Conflict in Literature

Conflict and contradiction are major components found within literary works. Tensions can arise between characters, schools of thought, and evolution of cultures. Both Bharati Mukherjee’s “A Father” and Mitsuye Yamada’s A Bedtime Story tackle the issue of culture and conflict; as time progresses aspects of human life change, regardless of if it’s occurring for the better.
Mukherjee’s “A Father” very avidly presents the reader with contradiction and conflict within the structure of a short story. The reader is shown the tension between “new-world reasonableness and old-world beliefs.” With time comes a shift in human perspective: evolution leads to new ideas and beliefs. “A Father” portrays the differences between the fathers, Mr. Bhowmick’s, views as instilled in him by his cultural background, and those views of the new American society in which he has raised his daughter. The author makes mention of the high school that his daughter, Babli, attended and how it was “both native to her, and alien.” Although Babli was raised in America, there are aspects that set her apart, ideas that make her different. These ideas also separate Mr. Bhowmick’s wife from her native people and himself from breaking away from his cultural rituals. The past is a major aspect of life and something that is extremely hard to let go of. Conflict then arises between the past and the present. In order to conform, you must be similar to those things found around your. Unfortunately, this is too great an ideal and usually contradicts reality. Though Bhowmick wanted to take a beautiful bride, his lack of finances didn’t allow him to do so: though Babli is a young, intelligent female, she is unloved. Ultimately, Bhowmick’s greatest conflict is found in the pregnancy of his daughter. Although he yearns for a grandson and someone to love his daughter, bastarding a child is considered a grave sin. In the end, his conflict is resolved when he finds out the child is not one of love but rather one of want. He himself ends the conflict with an extermination of the pregnancy.
Mitsuye Yamada’s A Bedtime Story similarly evokes the theme of conflict. There is shown comparison between an ancient time and present, as well as nature versus modern culture. As the main character reveals the story of the old woman’s night under the stars, the listener reveals the significance of experience. Although the woman was treated poorly and had many doors closed in her face, good came out of her tribulations. She was turned away by many only to have Nature reveal herself. The beauty of Nature was shown to the woman in the form of the moon, and the woman was finally able to see the good that arose from her rejections. The speaker dictates with an overall sense of optimism and new perspective. Over all, time has changed the experiences of the listener sitting outside compared to the experiences of the woman. Nature is no longer as apparent as she used to be since modern culture has shunned her away; only by looking and reaching out to her will we see her true beauty.
Both Mukherjee’s “A Father” and Mitsuye Yamada’s A Bedtime Story accurately present the aura of conflict and contradiction within literature. Conflicts arise from characterization, clash of cultures, and evolution of time. When there is a shift in perspective or time, tensions develop between characters or even past versus present. Although these tensions can be of good or bad nature, they lead to a change of perspective.