Imagine Jaws without a hungry white shark, Superman without Kryptonite, or the tale of Little Red Riding Hood without a scary wolf: The teenagers would have had a great summer at the beach, Superman would not have had a worry in the world, and Little Red Riding Hood would visit her grandmother and then go home. Words like “boring” and “predictable” spring to mind! Movie director Nils Malmros once said, “Paradise on a Sunday afternoon sounds great, but it sure is boring on film.” In other words, too much harmony and not enough conflict makes for a story that is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Conflict is the driving force of a good story. No conflict, no story. But why is this the case? The answer lies in human nature. As humans, we instinctively look for balance and harmony in our lives. We simply don’t like being out of tune with our surroundings and ourselves. So, as soon as harmony is disrupted, we do whatever we can to restore it. We avoid unpleasant situations, feelings of stress or anxiety. If we have an unresolved problem with our loved ones, or our colleagues, it bothers us until we clear the air and return to a state of harmony. When faced with a problem—a conflict—we instinctively seek to find a solution. Conflict forces us to act. Thus, a story is set in motion by a change that __________ this sense of harmony.