Describe the theme of duty vs desire in the narrative of Shakuntala.

I think that there is a demonstration of the theme of desire vs.
duty in the story of Shakuntala. On one level, the rejection of the infant Shakuntala by the sage
Vishwamitra is representative of uphoding duty in the face of desire. Vishwamitra is upset at the
violation of his strict code of ascetism in the form of the child and his rejection of her is
done in the upholding of duty in the face of desire. Another instance of the collision between
desire and duty is seen in the initial love of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala. The choice is
fundamental in that after they are married, the King must return to his kingdom, promising to
return for his new bride. If desire wins out in this conflict, he stays with her. Like with her
father, duty is superior and, in the process, he embodies the form of duty while she represents,
yet again, desire. In the interaction with the Rishi Durvasa, the theme of desire vs. duty is
also evident. The Rishi is angered with the apparent neglect he suffered as a guest of the
ashram, a neglect that was precipitated by Shakuntala's daydreaming of her husband. In this
example, desire is embodied by Shakuntala and the element of duty is represented by the Rishi,
who curses her for not understanding the proper extent of duty. When the Rishi lessens his curse
in the understanding of the situation, it is a moment where the theme of desire vs. duty is
sought to be minimized as he must still uphold his duty as placing a curse on her, but tries to
relent it to an extent with his modification of it. Interestingly enough, Shakuntala herself
embodies a sense of duty in that she imposes her own sense of self- exile to the wilderness when
confronted with the reality that her love fails to recognize her. In these examples, the theme of
desire vs. duty is seen in several contexts.