What Is the Main Conflict in "A Man Named Dave"?

The main conflict in the memoir "A Man Called Dave" is the author's continued struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, which prevent him from trusting others and achieving happiness. Abused as a child, Dave Pelzer engages in many conflicts with others, but it is his internal conflict that must be resolved before he can heal.

Conflict With Parents

Conflict with others is the most common form of conflict in literature, both fiction and nonfiction. In the first of his books, "A Child Called 'It'," Pelzer focuses on his parents' abuse and neglect. Unresolved, this conflict continues into both of the remaining books in the trilogy. Throughout "A Man Called Dave," Pelzer demonstrates willingness to resolve the external conflict he experiences with his abusive mother and his father, who neglected to protect him. While he is able to reconcile with his father before he dies, his mother never acknowledges the damage she did to him and he is unable to forgive her before she dies, too.

Conflict With Others

Other conflicts Pelzer relates over the course of "A Man Called Dave" are with his grandmother, his first wife and a business partner who steals money from their company. Much of the conflict is explained by Pelzer as being a result of his passive nature and his craving for acceptance. In the end, he admits that much of what happens to him is as a result of his inability to trust anyone to accept him as he really is.

Conflict With Social Institutions

Another form of external conflict is with society. In "The Lost Boy," Pelzer experiences conflict with the foster care system, but in "A Man Called Dave" he is released into a hostile world where he must learn to survive. He joins the Air Force hoping to become a fireman and later a pilot, but is instead assigned a position as a cook. Eventually he is able to qualify as an air crew member, but ends up responsible for feeding the troops after the retirement of the SR-71 jet fighter. Throughout his time in the Air Force, Pelzer recounts his constant fear that his past would catch up with him, and he keeps his psychological trauma secret to pass security clearances.

Conflict With Self

While these conflicts are important in making the book as strong as it is, it is his inability to accept that he deserves love and happiness that is at the root of his problems. Long after the physical wound healed, Dave remained a victim of his mother's emotional abuse. As a result, he felt totally worthless and undeserving of anyone's love and respect and defensively pushed away those who might love him. With the help of Marsha Donohue, an assistant editor who helped him with his first book, Dave was able to accept that it is his strength in refusing to give up in the face of adversity that makes him special and deserving of happiness. With her unconditional love and acceptance, he was finally ready to heal.