What is the conflict in Saki's "The Open Window?"

Saki's short story, entitled "The Open Window," presents
several conflicts.

The first one is probably man (or the
individual) vs society. Mr. Nuttel has come from the city to rest because of a nervous
disorder. We can infer that this is caused primarily due to city life has he has left
the city to rest in the country. We might venture to infer that man vs self is also
represented in Nuttel's case as he struggles to deal with a specific aspect of his
personal health, which he seems unable to control on his own. Man vs man is also
present, as Mr. Nuttel has come under some sincere criticism from his sister who does
not want him to bury himself alone in the country. A letter of introduction from his
sister has brought him to this home. There is also man vs man as he is set up at the
hands of the clever Vera who creates such a believable story. And while it is not
accurate, for a time he believes he is facing the supernatural—the "ghosts" of Vera's
uncle and cousins (and this would be man vs the
supernatural).

Vera, who is staying with her aunt and and
uncle, and has little other company beyond them and her two cousins (who she probably
has nothing to in common with given their age and gender), is most likely bored. It is
hard to say where exactly this conflict rests: however, Vera's inability to find a more
productive and kinder form of entertainment would probably introduce the conflict of man
vs. self. She uses Mr. Nuttel to amuse herself, and this is man vs
man.

Ironically, though there are several examples of
different kinds of conflict, the mood of the story is not filled with the tension often
found in a story with so much conflict, although these conflicts do introduce a sense of
mystery and fear, as well as excitement—in the reader.