Use Conflict to Break and Rebuild Your Protagonist

Conflict sits at the heart of every story—a collision of opposing forces that asks, “Who will win?” But lasting impact arises when that clash also reshapes the protagonist. Consider two dimensions of conflict: external (a physical threat) and internal (a challenged belief).

In narrative theory, this duality mirrors Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: outer survival and inner self-actualization. A hero must face literal danger—climbing a treacherous cliff—and symbolic danger—facing their own fear of inadequacy. Each crisis triggers a choice that builds or breaks character.

Research on transformational narratives shows that audiences experience heightened empathy when characters endure both life-and-death stakes and soul-shifting dilemmas. The external threat creates urgency, the internal conflict provides catharsis, and their interplay yields resonance.

To apply this framework, map two primary antagonistic forces for your protagonist. At each major beat, ask: does this test their body, their beliefs, or both? Then chart how each victory or defeat teaches a lesson, unwinds a flaw, or cements a new conviction. That is the blueprint for stories that both thrill and transform.

Start by listing one external obstacle and one internal struggle your hero must face. Define what total defeat looks like for both—physical ruin or emotional decay. As you plot your key turning points, note how each victory or failure forces a tactical or inner shift. Finally, anchor your climax in a moment that demands both literal survival and a radical belief change, ensuring conflict builds construction as well as destruction.