Conflict between Love and Duty
Love and duty are two forces in life that often collide. People sometimes make choices between the two, leading to personal dilemmas and inner struggles. Both forces can be powerful and difficult to reconcile, yet these challenges are essential for positive growth. There are many examples of love and duty conflicting in literature, from ancient plays to modern films.
The Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles play Antigone epitomizes the struggle between love and duty. In this tragedy, Antigone is torn between her love for her brother Polynices and her sense of duty to bury him, despite being forbidden by her uncle, King Creon. Ignoring the king’s decree, she still buries her brother, as she feels it is her duty as his sister to do so. The conflict leads to her own death.
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers, highlights a conflict between love and duty. When Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, fall in love, they are forced to choose either loyalty to their families or their love for one another. This conflict leads to tragic circumstances and the death of both Romeo and Juliet.
The theme of love versus duty continues in the twentieth century. The 2008 film True Blood, based on the novel series by Charlaine Harris, also illustrates this conflict. In True Blood, humans, who are part of organized religion and believe in duty, discriminate against supernatural creatures, particularly vampires. Duty forces the protagonists to make tough decisions. While the ultimate triumph is love, the journey is often fraught with inner conflict.
While we can find examples of conflict between love and duty throughout literature, this tension can also be experienced in wider society. Society often places an emphasis on duty, and sometimes view love, or emotions in general, as being secondary or even undesirable. Across all aspects of life, individuals can face conflicts between what they feel in their hearts and what they are told they should believe, think and do.
When faced with a conflict between love and duty, those in difficulty should seek support from those they trust. While there is no easy answer to this conflict, it is important to take a long-term perspective. While duty might be the easier option in the short-term, individuals must remember that, in the long-term, love is often the more rewarding path to take. Making a conscious effort to follow one’s heart is often essential for personal growth.
In conclusion, love and duty are two powerful forces in life that can be difficult to reconcile. Rather than trying to pick one or the other, individuals need to take the long-term view and find the courage to follow their hearts whilst still respecting their sense of duty. Love and duty can exist simultaneously in life and by finding a balance between the two, people can achieve personal fulfillment.