What is the conflict in The Ramayana?

The conflict that presents itself in Valmiki's work is a
rather elemental one.  The questions that drives the work and makes it such a bastion of
Hindu thought is what shall one do and how shall one live.  This becomes the fundamental
conflict that is seen throughout the work.  When Rama must endure banishment because of
the deception of one of his father's wives, there is a conflict, and it is resolved by
accepting what is seen as his duty.  When Sita must struggle with whether or not to let
the mendicant into her home or to give him food, there is a struggle as to what to do
and how she shall live.  When Rama must confront Ravana, there is a conflict as to what
to do and how he should live.  When Rama rescues Sita, and recognizes the doubt of his
people about her virtue, the construction of the pyre upon which she will burn is yet
another instant where the conflict of what to do and how to live is present.  As a
result, when Sita chooses to walk through the fire to demonstrate her purity, but also
to move to a transcendent realm where even her husband can no longer reach her, it is a
statement of what to do and how one shall live in the face of intense and agonizing
conflict.

In each of these situations, the challenge
present is whether or not one will be able to embrace their dharma, or responsibility,
or whether or not one will shirk from such an awesome responsibility.  In this, there is
conflict because Valmiki's work stresses how there is conflict in all of consciousness,
and through following the example of Lord Rama can we, as human beings, find the
strength and courage to alleviate such intense pain caused by the conflict of knowing
what needs to be done, but wishing to not do it.