Conflict is defined as the underlying issue that needs to be resolved. In normal literature, conflict is the issue that holds the attention of the reader until a climax is reached that shows the resolution of the conflict. It is vital to understand that conflict is a very broad theme that at times carries numerous sub-themes in it that are all related to the initial conflict or that serve to enrich the clout of the overall conflict. It is also important to understand that conflict takes numerous forms; it could be man vs. society, man vs. man, man vs. himself or man vs. technology or nature. In each of these instances, the main characters involved in the story will have a perspective completely different from the accepted norm. As they strive to show their point of view, the resulting friction with other characters will create the challenges that the main character has to overcome in order to arrive at a climax which entails the resolution of the conflict. Looking at the iconic love story of Romeo and Juliet, their love was the conflict of the story. They did love each other and they were young. As expected, emotions ran high to the point that it clouded their judgment. They came from families that were sworn enemies surely a romantic union was going to bring friction from their families. Naturally, the reader will be engrossed in wanting the love between the two to survive the blood feud of their families. However, it takes the reader to a climax where the two die. In such a paradoxical bitter-sweet moment, the love that was the center of the conflict did last to the end; too bad that they had to die. As that the reader is brought to a resolution of the conflict.
Characterization is defined as the habits and tendencies of a character in a story. In themselves, human beings display a wide range of habits depending on the situation and those present. It’s a wide of grey area as opposed to clear cut black and white. As such, it is very difficult to define a person by only one character. For example, in the story Merchant of Venice , Antonio is depicted as a good friend and generous. While it is true, one sees him sneering at Shylock who is a businessman just like him but just happens to be a Jew. In such a case, while Antonio can be described as a good man generally, one must not look at the fact that he is racist. Now, while the modern day reader will be quick to point this out, one must put in mind that by the time that Shakespeare was penning the Merchant of Venice, the parameters regarding race were not as defined as they are today. With that in mind and a brief look at Europe during the time, Jews did in deed encounter a lot of social bias from Europeans. This could mean that Antonio was simply had an everyday opinion of Shylock in regards to him being a Jew. Literature is indeed a reflection of society. Through the characterization of Antonio, one is able to see and relate to history how such aspects as prejudice were regarded in everyday society and the political, social and economic arenas of the time.
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Through the use of conflict and characterization, the third literal style of protagonist and antagonist is developed. In the telling of a story, a conflict is established in the very beginning. From it, the reader is introduced to a wide range of characters who inn either a minor or a major way will be involved in influencing the conflict in the story. Of course, in order to establish and maintain the interest of the reader an emotional attachment must be developed towards the characters in the story. It is with in mind that characters are given characterizations that ultimately affected the position that they will take in the conflict; a protagonist or antagonist position. In order to maintain the interests of the reader, it is common for the protagonist to overall have positive attributes that far outweigh the negative attributes the may have. In fact, they might just be better-looking in relation to the antagonist. To illustrate this, one can look at Antonio and Shylock in Merchant of Venice. While Antonio is shown as generous to others and to himself, on should see how they are described. Antonio is a well-dressed and respected businessman. Shylock on the other hand is painted as greedy and stingy. That sees him poorly dressed despite being a major financial dealer in the cosmopolitan city of Venice. This will naturally read the reader to painting Antonio is a much positive light and rooting for him against Shylock. This is in spite of Antonio being anti-Semitic and Shylock simply trying to live in modesty in order to avoid bringing much attention to himself in a largely anti-Semitic society.
