I think of conflict as resistance. Somebody wants to change something. If that somebody is the protag, then we have a change protag if there is resistance to his change (from society, weather, fate, other characters, etc.). If the protag is providing resistance to that change, then it is a steadfast protag. A portag can provide his own resistance (that is, he can be conflicted internally) such as “should I spend time with my kid or get this clothes dryer fixed?” when he really wants to do both.
1 Like