There was terror in his voice, the same fear she'd heard in the Dominican Republic before they left. They had been watched there; he was followed. They could not talk, of course, though they had whispered to each other in fear at night in the dark bed. . . . He went back to those awful days and long nights, and his wife's screams confirmed his secret fear: they had not gotten away after all; the SIM had come for them at last.
–“Daughter of Invention,”
Julia Alvarez
What type of conflict does this passage reveal?
The passage reveals a conflict between the characters and an external force, specifically the SIM (presumably the Secret Intelligence Service or a similar organization).
The passage reveals a conflict of fear and danger, specifically in the form of being watched and followed.
To determine the type of conflict in this passage, you need to analyze the situation and the emotions expressed by the characters.
In this excerpt from "Daughter of Invention" by Julia Alvarez, there is a sense of fear and tension. The protagonist and their spouse are in a state of terror, and it is mentioned that they had experienced this same fear in the Dominican Republic before they left. The protagonist believes they were being watched and followed, and they mention whispers of fear at night. The passage ends with the wife's screams, which confirms the protagonist's fear that the SIM (presumably some form of authority or threat) has come for them.
Based on this information, the conflict in the passage can be identified as a man-versus-society conflict. The protagonist and their spouse are pitted against an oppressive force or system that is threatening their safety and well-being. This conflict arises from their attempt to escape from the Dominican Republic, implying that there may be political or social reasons behind their fear. The conflict adds tension and drives the narrative forward, creating a sense of urgency and danger for the characters.