A duty is a responsibility in which a person must follow, but when the order given goes against a person’s beliefs, conflict is inevitable. In Kate Grenville’s historical novel ‘The Lieutenant’ the protagonist, Daniel Rooke is entangled between his obligation to the British Empire and his own beliefs. During his time with the marines, Rooke quickly found out that the Military services demanded complete loyalty and obedience. This loyalty is tested when Rooke is caught between the conflict between his people and the aboriginals. However it is only through bonding with the Lieutenant Gardiner and the Cadigal people that, Rooke is able to see that fulfilling one’s personal beliefs is more important than those that are imposed by others.
Initially whilst in the marines, Rooke’s sense and understanding of duty was absent. “It was easy to raise his hand and swear that he would serve and obey. It was nothing but words.” However, Rooke’s perspective drastically changes when he witnesses the hanging of a man who had
…show more content…
Rooke’s relationship with the Cadigal people, specifically Tagaran is the most significant. It was through his interaction with Tagaran that Rooke discovered that they really aren’t so different. The friendship formed with Tagaran had “ shown him the man he could be.” Consequently though due to being part the machine the threat of losing his friendship with Cadigal people was possible. Rooke knew that to fully gain their trust he must cut ties with his duty of obligation to the empire, because if “ you were a part of it, you were a part of its wrong.”. Rooke realises that resolving the conflict between his people and the natives was going vital if he was going to be the person he wanted to become. Tagaran gave Rooke the courage to stand up to the empire in order to protect the bond he had with cadigal people. ( Talk about how becoming his true self was