internal conflict

[ in-tur-nl kon-flikt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, the resolution of which creates the plot's suspense:
Hamlet's inaction is caused by internal conflict.
mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.

First recorded in 1580–90

Rick has no internal conflict about what is morally right and what is wrong.

In the end, internal conflict tore apart the New Jewel Movement.

The essay is about the internal conflict and external cooperation between the first two subjects in the title.

Internal conflict; but the feeling of the necessity for maintaining his position as Czar is triumphant.

In the end this internal conflict centred about Leviathan; but in the beginning I believe that it was of an ecclesiastical nature.

At last he said with a quick sigh, as if at the close of an internal conflict, "I will lend you the money!"

It was evident that an internal conflict had him in its throes, and his intellect had not as yet come to his aid.

"That ought to be enough, I think," said the Captain, with a degree of irritation that bespoke a long internal conflict.

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