Chinua Achebe’s short story Girls at War presents various forms of conflict, both external and internal, set against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War. The story follows Nwankwo, a government official, and Gladys, a young woman who transitions from an enthusiastic supporter of the war to a hardened survivor.

Their interactions, along with the events that unfold, highlight multiple layers of conflict, including personal struggles, societal contradictions, and the devastating impact of war.

1. Individual vs. Society

One of the central conflicts in Girls at War is the struggle between individuals and the expectations of society. Nwankwo, as a government official, is supposed to uphold the values of the state and maintain a respectable image.

However, he is also influenced by personal desires and moral dilemmas. His attraction to Gladys, who represents a changing society, creates an internal struggle between his professional identity and personal emotions.

Gladys, on the other hand, faces the challenge of surviving in a society that has been deeply affected by war. She starts as a patriotic supporter of the war but gradually becomes disillusioned as she experiences its brutal realities.

Her decision to engage in relationships with influential men, including Nwankwo, reflects her attempt to navigate a world where survival often requires compromising personal values. This conflict illustrates how war alters moral boundaries and forces individuals to adapt in ways that contradict societal norms.

2. Internal Conflict (Nwankwo’s Moral Dilemma)

Nwankwo experiences significant internal conflict throughout the story. As a government official, he is expected to support the war effort wholeheartedly. However, his encounters with Gladys expose him to the hypocrisy and contradictions within the system.

He initially views her transformation—from an idealistic young woman to a war-hardened survivor—with skepticism but is also drawn to her strength and resilience.

His internal conflict intensifies when he sees the reality of war firsthand. While he enjoys the privileges of his position, including access to luxuries and social status, he cannot ignore the suffering around him.

His guilt and unease grow as he recognizes the disparity between government propaganda and the actual hardships faced by the people. This conflict ultimately contributes to his tragic fate, as he fails to act decisively in a moment of crisis.

3. War and its Dehumanizing Effects

The overarching conflict in the story is the destructive impact of war on individuals and society. War is supposed to be fought for noble causes—justice, freedom, or national pride—but in Girls at War, it is shown to breed corruption, hypocrisy, and suffering.

Gladys embodies this transformation. She begins as a passionate supporter of the Biafran cause, believing in the war’s justification. However, as she experiences its horrors, she changes her approach to survival.

She adapts by associating with powerful men, using her charm and beauty to secure protection and resources. This change highlights how war forces individuals to abandon their ideals for the sake of self-preservation.

The soldier they encounter toward the end of the story represents another aspect of this conflict. He has lost a leg in battle, a direct symbol of the war’s cost. Despite his sacrifice, he is left to struggle on his own, highlighting how the government fails to care for those who fight for it. His plea for help just before the air raid further emphasizes the theme of war’s indiscriminate destruction, where even the most loyal and brave individuals become casualties.

4. Class Conflict and Social Inequality

Another major conflict in Girls at War is the division between the privileged elite and the struggling common people. Nwankwo, as a government official, enjoys privileges such as access to food, a car, and protection. Meanwhile, the ordinary citizens, including soldiers and civilians like Gladys, endure hunger, suffering, and uncertainty.

This class conflict is evident when Nwankwo encounters Gladys after some time apart. He is surprised by her change in appearance and demeanor—she is no longer the cheerful, naive girl he once met but a woman who understands the realities of survival.

While he can still afford to enjoy life’s comforts, she has been forced to adapt to a harsher reality. The contrast between their situations reflects the broader inequalities within wartime society, where those in power exploit their positions while the less fortunate struggle to survive.

5. Gender Conflict

The story also highlights gender-based conflict, particularly in how women are forced to navigate a world dominated by men during wartime. Gladys, as a woman, faces different challenges from Nwankwo. While he holds a government position and benefits from the system, she must rely on her physical appearance and relationships with men to gain security.

Her evolution from an enthusiastic war supporter to a woman who uses her resources strategically reveals the gendered reality of war. Women often find themselves in vulnerable positions, needing to use whatever means they have to survive. This conflict is further emphasized when Nwankwo expresses discomfort with Gladys’s new role in society, even though he himself benefits from the privileges of his position. His judgment of her choices reveals the double standards imposed on women during times of crisis.

6. Man vs. Fate (Tragic Irony in the Ending)

A crucial conflict in the story is between human control and fate. Nwankwo believes he is in control of his life. As a government official, he enjoys security, and he assumes that his association with Gladys is just another aspect of his privileged lifestyle. However, the story’s ending proves otherwise.

The sudden air raid brings a brutal and unexpected conclusion to his journey. The irony is that just moments before the attack, he tries to reassure the wounded soldier that everything will be fine. Yet, fate proves him wrong, as both Gladys and the soldier perish, and he himself is thrown into chaos. This conflict between human plans and fate highlights the unpredictability of war and life itself. No matter how much power or status one holds, war can strip it all away in an instant.

Girls at War by Chinua Achebe is a powerful story that explores multiple conflicts, reflecting the harsh realities of war. Through the characters of Nwankwo and Gladys, Achebe presents conflicts between individuals and society, moral dilemmas, social inequality, gender struggles, and the devastating effects of war.

The story’s tragic ending reinforces the unpredictability of life in wartime, emphasizing that no one is truly safe from its consequences. These conflicts make the narrative not just a tale of war but also a critique of the systems and attitudes that allow such suffering to persist.