Conflicting Developing Characters

                In order to create conflict while also developing the characters the writing must be direct and straight to the point. Flowery language does not add to the conflict, it detracts from it, so it would make more sense to speak in a normal fashion. During a normal conflict each person does not usually dance around the subject when arguing, they speak harshly and directly. When people are most direct with each other it also reveals a lot about their character. In the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been the mother’s character is revealed through her conflict with her daughter. Although the mother is not a big part of the story we know that she holds her eldest daughter in high regard and wants her youngest to be just as perfect. We are able to infer that the mother in the story is a cold-hearted perfectionist. When arguing with her daughter she did not hold back her true thoughts and feelings, which is what added to the increasing conflict. If the mother would have instead spoken around the issues and used complex language it may have developed the character, but it would not have added to the conflict. To create conflict the author of the story also has to write as little, or use many small words, as possible to increase the rapid pace. Pacing is very important when creating conflict, which is why it is important to make the sentences very short and to the point. The constant back and forth between arguing characters is what adds to the conflict and creates a hostile environment. To make an engaging character driven story with a good amount of conflict one must reveal the characters’ personalities through rapid pace dialogue.