Good and Evil: Conflict in Fantasy
Never ones to be taken aback by struggles that have plagued philosophers for millennia, today we are discussing good and evil and the conflict inherent therein. When creating a fantasy world, the inherent conflict of a world is often the force that compels a protagonist out on their quest, and so fleshing out that conflict will allow you to create with more subtlety, mastery, and understanding.
We post new articles most days with tips, tricks, and questions to help you with your writing. Check out our other articles here: https://www.red-quills.com/blog/
Otherwise, you can head over to our YouTube page for instructional tutorials and in-depth videos on our processes: https://www.youtube.com/@RedQuills
Developing Complex Characters
In the crucible of this eternal struggle, forge characters with depth and nuance. The line between hero and villain blurs as you delve into the complexities of morality. Infuse your characters with shades of gray, and watch them navigate the intricate dance between virtue and vice.
To understand your characters and the good and evil inside everyone, remember the following:
A fatal flaw is a strength pushed too far. When a tragic hero is doomed because they will not admit that they are outmatched, when a healer refuses to cure themselves because they are too busy helping others. Pride turns to arrogance, energy turns to callousness, love turns to possessiveness.
The most basic compulsions are love and fear. In moments of crisis, people will move towards or away. Whether they are motivated by love or fear does not make them good and evil, but it does help you to understand them.
The Kinds of Conflict
In fiction as a whole, there are a number of different kinds of conflict that characterise stories and their protagonists. We’ll go through a short list here, but remember that the best stories layer these conflicts over the top of one another, having them complement or clash against one another.
Man vs Man. The simplest of the conflicts, this is one mortal against another. Their physical limitations are similar, though one can obviously be more powerful than the other. When a knight challenges a king, or a lone samurai stands against an army, this conflict arises.
Man vs God. A staple of the fantasy genre, and of a great many works of fiction, the conflict between a person and the divine plan. Whether the god is evil and wishes terrible harm on the world, or the person does not wish to be a part of the divine plan and actively attempts to avoid their fate.
Man vs Nature. This is a conflict of survival. Not just of a person against an animal, but of a family against the winter. Famine, disease, or natural disasters are just as much conflicts of nature as hayfever.
Man vs Society. A conflict of outcasts: one person against expectations. When a woman dresses as a man to achieve her goals, or two star-crossed lovers flee to avoid persecution.
Man vs Reality. The final conflict, and a popular one in postmodern literature: a protagonist begins to question the world that they live in. They try to determine what is real and what is an illusion. This can often lead into conflicts against the author, or the audience.
_______________________________________________________________________
Good and evil is a complex notion, and one that you can spend your book or game unravelling. It is not simple, and it is not easy, but remember to add some nuance and constantly question. Thank you for reading, and please comment below if you found this helpful!