* Social Issues: Poverty, discrimination, injustice, societal expectations, political systems, or oppressive laws.
* Natural Disasters: Floods, earthquakes, famines, pandemics, or severe weather conditions.
* Historical Events: Wars, economic depressions, revolutions, or significant cultural shifts.
* Fate or Destiny: Unforeseen events, bad luck, or predetermined outcomes that the protagonist must overcome.
Key Elements:
* Protagonist's Agency: The protagonist must actively try to overcome the challenges, demonstrating resilience, determination, and perhaps even rebellion against the circumstances.
* Conflict and Tension: The story creates tension and conflict as the protagonist struggles against the forces arrayed against them.
* Thematic Exploration: This conflict often explores themes of resilience, hope, survival, societal critique, and the nature of human will.
Examples:
* "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: The protagonist, Atticus Finch, faces racism and prejudice in the Deep South.
* "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck: The Joad family struggles against the Dust Bowl and economic depression.
* "The Odyssey" by Homer: Odysseus faces numerous obstacles on his journey home, including storms, monsters, and gods.
Ultimately, "man vs. circumstances" is a conflict that explores the human struggle against external forces that threaten to define or destroy them. It highlights the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.