In Robert Louis Steveson's story, The Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I believe that Dr. Jekyll is greatly
conflicted about what he has done.
In terms of the internal
conflict, Dr. Jekyll lives each day knowing that when he is Mr. Hyde, he is doing
terrible things. Attack and then murder are things that come from Mr. Hyde, but Jekyll
is partly responsible if not in the choice to carry out these actions, then from
providing the opportunity that Mr. Hyde can. His sense of guilt
would be man vs. self.
An external conflict is that which
exists between the authorities trying to make sense of Hyde's actions and track him
down, and Jekyll's need to cover it up. This is man vs.
society.
As the changes continue, Dr. Jekyll becomes
weaker, overcome by illness. This is an external conflict, man vs. nature. The ability
of the doctor to become someone else suggests yet another external conflict: man vs. the
supernatural—because this is not a normal occurrence, and "supernatural" describes
anything that is beyond what is natural.
The last conflict
is internal: Jekyll has to decide what he must do to stop Hyde, and
ultimately, he knows he must change for one last time into Mr. Hyde and then end his
life. This is man vs. self.
There are many examples of
conflict within the story. Although the circumstances are unusual, the conflicts
existing between Dr. Jekyll and his alter-ego are very real and
significant.
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