One of the best is 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini. It presents numerous moral dilemmas. The main character, Amir, faces the dilemma of whether to stand up for his friend Hassan when he is being bullied, and later he has to deal with the guilt and the choice of whether to atone for his past mistakes. This novel delves deep into human nature and the difficult decisions we face in life.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green also has elements of dilemma. Hazel has to deal with her terminal illness and the decisions she makes about her relationships, especially with Augustus. She has to balance her fear of hurting others with her own desires and the limited time she has.
In many romance novels, the plot of a relationship with a best friend's husband or wife is often used to create intense drama. It can be seen as an ethical dilemma. However, some novels handle it in a way that shows the characters growing and learning from the situation. For example, in some stories, the initial attraction might be a mistake, and through the course of the novel, the characters realize the importance of loyalty and friendship, and they end up finding true love elsewhere in a more ethical way.
It can be both. On one hand, it's an ethical dilemma. In real life, dating your best friend's boyfriend is considered wrong. But in romance novels, it can create a very compelling plot full of drama, like in some novels where the main character falls for her best friend's boyfriend unexpectedly, leading to a complex web of emotions and relationships.
In many dystopian novels like '1984' or 'Brave New World', ethical dilemmas are central. In 'Brave New World', the mass production of humans and the suppression of individuality raise huge ethical questions. The society's acceptance of a pre - determined caste system and the use of drugs to keep the population docile are clearly unethical in our traditional moral framework. It makes us question what it really means to be human and the importance of freedom and self - determination.
One common ethical dilemma in science fiction is the use of artificial intelligence. For example, in movies like 'Ex Machina', the question of whether an AI has rights is raised. If an AI becomes self - aware, should it be treated as a slave or as a sentient being? Another is the ethics of genetic engineering. In stories where humans can modify their genes for enhanced abilities, it creates a divide between the 'enhanced' and the 'natural', leading to issues of discrimination and inequality. Also, time travel often presents ethical problems. Changing the past can have unforeseen consequences for the present and future, so should it be allowed at all?
In 'Blade Runner', the ethical dilemma of hunting down replicants (human - like androids) is presented. They are created for hard labor but develop emotions and self - awareness. Is it right to 'retire' them just because they are not 'natural' humans? Another example is from 'Star Trek' where the Prime Directive states not to interfere with the internal development of alien civilizations. But in some episodes, the crew has to decide whether to break this rule to save lives or prevent greater disasters.
Common moral dilemmas in children stories include loyalty. For example, a character may have to choose between being loyal to a friend who is doing something wrong and doing the right thing. Another is the moral dilemma of taking responsibility. In some stories, a child character breaks something by accident and has to decide whether to own up to it or blame someone else. And then there's the dilemma of kindness, like in stories where a character has to decide whether to be kind to an unkind person or retaliate.
In a fantasy story, forcing lawyers might lead to the ethical dilemma of having to defend the indefensible. For example, if there are magical creatures that are being hunted illegally, but the law in the fantasy land is corrupt and supports the hunters. A forced lawyer would have to either go against their principles and defend the hunters or face the wrath of the legal system. This situation also questions the integrity of the legal system in the fantasy story. It's a complex situation where the lawyer's personal ethics are in conflict with the demands of the forced situation.
The decision to pull the plug on life support is never easy. From a legal perspective, there are often strict procedures to follow. These procedures are in place to protect the rights of the patient and the family. In many places, there must be clear evidence that the patient is in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery or that they have previously expressed their wishes clearly. However, there can be gray areas. For instance, what if a patient has a very low chance of recovery but still shows some signs of brain activity? It becomes a very difficult call. And public opinion also plays a role. Some people may view pulling the plug as a mercy, while others may see it as a form of euthanasia, which is a highly controversial topic.