What Are The Major Conflicts In 'House Arrest'?

The major conflicts in 'House Arrest' revolve around the protagonist's struggle with personal freedom versus familial responsibility. After being placed under house arrest, the character battles the suffocating feeling of confinement while trying to maintain relationships with family and friends. The internal conflict is intense—being physically trapped amplifies emotional tensions, especially with parents who don’t fully understand the protagonist’s perspective. External conflicts arise from societal judgment and the legal system’s rigidity, which labels the protagonist without considering the full story. The story also explores the conflict between guilt and redemption, as the protagonist wrestles with past actions while seeking a way forward. It’s a raw look at how isolation can force someone to confront their deepest fears and regrets.

In 'House Arrest', the conflicts are layered and deeply psychological. The primary tension stems from the protagonist’s house arrest, which becomes a metaphor for broader life struggles. Being confined to home forces confrontations with family members, particularly a strained relationship with a father who sees the situation as a failure. The protagonist’s younger sibling serves as both a source of comfort and a reminder of responsibilities, creating a push-pull dynamic between wanting escape and needing to stay present.

The legal system’s impersonal nature adds another layer. The protagonist feels reduced to a case number, battling a system that doesn’t care about context. This external conflict mirrors the internal one—self-worth versus societal labels. Friends who drift away or judge unfairly compound the isolation, making trust a central issue.

The most compelling conflict is the protagonist’s duel with time. House arrest forces a pause, making past mistakes unavoidable. The struggle isn’t just about serving time but about whether change is possible. The protagonist’s journal entries reveal a mind at war with itself, trying to reconcile who they were with who they want to become. The resolution isn’t neat, which makes the conflicts feel authentic and unresolved in the way real life often is.

The conflicts in 'House Arrest' hit hard because they’re so relatable. The protagonist’s house arrest isn’t just physical—it’s emotional jail. Family dinners become battlegrounds, with silent treatments and explosive arguments. The parents’ disappointment is palpable, and the protagonist’s resentment simmers beneath every interaction. The conflict isn’t just with others; it’s with the self. The protagonist’s inner monologue shows a constant tug-of-war between defiance and despair.

Outside the home, the world moves on without them. Friends stop calling, and social media becomes a highlight reel of lives they can’t participate in. The conflict here is FOMO meets self-imposed exile. The protagonist both wants to reconnect and fears rejection. The legal constraints are just the framework; the real story is about how confinement forces a reckoning with identity. Is the protagonist the sum of their mistakes, or can they redefine themselves? The book doesn’t offer easy answers, making the conflicts linger long after the last page.