4.7 Conflict resolution

Conflict drives stories forward, revealing characters and engaging audiences. In playwriting, various types of conflict, from internal struggles to character clashes, create tension and propel the narrative. Effective conflict resolution is crucial for satisfying storytelling.

Playwrights must balance conflict pacing, use dialogue to express tension, and craft resolutions that feel earned. By exploring common conflict archetypes and tying conflicts to themes, writers can create powerful, resonant plays that leave lasting impressions on audiences.

Types of conflict

• Conflict is the engine that drives a story forward and keeps the audience engaged
• There are different types of conflict that can be used in playwriting to create dramatic tension and reveal character

Internal vs external

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• Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind, such as a moral dilemma or psychological struggle (Hamlet's indecision, Lady Macbeth's guilt)
• External conflict occurs between a character and outside forces, such as other characters, society, or nature
• Internal and external conflicts often intertwine and influence each other throughout a story

Character vs environment

• Environmental conflicts pit characters against the physical world or societal pressures
• Characters may face challenges from the natural world, such as survival in a hostile wilderness (The Revenant, Life of Pi)
• Social and cultural environments can also create conflict, such as discrimination, oppression, or cultural clashes (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences)

Character vs character

• Interpersonal conflicts arise between two or more characters with opposing goals, beliefs, or personalities
• These conflicts can take many forms, such as rivalry, betrayal, or misunderstanding (Othello and Iago, Biff and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman)
• Character vs character conflicts often serve to highlight differences in values, power dynamics, or worldviews

Role of conflict

• Conflict serves multiple purposes in playwriting, from driving the plot forward to revealing character and engaging the audience
• Playwrights must carefully consider how to use conflict effectively to create a compelling and meaningful story

Driving the plot

• Conflict creates obstacles and challenges that characters must overcome, propelling the story forward
• As characters pursue their goals and face opposition, the plot develops and evolves
• Conflict generates turning points, reversals, and complications that keep the story dynamic and unpredictable

Revealing character

• Characters' responses to conflict illuminate their personalities, values, and motivations
• Conflict tests characters' strengths and weaknesses, forcing them to make difficult choices and confront their flaws
• Through conflict, characters can grow, change, or reveal hidden depths that surprise the audience

Engaging the audience

• Conflict creates tension, suspense, and emotional investment for the audience
• As the audience empathizes with characters and becomes invested in the outcome of conflicts, they become more engaged with the story
• Conflict can also provoke the audience to question their own beliefs, values, and assumptions, creating a deeper intellectual and emotional experience

Conflict escalation

• Effective playwriting often involves a gradual escalation of conflict, building tension and stakes over the course of the story
• This escalation typically follows a structure of inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution

Inciting incident

• The inciting incident is the event that sets the main conflict of the story in motion
• It disrupts the status quo and forces the protagonist to take action or make a choice
• The inciting incident should occur early in the story to quickly engage the audience (Romeo and Juliet's meeting, the arrival of Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire)

Rising action

• Rising action refers to the series of conflicts and complications that follow the inciting incident
• As the protagonist pursues their goal, they face increasing obstacles and opposition, raising the stakes and tension
• Subplots and secondary conflicts may also develop during the rising action, adding complexity to the story

Climax and resolution

• The climax is the moment of highest tension and conflict, where the protagonist faces their greatest challenge or makes a crucial decision
• The climax should be the logical culmination of the conflicts and actions that have come before
• The resolution follows the climax and shows the consequences of the protagonist's actions and the outcome of the main conflict
• The resolution should provide a sense of closure and catharsis for the audience, even if some questions or ambiguities remain

Conflict and tension

• Conflict and tension are closely related in playwriting, as conflict creates tension and tension sustains audience engagement
• Playwrights use various techniques to build suspense, create stakes, and maintain audience interest through conflict

Building suspense

• Suspense arises when the audience is uncertain about the outcome of a conflict or the fate of a character
• Foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and withholding information can all contribute to building suspense
• Cliffhangers and plot twists can also create suspense by suddenly raising the stakes or introducing new conflicts

Creating stakes

• Stakes refer to what characters stand to gain or lose in a conflict, and they are crucial for creating audience investment
• High stakes, such as life and death, love and heartbreak, or success and failure, can intensify the tension and emotional impact of a conflict
• Personal stakes, such as a character's sense of identity or moral integrity, can also create powerful conflicts and tensions

