Man vs. Fate (God) Story Conflict:

In a Man vs. Fate (or God) conflict, the central struggle is not against another character, nature, or society, but against destiny itself.

The protagonist may fight against a foretold prophecy, divine will, or the sense that life is already written. They question whether they have free will at all.

This conflict often feels the most existential. It asks:

Are we the authors of our lives or just characters in a story written by something greater than ourselves?

The Emotional Core

This conflict is driven by rebellion, surrender, faith, or despair. It pits the protagonist’s personal desires or beliefs against an inescapable destiny or divine plan. Some characters can try to outwit it. Others may surrender and find peace. Many rage against it, until it breaks them or changes them.

Modern Examples

Slumdog Millionaire (film): Jamal’s life unfolds as though destined, each hardship shaping him into the one person who could win the game show and find his love.

The Hunger Games (books/films): Though not overtly religious, Katniss battles a fate forced upon her by a violent, manipulative system, only to discover she has become a symbol, almost mythic, whose destiny is beyond her control.

Oedipus Rex (classic but still widely adapted): The king who tries to avoid a prophecy, only to fulfill it. His story has influenced everything from The Matrix to Star Wars.

Final Destination (film series): A literal take on fate as death pursues those who escaped it, proving destiny always catches up.

The Giver (novel): Jonas’s awakening to choice, emotion, and memory challenges the fated, engineered “utopia” he’s grown up in.

Writing Tip: Make the Struggle Personal

To make this conflict resonate, avoid making fate purely abstract. Instead, embody it, through a prophecy, a god-figure, a social role, or even genetic inheritance. Show the character’s internal war:

Do I accept what’s laid out for me? Or fight it, no matter the cost?

Coming Next:

In our final installment in the Design Series, we’ll look at Man vs. Supernatural.

Happy Writing!

~ M.C. Convery