Cornelian dilemma
A Cornelian dilemma (dilemme cornélien) (also spelt in translation with two "l"'s i.e. "Corneillian") is a dilemma in which someone is obliged to choose between two courses of action either of which will have a detrimental effect on themselves or on someone near to them. In classical drama, this will typically involve the protagonist experiencing an inner conflict that forces them to choose between love and honour or inclination and duty.
The Cornelian dilemma is named after French dramatist Pierre Corneille, in whose play Le Cid (1636) the protagonist, Rodrigue, is torn between two desires: that of the love of Chimène, or avenging his family, who has been wronged by Chimène's father. Rodrigue can either seek revenge and lose the love of his beloved, or renounce revenge and lose his honour: thus embodying the Corneilian Dilemma.
Examples
- In "Latent Image", two injured crew members have chances of survival if treated immediately. The Doctor experiences crippling guilt after being presented with the ethical dilemma of having to make an arbitrary (rather than reasons) choice of which patient to save and to let die, a situation not accounted for in his triage programming.
- In "The Perfect Mate", Kamala the Metamorph learns the meaning of duty from Picard and chooses to fulfill it, despite falling in love with him.
- In Ōkami, Oki chooses either defeating the demonic twin owls or saving Amaterasu.
- In Grand Theft Auto IV, Niko Bellic chooses either killing Roman or Kate McReary.