Maintaining audience interest

• Sustaining audience interest requires a balance of conflict, tension, and pacing
• Varying the types and intensity of conflicts can prevent the story from becoming predictable or repetitive
• Moments of respite or comic relief can provide a break from tension while still keeping the audience engaged
• Raising new questions or introducing unexpected developments can maintain curiosity and anticipation

Conflict resolution strategies

• The way conflicts are resolved can have a significant impact on the theme, character development, and audience satisfaction of a play
• Playwrights can employ various strategies for resolving conflicts, each with its own strengths and weaknesses

Confrontation and negotiation

• Direct confrontation between characters can lead to a resolution through dialogue, argument, or physical altercation
• Negotiation involves characters finding a mutually agreeable solution through compromise, bargaining, or persuasion
• These strategies can showcase character growth, provide catharsis, and offer insight into power dynamics and values

Compromise and sacrifice

• Resolving conflicts may require characters to make compromises or sacrifices for the greater good or to achieve their goals
• Compromises can involve characters giving up something they want or need in order to find common ground or maintain relationships
• Sacrifices can be even more dramatic, with characters surrendering deeply held beliefs, desires, or even their lives for a higher purpose or to protect others

Deus ex machina pitfalls

• Deus ex machina refers to a plot device where a seemingly unsolvable conflict is abruptly resolved by an unexpected and contrived intervention
• This can involve a previously unknown character, a sudden twist of fate, or a miraculous event that appears out of nowhere
• While deus ex machina can provide a quick resolution, it often feels unsatisfying and undermines the logic and emotional impact of the story
• Playwrights should generally avoid relying on deus ex machina and instead aim for resolutions that arise organically from the characters and conflicts established throughout the play

Conflict in dialogue

• Dialogue is a primary tool for expressing and exploring conflict in playwriting
• Playwrights can use various techniques in dialogue to create tension, reveal subtext, and advance character development

Subtext and implication

• Subtext refers to the underlying meanings, emotions, and power dynamics beneath the surface of what characters say
• Characters may use implication, innuendo, or double meanings to express conflicts or desires without stating them directly
• Subtext can create tension by revealing discrepancies between what characters say and what they truly feel or intend

Verbal sparring techniques

• Verbal sparring involves characters engaging in rapid-fire, confrontational dialogue as a means of expressing conflict
• Techniques such as interruption, overlapping dialogue, and repetition can create a sense of escalation and intensity
• Wit, sarcasm, and insults can also be used in verbal sparring to reveal characters' intelligence, emotional states, and power dynamics

Silence and avoidance

• Silence and avoidance in dialogue can be just as powerful as verbal confrontation in expressing conflict
• Characters may use silence to withhold information, express disapproval, or create an uncomfortable atmosphere
• Avoiding direct discussion of a conflict can create tension by allowing it to simmer beneath the surface and build over time
• Pregnant pauses, trailing off, and non-verbal cues can all contribute to the sense of unspoken conflict in dialogue

Balancing conflict

• While conflict is essential to playwriting, too much or too little can hinder the story's effectiveness
• Playwrights must balance the pacing, intensity, and resolution of conflicts to maintain audience engagement and create a satisfying narrative arc

Pacing and rhythm

• The pacing of conflicts should vary throughout the play to create a sense of ebb and flow and prevent monotony
• Intense, high-stakes conflicts can be balanced with quieter, more introspective moments to allow characters and audiences to process events
• The rhythm of conflicts, including the frequency and duration of confrontations, should be carefully crafted to maintain momentum and interest

Comic relief and respite

• Comic relief involves moments of humor or levity that provide a break from the tension and intensity of conflicts
• These moments can serve to humanize characters, offer insights into their personalities, and give the audience a chance to breathe and regroup
• However, comic relief should be used judiciously and not undermine the overall tone or stakes of the play
• Respites, or brief periods of calm between conflicts, can also provide necessary contrast and allow for character development and reflection

