If you’ve ever read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series, you’re probably familiar with Greg Heffley, the main character. He spends his days trying to figure out how to fit in and make friends in middle school. But what is the conflict he faces specifically?
At the beginning of the series, Greg is an awkward seventh grader who is desperate to gain popularity among his classmates. He tries various methods to become popular, but nothing works out. On top of that, he has to deal with bullies like Fregley and other schoolmates who constantly criticize him for being too wimpy or not cool enough. This creates an external conflict between Greg and those around him.
On top of this external conflict, Greg also struggles with an internal conflict—namely, his own personal identity crisis. While Greg wants to be accepted by others around him, deep down he also values his independence and individuality which often come into conflict with what others want from him.
Finally, there is family conflict within the story. Because his parents have different expectations from him—for example, his dad wants him to be more involved in sports while his mom wants him to focus on academics—Greg finds it difficult to please both of them at the same time without sacrificing one for the other. This causes tension between Greg and both parents throughout most of the books as they try to teach him life lessons while still respecting his individual needs as well.
