Analysis of External and Internal Conflicts in The Interlopers

Although the story The Interlopers is relatively brief, it contains more than one type of conflict that challenge and intermingle characters in different ways, contributing in building up the plot. This essay’s purpose is to highlight and explain in further detail all of the said conflicts.

Features and Interplay of Conflicts in the Play

The story begins with a conflict, which is external, where a person is against another. The entire narrative revolves around the long-lived vendetta between the Gradwitz and Znaeym family over a piece of land that both claim to rightfully own, until the third generation, who are George and Ulrich took it a step up and made things personal, and that decision was bound to bring disasters and losses upon them. 

Another external conflict is where a person is put against the forces nature. As it was mentioned in the story, the wind was whistling and skirling which could only mean that the wind was very strong that stormy night, provoking the mass of beech to fall on top of the two rival men, therefore trapping and injuring them both.

Also, the only internal conflict in this story, wherein a person battles his own self, is more on the complex side. Both parties had hated and thirsted for each other’s blood the entirety of their lives, all that changed after they were caught under the branches and got severely hurt, it transitioned to Ulrich feeling pity towards George, who was groaning in pain, and contemplated whether to give him the flask of wine to ease his pain or not. The hatred between the two started slowly subsiding amidst the mess they were in, to the want and need to feel the pride and honor of saving the other. So, it is clear that their emotions were constantly changing as if they were on a rollercoaster.

Lastly, this specific conflict is subsequent to the second external conflict, which is man against nature. As previously mentioned, the mass of beech trapped the men, leaving them helpless and wounded. After a while, Ulrich had noticed distant figures coming down the hillside, so he joyfully assumed that they were either his or George’s men coming to rescue them after hearing their cries for help, but alas those figures were the predators, in this case, a pack of wolves advancing towards them. 

After pointing out all four conflicts and explaining them, it is intelligible that the central and most important conflict is the first, where a man is put against another. As the purpose of the story is to convey or showcase the rivalry between the two clans throughout time, and the consequences of taking matters personally in the third generation of the feuding families.

In conclusion, The Interlopers is a multi-conflict story, and each conflict brings a unique element to the story-line, highlighting the traits of characters, leading them to their growth or downfall.