Conflict is what makes a thriller novel thrilling. Without it, the story would be dull and uninteresting. Therefore, it is essential to understand the different types of conflict that can occur in a book. Conflict can be internal or external, and it can be man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. society; each amplifies the suspense and keeps the reader glued to the page.
This blog post will discuss some of the most common types of conflict found in thrillers and examples from popular books and movies in this genre.
The protagonist faces conflict with an antagonist
The main conflict in a thriller is typically a battle between the protagonist and the antagonist. The antagonist is the person or force that is in opposition to the protagonist. In most cases, their conflict drives the plot forward and keeps the story exciting.
– For example, in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, Rachel Watson, the protagonist, conflicts with an unknown antagonist. She spends the novel trying to figure out who killed Megan Hipwell, and this quest leads her down a dark and dangerous path.
– In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Signal to Noise, the protagonist, Meche, is a girl who casts spells with music. She conflicts with her ex-best friend, Sebastian, who is trying to use her powers for evil.
The conflict between the protagonist and an antagonist is one of the most common examples of conflict in thrillers because it provides a clear source of tension and suspense. The audience always wonders what will happen next and who will come out on top.
The protagonist faces conflict with their conscience or inner demons
Another common type of conflict in thrillers is between the protagonist and their afflictions, which can be anything from addiction to mental illness to grief. In these novels, the protagonist is often fighting an internal battle as well as an external one.
– An example of this type of conflict can be seen in the novel The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. In this novel, the protagonist Rachel struggles with alcoholism and grief after her husband leaves her. Rachel becomes obsessed with a couple she sees from the train window every day, and when she sees something shocking one day, she becomes entangled in a mystery that threatens to destroy her.
The protagonist faces conflict within their relationships
– In the novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, the protagonist Nick is accused of murdering his wife, Amy. The reader is kept in suspense as Nick tries to clear his name while also trying to figure out what happened to Amy.
– Another example of a protagonist facing conflict within their relationship is in the book The Catcher in the Rye. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, constantly fights with his girlfriend, Jane Gallagher. He is always trying to control her and make her do what he wants, eventually leading to their breakup.
The protagonist faces conflict with society or the government
– The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an example of this type of conflict. In the novel, the protagonist Katniss is from a district in Panem that the government oppresses. She volunteers to take her sister’s place in a televised fight to the death, which leads her to become a symbol of hope for her district and other oppressed districts. The conflict between the government and the people is a central theme of the novel.
– Another example of this type of conflict is 1984 by George Orwell. In the novel, the government controls everything in society and oppresses its citizens. The protagonist, Winston, rebels against the government and starts a revolution. The conflict between the government and the people is a central theme of the novel.
The dispute arises from the setting or environment in which the story takes place
– For example, in the book The Shining by Stephen King, the location is a haunted hotel. The conflict arises because the hotel is trying to kill the protagonists.
– Another example of this type of conflict is in the book The Maze Runner by James Dashner. In this novel, the setting is a maze that the protagonist must solve to escape. The conflict arises from the fact that the labyrinth is deadly, and he must solve it before he can escape.
– Another example of this type of conflict is in the book Divergent by Veronica Roth. In this novel, the dispute arises because the protagonist must choose between two factions, and she does not know which one is right for her.
– In Jaws by Peter Benchley, the conflict arises from the fact that there is a shark attacking people in a small town. The protagonist must find the shark and kill it before it can kill any more people.
Plot Devices Used to Create Conflict
Take a deeper look at each conflict, with examples from well-known thriller novels.
Internal conflict is a conflict that takes place within the protagonist. The protagonist’s flaws or emotions often cause it.
Conflict examples:
In Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, the protagonist Robert Langdon struggles with his fear and self-doubt. This internal conflict makes it difficult for him to achieve his goal of stopping the villain from carrying out a terrorist attack.
– It could be man vs. himself, as in Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity, in which the protagonist, Jason Bourne, is trying to piece together his memories of who he is.
– Or it could be a man vs. nature conflict, as in Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, in which the protagonist, Brian, is stranded in the wilderness and must survive.
External conflict is a conflict that takes place between the protagonist and another character or force.
– This can be man vs. man, as in Stephen King’s Misery, in which the protagonist, Paul Sheldon, is held captive by a deranged fan, Annie Wilkes.
– It could also be a man vs. society conflict, as in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, in which the protagonist, Offred, lives in a dystopian society where women are treated as property.
– Or in James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider, where the protagonist Alex Cross is in a man vs. man conflict with the serial killer known as the “Gentleman Caller.” The Gentleman Caller is terrorizing Washington D.C., and it’s up to Cross to catch him before he strikes again.
Supernational conflicts are conflicts between man and the supernatural. These conflicts have been around since ancient times. Stories of battling gods, monsters, and demons exist in every culture.
– One example of a movie with a character vs supernatural conflict is The Omen. In the film, the child Damien is revealed to be the Antichrist and must be stopped by his father before he can bring about the end of the world.
– Another example is The Exorcist, in which a young girl is possessed by a demon and must be exorcised to save her soul.
– Supernatural conflicts can also be found in books. One example is Stephen King’s novel It, in which an evil being that takes the form of a clown terrorizes the town of Derry, Maine.
– Another example is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, where Harry must fight against Voldemort, the most powerful Dark Wizard of all time. This is a clear example of man vs evil.
Here are a few of the most common plot devices used to inject tension and conflict into a tale
Withhold information
Keep the reader in the dark about key plot developments or withhold crucial information from characters, making them react blindly and creating more problems than they solve.
Create opposing forces
Pitted against each other, whether it’s two people, groups, armies, countries or ideologies, someone is bound to end up on the losing side.
Amplifying stakes
What starts as a mild disagreement can quickly escalate into all-out war if the stakes are high enough. Whether it’s a fight for survival, love, power or money, the more someone has to lose, the greater the conflict.
Cliffhangers
A cliffhanger is a situation in which the protagonist is left in a state of suspense, usually at the end of a chapter or section of the novel.
Unexpected events
Sometimes, the best way to create conflict is to throw a curveball. A sudden natural disaster, accident, betrayal or death can send shockwaves through both the characters and the plot, setting off a chain reaction of further conflicts.
Conclusion
Conflict is a necessary part of any story. It provides the tension and drama that keep readers engaged until the end. While there are many different types of conflict, all stories must have one form or another to succeed.
So what kind of conflict does your story have? And how are you going to ratchet up the tension even further? Please let us know in the comments below.
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Good luck with your writing!
Ulla