Do you know the self-conflicting feelings between what you’re doing and what you think you should be doing? For example, eating junk food when you know you should be eating healthier.
It’s a clash between your thoughts. You want to do one thing, but you’re doing another thing. You desire something, aspire to be a certain person, be in a certain position, have a certain idea about yourself, which isn’t entirely accurate to who you are right now.
That, my ladies and gentlemen, is self-conflict. Man vs. self, or character vs. self, is a type of internal conflict commonly found in literature. You may have heard about it before, but what does it mean? In this post, I’ll break down what man vs self conflict means and how you can use it to make your story not only better, but greater.
What Is Man vs. Self Conflict in Literature?
As I mentioned earlier, the man vs. self conflict is a type of internal conflict. It focuses on the struggle between a character and their mind. They have opposing values, beliefs, ideas, or desires. It’s when they want two things they can’t have simultaneously.
For instance, a character wants to fall in love, but they don’t let anyone get too close because they’re afraid to get hurt.
Have you ever heard someone say, “I am my worst enemy?” That is the case in man vs. self. The character is the obstacle standing in their own way; their mind is their own hindrance. They want something deeply, but something inside them is stopping them.
Why Man vs. Self Conflict Matters in Storytelling
Everyone struggles with internal conflict; you probably do too. Self-doubt, contradictions, fear, desire. All of it is deeply human, and the Man vs. self conflict puts those struggles at the center of the story.
It shows what can happen to a character when their own flaws, fears, or inner battles stand in the way of their goals. Instead of fighting an external enemy, the character is forced to confront themselves.
Man vs Self strips a character down to the bone. It shows them raw and unfiltered. And that is where the most powerful storytelling happens. When readers see who the character truly is beneath the surface, they feel it. Writing about man vs. self conflict can put words to emotions that readers may not know how to express.
Although all those things I said above are true, the man vs. self conflict has multiple functions. It serves your story in different ways.
Such as:
- Raises the stakes without relying on external action.
- Creates tension through choices rather than events.
- Makes character arcs feel earned and believable.
- Helps readers stay emotionally invested in the story.
Man vs. Self Conflict Example: Black Swan
The man vs. self conflict is exemplified in Nina Sayers of Black Swan. Nina wants to perform the lead role in Swan Lake, but to do that, she must master both the White Swan and the Black Swan.
Nina is seen as the White Swan. She is disciplined and controlled, which makes this part of the role easy for her. The Black Swan is different. It requires her to be wild and free, which she has never been. Her biggest challenge isn’t other people. It’s facing her own fears and need for perfection.
How to Write Man vs. Self Conflict in Your Story
There isn’t a specific way to write man vs self conflict, but here are some beginner-friendly tips.
Define Your Character’s Inner Struggle
Before you can write man vs self conflict, you need to figure out why your character is struggling internally. What’s causing them the turmoil?
Ask yourself:
- What does my character want more than anything?
- How does that differ from what they truly need?
- Which obstacles are keeping them from reaching their goal?
- To what extent are they aware of their own struggles?
To truly figure out who your character is, read this guide on how to write well-developed characters.
Connect Internal and External Conflict
Internal and external conflict are two sides of the same coin. They’re closely related. Internal conflict drives external conflict. External conflicts trigger internal conflicts. If you want to take your writing to the next level, use external conflict to trigger, escalate, or expose internal struggles.
The outside world shapes the inside world. Your character is a product of their environment, and they’ll be constantly influenced by what’s happening externally.
For example, in Black Swan, the external pressure from Nina’s director and competitor intensifies her internal conflict. It eventually leads her to lose herself in the play.
Get a better insight into how to combine internal and external conflict in this guide.
Build the Conflict Gradually
Internal conflict may not seem significant on the first page. In fact, it works better if it starts small and grows gradually. Letting readers see how the character changes and deals with difficult emotions, especially in the context of internal conflict, is a key factor in man vs. self.
Here are some ways you can do that:
- Show subtle discomfort or self-doubt early.
- Let the conflict grow harder to ignore.
- Reveal the struggle through actions.
- Layer with external events to force the character to face themselves.
- Build tension gradually.
- Affect relationships and decisions.
- Connect the struggle to what the character truly wants.
Show the Internal Struggle Clearly
You can tell your readers it’s a man vs self conflict, but showing leaves a stronger impact. Telling can feel abstract. For example, you say your character struggles with being vulnerable, but what does that mean? You need to show what that looks like in their behaviour, speech, thought process, etc. To leave a stronger impact, show, don’t tell.
Ways you can show it:
- Character behavior and actions.
- Dialogue and communication style.
- Internal monologue.
- Body language.
- Decision-making processes.
- Responses to challenges or pressure.
- Habits.
- Reactions to events.
Make the Character Face Themselves
At some point in the story, the character has to confront their internal conflict. They can’t continue to avoid it and must face the challenge directly. This typically occurs at the climax and is what the entire story has been leading up to.
The character may grow, transform, or take a turn for the worse. Either way, the conflict must be resolved in some form because the character’s response to this moment determines how the story ends. Don’t be afraid of your character facing themself. They have to, and it will strengthen your writing.
Mastering Man vs. Self Conflict in Your Writing
Man vs. self is a type of internal conflict that focuses on the struggles between a character and themself. It’s about wanting two things you can’t have simultaneously. This type of self-conflict resonates with many readers. Most people have experienced it at some point in their lives.
In addition, if you do have experience with self-conflict, use it in your story. First-hand experience gives you an accurate knowledge of how it feels to deal with difficult emotions. Your experience can fuel your story and make it stronger.
