the environment
• Can involve survival challenges, natural disasters, or inhospitable conditions
• Examples include characters struggling to survive in the wilderness (The Revenant), facing extreme weather events (The Perfect Storm), or navigating treacherous landscapes (127 Hours)

Character vs technology

• Explores a character's conflict with advanced technology or its consequences
• Can delve into themes of humanity, ethics, and the dangers of unchecked technological progress
• Examples include characters fighting against artificial intelligence (The Terminator), grappling with the implications of genetic engineering (Gattaca), or resisting a tech-dominated society (Black Mirror)

Character vs supernatural

• Involves a character's struggle against supernatural entities, forces, or phenomena
• Can encompass battles with ghosts, demons, curses, or otherworldly powers
• Examples include characters confronting malevolent spirits (The Exorcist), fighting against ancient curses (The Mummy), or navigating a world filled with supernatural beings (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Creating compelling external conflicts

Establishing character goals

• Clearly define what the protagonist wants to achieve or overcome
• Ensure goals are specific, measurable, and emotionally resonant
• Examples:
  • In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter wants to invest in a liquor store to improve his family's financial situation
  • In The Crucible, John Proctor aims to expose the truth behind the Salem witch trials and protect his wife

Introducing obstacles and challenges

• Present external forces that hinder the protagonist's progress toward their goal
• Obstacles can be physical, social, or psychological barriers
• Examples:
  • In Romeo and Juliet, the longstanding feud between the Montagues and Capulets prevents the lovers from being together
  • In The Glass Menagerie, Tom's familial obligations and the expectations of society hinder his desire for adventure and independence

Escalating tension and stakes

• Gradually intensify the external conflicts as the story progresses
• Raise the stakes by increasing the consequences of failure or the significance of the goal
• Examples:
  • In Macbeth, the titular character's ambition and the pressure from Lady Macbeth escalate his violent actions, ultimately leading to his downfall
  • In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's financial struggles and deteriorating mental state intensify, putting his family's stability at risk

Balancing multiple conflicts

• Introduce and manage various external conflicts simultaneously
• Ensure each conflict contributes to the overall narrative and character development
• Examples:
  • In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche DuBois faces conflicts with her brother-in-law Stanley, societal expectations, and her own troubled past
  • In Fences, Troy Maxson navigates conflicts with his son Cory, his wife Rose, and the racial discrimination he faces in his job

Resolving external conflicts satisfactorily

• Provide a resolution to the external conflicts that aligns with the story's themes and character arcs
• The resolution can be positive, negative, or bittersweet, depending on the narrative's tone and message
• Examples:
  • In A Doll's House, Nora resolves her conflict with societal expectations by leaving her husband and embarking on a journey of self-discovery
  • In Oedipus Rex, the titular character's resolution involves accepting his fate and taking responsibility for his actions, leading to a tragic yet cathartic ending

Integrating external and internal conflicts

Connecting external events to character growth

• Use external conflicts to catalyze internal changes and development in characters
• Character growth can involve overcoming flaws, learning lessons, or shifting perspectives
• Examples:
  • In The Crucible, John Proctor's external conflict with the Salem witch trials leads to his internal growth as he grapples with his guilt and ultimately chooses to uphold his integrity
  • In A Raisin in the Sun, the external conflict of racism and housing discrimination prompts Beneatha's internal journey of self-discovery and cultural identity

Mirroring external and internal struggles

• Create parallels between a character's external conflicts and their internal struggles
• This mirroring can emphasize themes and provide a cohesive narrative structure
• Examples:
  • In Hamlet, the titular character's external conflict with his uncle Claudius mirrors his internal struggle with indecision and the morality of revenge
  • In The Glass Menagerie, Tom's external conflict with his family responsibilities reflects his internal desire for freedom and adventure

Interweaving plot and character arcs

• Ensure that the progression of external conflicts aligns with the characters' internal development
• As the plot advances through external challenges, characters should undergo corresponding internal changes
• Examples:
  • In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's increasing external conflicts with his job and family relationships coincide with his deteriorating mental state and the unraveling of his personal identity
  • In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche DuBois's external conflicts with Stanley and her past gradually erode her mental stability, leading to her final breakdown and institutionalization

External conflict in story structure

Inciting incident and external conflict

• The inciting incident often introduces or triggers the primary external conflict of the story
• This event disrupts the protagonist's status quo and sets the plot in motion
• Examples:
  • In Romeo and Juliet, the inciting incident is the Capulet ball where Romeo and Juliet first meet, setting off their forbidden romance against the backdrop of their families' feud
  • In Oedipus Rex, the inciting incident is the plague that strikes Thebes, prompting Oedipus to investigate its cause and ultimately uncover his own identity

Rising action through external challenges

• The rising action of the story involves a series of external conflicts and obstacles that the protagonist must overcome
• These challenges escalate in difficulty and complexity, building tension and suspense
• Examples:
  • In Macbeth, the rising action includes Macbeth's murders of Duncan and Banquo, his increasingly tyrannical rule, and the growing opposition against him
  • In A Raisin in the Sun, the rising action involves the Younger family's struggles to secure a new home, navigate racism, and confront internal family conflicts

