Resolving Inner Ethical Conflicts: An Analysis of How Characters Overcome Moral Dilemmas in George Saunders’s Short Stories

Abstract

Abstract
Moral dilemmas occur when an individual is confronted with competing ethical obligations, where every available choice carries both moral justification and unavoidable moral loss. This article focuses on a specific research question derived from literary analysis: How do the main characters in George Saunders's short stories overcome their moral dilemmas? Using a descriptive qualitative research design, this study examines three selected short stories from the collection Tenth of December (2013): "Victory Lap," "The Semplica Girl Diaries," and "Tenth of December". The analysis applies Gross's (2010) model of moral dilemma resolution alongside Perry's (2014) framework of ethical conflict. The findings demonstrate that the characters—Kyle, the Father, and Don Eber—resolve their internal ethical conflicts through a distinct six-stage process: awareness of conflict, emotional struggle, weighing options and consequences, choosing moral principles over self-interest, taking responsibility, and undergoing personal transformation. Saunders portrays moral resolution not as a simple choice between right and wrong, but as an emotionally demanding process where true ethical growth emerges through sacrifice, relational care, and compassionate action.

Keywords: Moral Dilemma Resolution, George Saunders, Ethical Choice, Short Stories, Literary Analysis