In Katherine Paterson's novel, Bridge to
Terabithia, I think there are several conflicts, some of which do not become
as important until the later part of the story.
However,
the conflict that seems to generate and move the plot along, in my opinion, is man vs.
society.
Jess has dreams of impressing his school mates
(which is destroyed when Leslie joins the school and beats everyone
else).
One
time last year Jesse had won. Not just the first heat but the whole shebang. Only once.
but it had put into his mouth a taste fr winning...For the rest of that day, and until
after lunch on the next, he had been "the fastest kind in the third, fourth and fifth
grades," and he only a fourth
grader.
This sense Jess has
to beat all the other boys defines his sense of success for himself, but it is his
desire to take on all of his peers that drives him.
Leslie
struggles with "society" as well. Her parents, in order to live a more meaningful life,
sold their home in Arlington and moved out to the farm: they actually meant to farm it,
and as Jess sees it, Leslie has to pay the price by being forced to leave friends and
school to enter a world of strangers.
Jess and Leslie form
a strong bond, creating an imaginary world where they are in charge. This may be in
response primarily because of the needs of family that are not met, a feeling that they
don't have control of their lives at home.
Because both
youngsters are in need of attention—support and understanding from their parents—I have
categorized this as man vs society. If Leslie did not get along with her mother, or
Jess, his mother, I would characterize these examples as man vs. man. However, because
the children's needs extend from a sense of dissatisfaction at home, for different
reasons—for the most part—it is as if they are at odds with society in
general.
When tragedy strikes in their midst, this conflict
will continue until it is resolved by all those
involved.
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