Conflict: Man vs. Man
August vs. Jacob
August vs. Jacob is the main conflict in the book, Water for Elephants. August is an antagonist and Jacob is a protagonist. Their two, completely separate personalities clash and collide. August can be very friendly and sweet on the surface, but deep down he is a cruel and cold man. August goes on rages and rants of complete insanity due to the fact that he a paranoid schizophrenic. Jacob is the polar opposite of August. Jacob is down to earth, honest, and compassionate. Jacob does not try to pretend to be someone he is not, like August. One example of Jacob and August's personality clash is when Rosie runs out of the circus and goes to go eat a lady's vegetable garden. Jacob realizes that Rosie is a newly bought elephant and is gentle with getting her back to the circus. When Rosie arrives back at the circus, August is ready with the bull hook to beat her and "teach her a lesson". Jacob tries to stop him, but it never works.
Another conflict between August and Jacob is over Marlena, August's wife. Both men love her very much, but for different reasons. Jacob can't help himself falling in love with her because they have the same interest, animals. Jacob knows that Marlena is married, but still can't help but fall for her. August loves her for very different reasons. August is very controlling and he likes being able to control Marlena -- what she does, when she does it, and who she talks to. When Marlena married August he was on his sweet side and married her right away so she couldn't see his cruel and cold side. August knows that if he stops controlling Marlena she will leave him for another man.
Resolution:
This conflict between August and Jacob fighting over Marlena is resolved after August beats up Marlena and Jacob. Marlena leaves the circus to go stay at a nearby hotel. Marlena comes back and tells August she leaving him. This solves a small part of the conflict because August is still very upset and begs Marlena to take him back. During the animal riot, Rosie holds the metal stake and drives it through August's head, killing him. This scene solves Marlena and Jacob's problems because he is dead and now they can start their new life together, without August in the picture.