Conflict – why can’t we all just get along?
The fourth element of the Rhetoric of Story – conflict! Why can’t we all just get along? And even if we did, why stories would still always contain conflict. The important ideas introduced in this lecture include:
- Conflict arises inevitably because al humans have their own, conflicting desires.
- Conflict is compelling, our mind pays close attention to all kinds of conflict in life and in story.
- Physical and social conflict are all around us, but internal conflict is an essential part of great storytelling.
- At the heart of all conflict are the effects of fear, represented in stories as the antagonist.
- While conflict hooks our attention, we rely on the storyteller to show us how conflicts are resolved and peace achieved.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
READING
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is the most infamous guide to winning conflicts in history. It famously advises those who seek power, that it is better to be feared than loved. There are a thousand ideas for stories in this short text.
EXERCISE
Happy endings don’t always happen in real life. But as writers we can change that. Think of a conflict from your own experience. That job you couldn’t stand. The relationship that always turned to argument. The journey where every turn was a dead end. What went wrong? How did it get worse? Write a new ending for this story, where the conflict is resolved and everybody is happy.
Follow the full course on damiengwalter.com
Join the Rhetoric of Story on all good education platforms
- Monthly subscription
- Full access to all courses
- Talks and exercises
Damien Walter 