What are the important conflicts in The Unvanquished?

 There are many forms of conflict in William Faulkner’s,
“The Unvanquished.” In the opening scene, two young children, Bayard and Ringo, play
contentedly in the sand. Their play is interrupted by Loosh, a discontented slave. This
is the first of several conflicts in the novel. Loosh is aware that the Union Army is
approaching and he looks forward to their arrival because he longs for freedom. This
scene illustrates the clear delineation between the wishes of slave owners and those
whom they enslave. In addition, the Civil War looms as an even greater form of
conflict.

Bayard’s cousin, Drusilla is a woman of southern
upbringing. Still, she wants to fight for her heritage in a time when women were
expected to be delicate, lovely and helpless. She resists her family’s expectations and
runs away to join Colonel Sartoris and his troops in their battle against their common
enemy.

Ab Snopes and Grumby, both acknowledged thieves, are
in conflict with all society as they defraud and rob unfortunate victims of war-torn
communities. These unscrupulous bandits are merciless in their victimization of those on
either side of the larger conflict. They are selfish in their endeavors and they
demonstrate loyalty to no one.

Though there are many other
instances of conflict in the novel, including Granny’s deceitful horse trading, the
social influences that force Drusilla to wed and the ever-growing disparity between
Bayard’s and Ringo’s abilities. However, one of the most challenging conflicts is
Bayard’s internal struggle to end the violence that has colored his life. In the final
chapters of the novel, his father, Colonel Sartoris is killed by his former partner, Ben
Redmond. Many feel that Bayard would be justified in revenging his father’s death by
murdering Redmond. Instead, Bayard decides to spare Redmond’s life, although he risks
his own in the process.