Lizzie loves Drayle her Master and she is conflicted about this, embarrassed when Mawu's asks her.
Lizzie, is eventually conflicted about running away. Does she stay or does she go? This causes other conflict. If she goes she leaves her children behind, as slaves, even though they are Drayles children, she doesn't know how they;ll be treated or if she will ever see them again.
Lizzie is conflicted in her feelings for Mawu, she cares for her, and is a little jealous of her at the same time. Some of this conflict I think spills over into her decision to tell Drayle about Mawu.
She is internally conflicted over whether or not to tell that Mawu is planning on running away; she does tell and this causes external conflict with the other slaves and caused MAwu conflict with her Master who beats and rapes her publicly as punishment.
Lizzie is conflicted the 3rd year at Tawawa as to whether to ask Drayle to finally sell Phillip to the barber so he can marry the barbers daughter. She realizes that this favor may have penalties in regards to Drayle ever freeing her children. i.e. 1 favor of this magnitude is all Lizzie may ever be able to get.
Fran, who is Drayles wife is conflicted over her husbands affair with Lizzie and conflicted in how she feels for Lizzie. SHe both hates her (tries to sell her while Drayle is away) pinches her, is mean to her. But later in the story when Drayle finally brings them both to Tawawa house the same summer and Lizzie gives herself an "abortion" and can;t stop bleeding, Fran takes care of her and sleeps on the couch next to her so Drayle can't force himself on her while she is still recovering.
Mawu doesn't really feel any conflict regarding her slavery, she wants to run and will do it the first chance she gets, but apparently (i say apparently because this is speculation from other characters) she feels conflict about leaving Lizzie behind. The next summer when Mawu and Reenie run, Reenie goes and keeps going until she gets to NY where Mawu stay's locally in a little cabin in the woods.
Mawu's conflict was only when to run, and when she had the opportunity she pretty much set her master on fire and tried to kill him. When he was pulled out of the burning cabin still living her and Reenie run during the confusion. She knew she had to because she is pretty sure her master knows she tried to kill him. Glory knows where she is and the following summer when Lizzie comes back with Drayle and Fran, Glory takes her to see Mawu who gives her notice that she is going soon and asks Lizzie to come with her. Apparently they think Mawu was waiting for Lizzie.
This was a bad decision for Mawu because Lizzie decides not to go and then Mawu gets caught. You only ever here this from the servants at the hotel and never hear her story, so it's resolution is unsatisfying at best. Mawu's conflicts are really unresolved, Lizzie never comes, she tries to run away and only stays gone for a year before being caught. You never find out what happens to her but the assumption isnt; good.
Lizzie stays because of her children and her love for Drayle and even because her and Fran seem to have reached a certain understanding of each other. You still never get the feeling that she resolved anything in her internal conflict. You really never get the sense she wants to leave, just that the others think she should want to leave and she really only considers it because she feels like she should
Drayle may have conflict during the story in regards to whether or not to free his children (they are his bargaining chip with Lizzie) and decides not to, but at the end promises Lizzie that he will send Nate, her boy north to be educated at school for mixed blood children. But Rabbit, her daughter will stay (Rabbit will be the bargaining chip that gets Nate to come home).
Drayle decides to sell Phillips based on Lizzies speech and with holding of affection and seems resigned if not pleased in the resolution of his conflicts.
Fran seems to come to terms with Lizzie by taking care of her and pretty much admitting that she has been jealous of her relationship with Drayle and jealous that Lizzie was able to bear his children when she was not. But she seems to realize is that Lizzie's part in it may not be all "roses" and that she is part of their twisted family.
Reenies earlier conflicts the second summer was when she walks into he water and tries to kill herself (due to thecommencement of the managers late night visits). The other girls stop her so her suicidal conflict is resolved but her second conflict whether to run or not is never discussed. But when Mawu runs, so does Reenie. She gets to NY and gets job cleaning and has someone send Lizzie a letter to Tawawa house so she knows where she is and that she is ok. Conflicts resolved.
Sweet's children all die from smallpox of something back at the plantation the summer that Mawu and Reenie run, she goes a little crazy mourning them and then pretty much throws herself in a ravine and dies. So her conflicts are all resolved.
Phillip is a minor character and his conflicts are really Lizzies and he serves as a sounding board for Lizzie, but he wants to be sold and marry the barbers daughter and he is. He is living in Ohio and learning the barbering trade with his new wife. He comes back to Lizzie to give her info she will need if she decides to run. So his conflicts are resolved as is his brotherly relationship with Lizzie.
All in all analyzing this book is starting to feel like beating a dead horse. Uhhh....
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