One of the most powerful forces in storytelling isn’t war, betrayal, or monsters. It’s a character wrestling with themselves. Internal conflict is the beating heart of great fiction. When done well, it gives your characters dimension, drives your plot from the inside out, and leaves readers emotionally hooked.
Why Is Internal Conflict Important?
External stakes might raise the tension but internal conflict raises the emotional investment.
When a character is torn between two desires, two fears, or two beliefs, they become more than just a vehicle for plot. They become real. Relatable. Human. It’s through internal conflict that characters grow, fail, change, or unravel.
Internal conflict adds:
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Depth – Readers don’t just see what your character does, but why.
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Tension – Competing desires can create page-turning dilemmas.
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Empathy – We might not agree with the character, but we understand them.
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Theme – Internal struggles often reflect the larger message of your story.
Think of it this way: external conflict keeps readers interested. Internal conflict keeps them invested. If you're writing a novel, this is a great tool to use.
What Are the 5 Types of Internal Conflict?
Most internal struggles fall into five major categories. You can use one or layer multiple types to create rich, believable characters.
1. Moral Conflict
The character knows what’s right, but doing it will cost them. Or, they’re unsure what “right” even is. A moral conflict is great for building a flat character's arc OR make your protagonist become a villain with a corruption arc (they know what is right but choosing the wrong path makes everything easier).
Example: A soldier ordered to commit an atrocity.
2. Emotional Conflict
Conflicting feelings battle inside the character: love and hate, hope and despair, fear and desire.
Example: Falling in love with someone you’re supposed to betray.
3. Identity Conflict
A struggle with self-image, role, or belonging. “Who am I?” “What do I stand for?”
Example: A teenager caught between their cultural heritage and the pressure to assimilate (or loved ones outside of this heritage).
4. Desire vs. Duty
What the character wants clashes with what they must do, or what others expect. This is a great internal conflict for a coming-of-age story or a powerful character that needs to let go of what's expected of them in order to rise.
Example: A princess who wants freedom, but is bound to a political marriage.
5. Belief Conflict
The character’s worldview is challenged by new information or experience. This can lead to transformation... or collapse. It's a good start for a corruption arc, or a redemption arc.
Example: A religious believer confronted with a traumatic event that makes them question their faith.
Each type of conflict adds texture and tension and many unforgettable characters wrestle with more than one.
What Is an Example of Internal Conflict in Writing?
Let’s take a look at a familiar one:
Example: Frodo in The Lord of the Rings (by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Frodo begins as an ordinary hobbit, but the burden of the One Ring creates a deep internal conflict: the desire to do good vs. the corrupting power of the Ring. Even as he struggles to destroy it, he’s tempted to claim it.
His fear, doubt, exhaustion, and eventual failure to let go of the Ring (saved only by Gollum’s intervention) make him real. That internal battle is what makes him heroic, not just his actions, but the fact that he fights himself to do them.
How to Write an Internal Conflict for a Character
Writing internal conflict means going inside your character’s mind and heart. Here’s how to do it effectively:
1. Know What They Want and What’s In Their Way
Every internal conflict starts with desire. Your character wants something but something inside them is resisting. Identify:
- Their goal
- Their fear
- Their opposing belief or obligation
2. Show the Conflict Through Action
Don’t just tell us your character is conflicted, show it. Let their actions contradict their words. Let them hesitate. Let them make mistakes. Show the emotional cost of their choices.
3. Use Internal Monologue Thoughtfully
Internal monologue can give readers access to the conflict directly, but avoid overexplaining. Use it for key moments of doubt, rationalization, or revelation.
4. Create Consequences
The internal conflict should affect the story. A wrong choice should create new problems. A breakthrough should shift relationships. This keeps the conflict dynamic, not static.
5. Let the Conflict Evolve
As the story progresses, so should the internal conflict. Characters should be challenged again and again, until they reach a breaking point or a moment of clarity.
Examples of Internal Conflict in Literature
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
The ultimate example of paralysis by internal conflict. Hamlet’s desire for revenge is constantly undermined by his philosophical doubt, moral hesitation, and fear of damnation.
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
Jane struggles between passion and principle. Her love for Rochester is deep, but her integrity won’t let her stay with him once she discovers he’s married.
The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield’s constant contradiction — craving connection but pushing people away — is a portrait of grief, disillusionment, and a crisis of identity.
Examples of Internal Conflict in Movies
Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars Prequels
Anakin is torn between love and fear, duty and desire. His inability to reconcile these conflicts ultimately leads him to become Darth Vader.
Lady Bird – Lady Bird
Christine (“Lady Bird”) battles with her identity, her future, and her complicated relationship with her mother. Her struggle isn’t with the world, but with figuring out who she is.
Whiplash – Whiplash
Andrew wants to be the best jazz drummer, but at what cost? He struggles with the need for greatness vs. the fear of losing his humanity and relationships.
Conclusion
Internal conflict is where the real story happens. It’s what makes a hero heroic, a villain believable, and a journey unforgettable. If your plot is the skeleton of your story, internal conflict is the beating heart. It’s what gives your character weight, vulnerability, and truth.
So when you're writing, ask yourself:
- What’s my character afraid of?
- What’s pulling them in two directions?
- What’s the price of their choice?
Answer that and you’ve got the makings of a powerful, human story.
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