The Effect of Conflict on the Theme of Fictitious Works
Thomas Paine has said “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph,” meaning there is more to be gained from a conflict that takes a lot out of you rather than one that doesn’t. Conflict is the foundation of fiction text, it is what the story revolves around and where the lessons learned at the end of the story stem from. In the case of the stories by Herman Melville, Franz Kafka, and John Steinbeck conflict, whether internal or external, helps to establish a central theme for the text. Throughout the texts Billy Budd, “A Country Doctor”, and Of Mice and Men the respective authors use the elements of fiction to develop conflicts that demonstrate a central theme. In Billy …show more content…
Additionally, Billy Budd deals with the external conflict of Claggart’s hatred towards him. The narrator states “The next instant, quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck. Whether intentionally or but owing to the young athlete’s superior height, the blow had taken effect fully upon the forehead, so shapely and intellectual-looking a feature in the Master-at- arms; so that the body fell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted from erectness. A gasp or two, and he lay motionless” (Melville, 1924). Initially, Billy doesn’t have a personal conflict with Claggart, Claggart just seems to hate him. The conflict does not start to develop until Claggart accuses Billy of being the ringleader of mutiny. Billy reacts by essentially killing him and Claggart’s death then leads to a trail and Billy’s death. This conflict supports the theme because Billy cannot express his true feelings about the accusation, and is automatically guilty due to his rank. Claggart is a leader on a warship, Billy is his subordinate, Billy as an individual cannot fight society’s support for a leader such as Claggart. …show more content…
The first conflict is an external one for Lennie and it is with Curley, the farm owner’s son. One of Lennie’s encounters with Curley is described
Thomas Paine has said “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph,” meaning there is more to be gained from a conflict that takes a lot out of you rather than one that doesn’t. Conflict is the foundation of fiction text, it is what the story revolves around and where the lessons learned at the end of the story stem from. In the case of the stories by Herman Melville, Franz Kafka, and John Steinbeck conflict, whether internal or external, helps to establish a central theme for the text. Throughout the texts Billy Budd, “A Country Doctor”, and Of Mice and Men the respective authors use the elements of fiction to develop conflicts that demonstrate a central theme. In Billy …show more content…
Additionally, Billy Budd deals with the external conflict of Claggart’s hatred towards him. The narrator states “The next instant, quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck. Whether intentionally or but owing to the young athlete’s superior height, the blow had taken effect fully upon the forehead, so shapely and intellectual-looking a feature in the Master-at- arms; so that the body fell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted from erectness. A gasp or two, and he lay motionless” (Melville, 1924). Initially, Billy doesn’t have a personal conflict with Claggart, Claggart just seems to hate him. The conflict does not start to develop until Claggart accuses Billy of being the ringleader of mutiny. Billy reacts by essentially killing him and Claggart’s death then leads to a trail and Billy’s death. This conflict supports the theme because Billy cannot express his true feelings about the accusation, and is automatically guilty due to his rank. Claggart is a leader on a warship, Billy is his subordinate, Billy as an individual cannot fight society’s support for a leader such as Claggart. …show more content…
The first conflict is an external one for Lennie and it is with Curley, the farm owner’s son. One of Lennie’s encounters with Curley is described