Why is it important to understand the source and nature of the conflicts found in fiction?

Answer 1

Because conflicts are what keeps fiction going - all good plots are, on some level, about conflict. If you don't understand the underling conflict, you can't understand the plot, because you won't understand the character motivation, their relationships, and their emotions.

Answer 2

It's not always that important to *know* the exact source of conflict or the nature of conflicts within your storyline--in order to carry out your targeted agenda.

Sometimes, the conflict will not show itself for many chapters until the right moment, or the conflict may even be subtle enough to drive the reader nuts because it's just tantalizingly out of reach, but not quite there.

Under normal circumstances, conflict can always be found wherever there is turmoil, angst, and personal tragedy.

But to understand it...? It isn't always cut and dry. There can be many undeniable variables for a said source or a set of conflicts. And at times, both underlying principles may end up evading both the author and the characters for quite some time. (No pun intended.)