Internal conflict affects the protagonist in "The Sniper" through his struggle with the emotional and moral implications of his actions during the war. For example, after he kills his enemy, the sniper experiences a moment of deep reflection and horror when he realizes that he has killed someone just like himself: “He felt a pang of regret” (Pearce). This shows the internal turmoil and the recognition of shared humanity, highlighting the devastating psychological impact of warfare on individuals.
Similarly, internal conflict affects the speaker in "A Poison Tree" through the struggle between his emotions and the destructive consequences of his repressed anger. For example, he describes how harboring his wrath leads to the growth of a toxic relationship: “I watered it in fears, Night & morning with my tears” (Blake). This shows how the speaker's inability to confront his feelings leads to a festering resentment that ultimately causes harm to himself and others.
Both the protagonist in "The Sniper" and the speaker in "A Poison Tree" grapple with the effects of internal strife, revealing how unresolved emotions can lead to devastating actions and outcomes. The internal conflicts each character faces illustrate the broader theme of how personal struggles can manifest in destructive ways, ultimately affecting their lives and the lives of others around them.