…better conflict: amnesia or coma?
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
January 16, 2013 6:05am CST
I am helping my friend in writing her short story for some coursework and she asked me what is the worse thing – losing your memory or be in a coma. She already has her protagonist and antagonist figured out but she needs some conflict and interest thrown in. I suggested that she makes one with amnesia and one with coma. She thought it was brilliant but we don’t exactly which character will be having a certain condition. I figured that the protagonist be the sufferer of the worst of the two devils. The thing is, which is worse than these ? I was picturing that the protagonist in a coma while the antagonist has amnesia of a decisive action in the plot. Feasible, perhaps?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@anaknitatay (1335)
• Philippines
17 Jan 13
yes, you could spin this! 
Just be careful though, depending on how you present their conflicts and situations the plot may come across as brilliant or ridiculous.
Just be careful though, depending on how you present their conflicts and situations the plot may come across as brilliant or ridiculous. 
@anaknitatay (1335)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
best of luck to you. if you need another head, I am available to help in any way I can. 
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
17 Jan 13
I hope it would be brilliant.Besides, we have two heads than one. But we might need another head for a better perspective.
1 person likes this
@tassantos7 (70)
• Philippines
16 Jan 13
I love your idea. I'm thinking though, it'd better perhaps that both suffer from amnesia at the first plot twist. You know? This is the point where both protagonist and antagonist come with a questionable slate to the readers.
The protagonist and antagonist can come to be in very good terms whilst not remembering anything about each other, though the antagonist will show some signs of having some hits of emotion like jealousy but because of his/her amnesia, he/she can be an open slot to turn-out to be an anti-hero in the end or the amnesia can be just the means to show how he/she becomes a full-blown antagonist. When that happens that would be the second plot twist (which can also be the doorway to being at the climax).
But the coma? Hmm....it could also be possible that the protagonist suffers from it first before she awakes to having an amnesia.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
16 Jan 13
Thanks for the suggestions. This can be a good addition to the plot as we're still developing it. Would be good if we can incorporate both conditions in both characters. A coma can be a result of some external conflict and the other guy gets amnesia from the same conflict, what do you think?
@tassantos7 (70)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
Yes, that sounds good too. Probably when they have a very important and dramatic confrontation. Then a lot of twists can be conjured up from there too. Like, widening their relationship in the story. I mean, more than just enemies, making more realistic.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
16 Jan 13
If one has amnesia and the other is in a coma, what's the conflict? They will be too busy figuring out their own problems to be bothered with the other guy.
Now, standard would be to have the protagonist with one, say amnesia, and not able to figure out why the other guy is trying to kill him....
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
16 Jan 13
I guess the conflict is when and how the interaction between characters. A person with amnesia will likely have an internal conflict on just getting his memory let alone any interaction with other character. Much like the scenario you give. The conflict can arise from a person with a coma is perhaps requires a little more outside perspective. What I am thinking is that an person with amnesia might have conflict within himself if he learns that he caused an external conflict with the person in a coma.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
17 Jan 13
Umm, unless you're writing fantasy or science fiction, a protagonist in a coma isn't going to be very exciting. Chapter 1: protagonist lies on the bed, comatose. Chapter 2: protagonist lies on the bed, comatose. Chapter 3: ... 
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
I think that could be remedied with flashbacks and otehr tools. As I said, we're all considering options and we're still working on the plot. Perhaps, conflict can still be told in flashbacks in the guy with amnesia. Also, it's a short story, not a novel. I don't think will exciting to have a comatose patient throughout a novel
@Aja103654 (5646)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
Coma is certainly the worst. You lose all your independence when you are in that state and at times, comatosed people die all of a sudden. Amnesia, at least only your memory is gone and not your movement. you still have a little freedom if you have amnesia. You suffer that's for sure, but coma is worse in my opinion.
