Final answer:
The struggle within a character's mind involving difficult choices or goals is known as an internal conflict. This type of conflict adds depth to characters and plays a crucial role in literature, influencing the main conflict and the story's climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The struggle occurring within a character's mind, such as difficult choices or unreachable goals, is known as an internal conflict. This is a common type of conflict in literature, where a character faces a moral dilemma, an emotional issue, or must make a tough decision. Internal conflicts are essential for creating depth and complexity within characters, helping readers to connect with them on a personal level.
Plays, novels, and short stories often involve a main character who desires something challenging to obtain. The obstacles they face in pursuit of their goals create tension and drive the narrative forward. While external conflicts, such as disputes with other characters, society, or nature, are more apparent, internal conflicts are equally important as they represent the protagonist's personal struggles.
Characters may experience cognitive dissonance, which adds to the complexities of their internal conflicts. Whether it's in a play or a short story, the main conflict often revolves around these internal battles, leading up to events like the climax, where the tension reaches its peak.