Climax as the peak of external conflict

• The climax represents the highest point of tension and the decisive moment in the external conflict
• It is often a confrontation or a critical decision that determines the outcome of the story
• Examples:
  • In The Crucible, the climax occurs during the trial scene when John Proctor confesses to adultery to discredit Abigail and save his wife, but ultimately refuses to sign a false confession
  • In Death of a Salesman, the climax takes place when Biff confronts Willy about his delusions and the truth of their family's situation, leading to a heated argument and Willy's subsequent suicide

Resolution of external conflict in denouement

• The denouement, or falling action, addresses the aftermath of the climax and resolves the external conflicts
• It shows the consequences of the protagonist's actions and provides closure to the story
• Examples:
  • In A Doll's House, the denouement involves Nora leaving her family and slamming the door behind her, symbolizing her break from societal expectations and her journey towards self-discovery
  • In Fences, the denouement takes place after Troy's death, as his family gathers to mourn and reconcile, with Cory ultimately deciding to attend his father's funeral and make peace with their troubled relationship

Crafting scenes with external conflict

Establishing setting and context

• Use the setting and context of a scene to establish the external conflicts and pressures characters face
• The environment can reflect the mood, themes, and challenges present in the story
• Examples:
  • In A Streetcar Named Desire, the cramped and sweltering New Orleans apartment reflects the tension and conflict between Blanche and Stanley
  • In Waiting for Godot, the barren and desolate landscape mirrors the characters' existential struggles and the absurdity of their situation

Revealing character through action and dialogue

• Use characters' actions and dialogue within a scene to expose their motivations, beliefs, and conflicts
• Show how characters respond to external pressures and challenges through their behavior and interactions
• Examples:
  • In The Glass Menagerie, Tom's frustration and desire for escape are revealed through his arguments with Amanda and his frequent trips to the movies
  • In Glengarry Glen Ross, the characters' cutthroat dialogue and aggressive sales tactics demonstrate the high-pressure environment and the external conflict of the sales competition

Building tension within scenes

• Structure scenes to gradually escalate tension and conflict between characters
• Use pacing, dialogue, and action to create a sense of rising stakes and urgency
• Examples:
  • In Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the tension builds through the characters' increasingly vicious verbal sparring and the revelation of dark secrets
  • In A Raisin in the Sun, the scene where Walter loses the family's money creates tension through his desperation, Mama's disappointment, and Beneatha's anger

Transitioning between scenes with external conflict

• Use transitions between scenes to maintain momentum and connect external conflicts across the story
• Transitions can involve cliffhangers, juxtapositions, or thematic links that propel the narrative forward
• Examples:
  • In Macbeth, the transition from Duncan's murder to the discovery of his body heightens the tension and sets in motion the external conflicts that follow
  • In Angels in America, the transitions between scenes and storylines create a sense of interconnectedness and highlight the overarching themes of identity, politics, and the AIDS crisis

External conflict and theme

Exploring thematic ideas through conflict

• Use external conflicts to explore and develop the central themes of the story
• The nature of the conflicts and how characters respond to them can provide insight into the story's underlying messages
• Examples:
  • In The Crucible, the external conflict of the Salem witch trials explores themes of intolerance, mass hysteria, and the consequences of unchecked power
  • In A Raisin in the Sun, the external conflicts faced by the Younger family delve into themes of racial inequality, the American Dream, and the importance of family and identity

Symbolism and motifs in external conflicts

• Incorporate symbols and motifs into external conflicts to reinforce themes and provide layers of meaning
• Recurring images, objects, or ideas can tie conflicts together and contribute to the story's thematic resonance
• Examples:
  • In Death of a Salesman, the motif of the "American Dream" and the symbol of the seeds Willy plants represent his misguided pursuit of success and his ultimate failure
  • In A Streetcar Named Desire, the recurring symbol of light and the motif of illusion versus reality underscore the external conflicts and themes of identity and truth

Subverting expectations with external conflicts

• Use external conflicts to challenge audience expectations and provide fresh perspectives on familiar themes
• Subverting traditional conflict resolutions or character archetypes can lead to thought-provoking and impactful storytelling
• Examples:
  • In Waiting for Godot, the absence of the titular character and the lack of a traditional resolution subvert expectations and highlight the theme of existential uncertainty
  • In Fences, Troy's complex and flawed character subverts the archetypal "strong black man" and explores themes of masculinity, fatherhood, and the legacy of racism

Resolving thematic questions through external conflict resolution

• The resolution of external conflicts should provide insight into the story's central thematic questions
• How conflicts are resolved and what characters learn from them can offer a final commentary on the themes explored throughout the narrative
• Examples:
  • In Oedipus Rex, the resolution of Oedipus's external conflicts with fate and self-discovery leads to a commentary on the inescapable nature of destiny and the consequences of hubris
  • In A Doll's House, Nora's resolution to leave her family and society's expectations behind serves as a powerful statement on women's empowerment and the need for individual freedom and self-realization