Avoiding conflict fatigue

• Conflict fatigue occurs when the audience becomes overwhelmed or disengaged by a relentless barrage of conflicts without sufficient resolution or variety
• To avoid conflict fatigue, playwrights should ensure that each conflict serves a clear purpose in advancing the plot, developing characters, or exploring themes
• Varying the types, stakes, and intensity of conflicts can help maintain audience interest and prevent a sense of repetition or predictability
• Providing satisfying resolutions to at least some conflicts throughout the play can give the audience a sense of progress and catharsis

Conflict and theme

• Conflict can be a powerful tool for exploring and reinforcing the central themes of a play
• The nature of the conflicts, the way characters respond to them, and the resolutions they reach can all contribute to the play's overall meaning and message

Reinforcing central message

• The central conflicts of a play should be closely tied to its main themes and ideas
• As characters navigate these conflicts, their choices and actions can illustrate the play's key messages about human nature, society, or the human condition
• The resolution of conflicts can also serve to underscore or challenge the play's central themes, leaving the audience with a clear sense of the playwright's intended message

Challenging character beliefs

• Conflicts can be used to test and challenge characters' beliefs, values, and worldviews
• As characters face difficult choices and confront opposing perspectives, they may be forced to reevaluate their own convictions and assumptions
• This process of internal conflict and growth can serve to explore complex themes and ideas, inviting the audience to question their own beliefs along with the characters

Symbolic representations

• Conflicts can also take on symbolic or metaphorical meanings that tie into the play's themes
• A physical struggle against a force of nature might represent a character's internal battle with their own desires or fears
• A conflict between two characters might symbolize larger societal or ideological clashes
• By using conflicts as symbolic representations, playwrights can add depth and resonance to their exploration of themes and ideas

Common conflict archetypes

• Throughout literature and drama, certain archetypal conflicts have emerged as powerful and enduring tools for storytelling
• These archetypes can serve as a foundation for playwrights to build upon and adapt to their own unique stories and characters

Person vs self

• In this archetype, the central conflict occurs within a character's own mind, as they struggle with conflicting desires, beliefs, or identities
• This internal battle might manifest as a moral dilemma, a crisis of faith, or a struggle with addiction or mental illness (Hamlet, The Night of the Iguana)
• Person vs self conflicts can be particularly powerful for exploring themes of identity, personal growth, and the human condition

Person vs society

• This archetype pits a character against the norms, expectations, or oppressive forces of their society or culture
• The character may struggle against discrimination, corruption, or conformity, fighting for their own freedom or the rights of others (Antigone, An Enemy of the People)
• Person vs society conflicts can be used to explore themes of justice, individuality, and the relationship between the individual and the community

Person vs nature

• In this archetype, characters face conflicts with the natural world, such as survival in a hostile environment or the destructive power of natural disasters
• These conflicts can test characters' physical and mental limits, forcing them to confront their own mortality and insignificance in the face of nature's power (The Hairy Ape, The Grapes of Wrath)
• Person vs nature conflicts can be used to explore themes of human resilience, the relationship between humans and the environment, and the primal forces that shape our lives

Crafting satisfying resolutions

• The resolution of conflicts is a crucial element of playwriting, as it can determine the audience's final impression and the lasting impact of the story
• Playwrights must strive to create resolutions that are both satisfying and true to the characters and themes of the play

Logical consequences

• Resolutions should arise logically from the characters' actions and the events of the play, rather than feeling contrived or arbitrary
• The consequences of characters' choices should be consistent with the established rules and realities of the play's world
• Resolutions that feel earned and inevitable, even if they are surprising or unconventional, can provide a sense of closure and authenticity for the audience

Character growth and change

• Satisfying resolutions often involve demonstrating how characters have grown or changed as a result of the conflicts they have faced
• This growth might involve overcoming personal flaws, learning important lessons, or making difficult sacrifices for the greater good
• By showing how conflicts have transformed characters in meaningful ways, resolutions can provide a sense of purpose and significance to the story

Tying up loose ends

• While not all questions or subplots need to be fully resolved, satisfying resolutions should address the main conflicts and provide a sense of closure
• Loose ends that are left dangling can leave the audience feeling unsettled or confused, undermining the impact of the resolution
• Playwrights should carefully consider which elements of the story require resolution and which can be left open-ended or ambiguous for artistic effect
• Ultimately, the resolution should provide a clear sense of the play's central themes and messages, leaving the audience with a lasting impression of the story's significance and meaning