Stefan Zweig was a writer known for his anti-war and passion for international peace, and during World War I he made it his goal to spread these views. In his works, Zweig, who defines himself as a European and a “citizen of the world”, laments the lost values of the “old world” destroyed by the war.

The main character in “Mecburiyet”, the painter Ferdinand, fled to Switzerland during the war to avoid being drafted. One day, when he is called to the consulate for a military qualification assessment, he resists to join the war, which his wife strongly opposes. However, his sense of duty compels him to go to the consulate. Ferdinand is conflicted between his love for his wife and his anti-war sentiments.

However, this conflict that Ferdinand experiences is not only his personal dilemma, but also a reflection of a conflict of conscience experienced by all human beings. He is caught between his loyalty to his country and his human values. This story is a mirror to the difficulties of the world we live in, the moral conflicts and the difficult decisions of life, skillfully constructed and told by Zweig.

“Obligation” invites us to question what is important in this complex world and what values we should hold on to.