What does specific performance require of a party in breach of contract?

Specific performance is a legal remedy in contract law that mandates a party to fulfill their obligations as outlined in a contract. This remedy is often considered when monetary damages would be inadequate to resolve the breach, especially in cases involving unique goods, real estate, or irreplaceable items where substituting them would not suffice. By requiring the breaching party to perform according to the contract terms, specific performance aims to uphold the integrity of the contractual agreement and ensure that the non-breaching party receives the exact benefit they expected from the arrangement. This remedy underscores the principle that contracts are binding and that parties have a duty to adhere to their commitments.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principle of specific performance. Instead of focusing on fulfillment of the contract terms, paying damages simply compensates for losses, negotiating a new contract suggests a complete re-evaluation rather than upholding the original agreement, and accepting an alternative remedy indicates a departure from the original terms, which does not align with the intent behind specific performance.