Dream vs. Reality

The central conflict of the novel, embodied by Niels Lyhne and his mother Bartholine, who live in a world of poetic dreams and romantic ideals, only to find themselves repeatedly disappointed by the harsh, prosaic realities of life, love, and death.

Niels's romantic ideals, fostered by his mother's tales, clash with the mundane and often disappointing realities of his relationships and artistic ambitions.

Bartholine's poetic dreams clash with the mundane reality of her marriage, leading to her disillusionment.

The central conflict of the chapter: Niels is torn between his mother's heroic fantasies and the mundane reality represented by his father, highlighting the struggle between imagination and the actual world.

Niels's idolization of Edele and his story-world clash with the harsh reality of her death, forcing him to confront the finality of loss.