Human nature: a collection of thoughts, behaviors, ideals and morals, encompassing how humans act and respond to certain situations. It includes positive reactions, such as happiness, creativity, love, and kindness, as well as negative ones, such as hatred, jealousy, and anger. Yet, one aspect of human nature still remains prevalent as one of the most influential concepts in choosing how to behave: revenge. Revenge, a powerful concept and idea, can turn the minds of even the purest, twisting them to form negative preconceptions and cause individuals to perform heinous acts. Working in coalition with other negative aspects such as anger and hatred, revenge can be the root cause of many negative actions or thoughts individual tend to harbor that cannot be explained. Nevertheless, the concept of revenge still remains a mystery to many, including those within the academic setting. Thus, many argue, in an academic setting, the varying sides of the concept, trying to find where the idea itself stems from, how it plays into human nature, and how the thought works in conjunction with other thoughts and ideals. Two such pieces, “Of Revenge” by Francis Bacon and “He Becomes Deeply and Famously Drunk” by Brady Udall, explore and examine the aspects of revenge and how it relates to human nature, but Bacon’s piece helps the reader develop a further understanding of Udall’s piece. While Bacon tries to dissect the concept of revenge itself and its role in human nature, Udall displays the
What is revenge? It can boil a human’s brain and may feel like a scorching sandstorm brewing inside someone’s body. Humiliation, covetousness, dishonesty, and exasperation are all common reasons why the intricate mind of a human being may seek revenge. Of course revenge may satisfy individuals, teach victims the lesson of an eye-for-an-eye, and could very well show others that some people may not back down after being struck in the throat. However, two wrongs do not make a right, a person’s reputation may be permanently stained, and negative emotions will swarm the mind. Throughout “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor’s menacing mind is brimming with dark and diabolical thoughts of revenge. Edgar Allen Poe creates an interest for the
5 In the course of my experiments I convinced myself that among the animals man is the only one that harbors insults and injuries, broods over them, waits till a chance offers, then takes revenge. The passion of revenge is unknown to the higher animals.
Francis Bacon once wrote “A man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.” Bacon is telling us that it really hurts the individual to hold a grudge and seek revenge. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story by the American poet, editor and story writer Edgar Allen Poe. This story is a tale of revenge touching on the darker sides of human nature and at what lengths a man will go to achieve vengeance. We are told by our narrator Montresor that he had been insulted by a wealthy wine connoisseur named Fortunato. Montresor picks him out of the carnival and lures him into his wine cellar with promise of a renown sherry wine, Amontillado. Fortunato is baited by the trap and follows Montresor to the
Revenge is a common concept, and has been incarnated in many different ways throughout history; there’s the concept of an eye for an eye, which implies that the person taking revenge does it by themself, and, on the other end, there’s the concept of karma, which implies that another force will exact revenge for the person who wants it. No matter the idea, however, the concept is always the same: a person who has wronged another gets wronged to the same extent. Revenge can become excessive, though, and can lead to the corruption of a person’s morals and ideals. In his novel The Lord of the Flies, William Golding demonstrates how a person's wish for revenge can easily corrupt them. Golding demonstrates this using the character Jack, who, throughout the book, is motivated by spite and a wish for revenge.
Conflict in The Cask of Amontillado and A Poison Tree also reveals the theme that suppressed anger can sometimes lead to revenge which can result in explosive violence. The man vs. man conflicts in both of the writings are examples of revenge fueled violence.
Revenge is the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.The short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Edgar Allen Poe tells a tale of a man who let his need for revenge consume him. The central idea of the story is revenge. The author’s use of characterization helps us to develop the central idea and allows us to see the change in the characters as the revenge takes place.
The event of Bacon’s Rebellion told by Schweikart showed that the success in colonization was the underlying cause of the rebellion. To start, in Jamestown, there were members elected for the legislative assembly that was divided into an upper house consisting of the governor and council with a lower house made up of burgesses. This participation in politics portrayed the theme of Politics and Power while Schweikart described the background of Bacon’s Rebellion with the white frontiersmen fearing the Indian’s attacks. Nathaniel Bacon Jr. became the governor of Virginia to be involved in the politics by leading the Virginian commoners to rebel for protection against the Indians. Moreover, the Virginians were angered by the fact that Berkeley
However, Bacon also goes into depth about revenge in general but goes farther more by stating that revenge dwells in the past itself. I believe this correct because in numerous occasions in my life when the avenger refuses to forgive someone from this. And because of this refusal, the avenger becomes rather corruptive than pure and equal like justice should and always will be. Therefore, Bacon’s argument is not only correct but it is rather informative on the ideal and action of revenge truly reprimanding against the idea and ideal of taking
The book in Contempt was written by Paul Hawken. Paul Hawken is a famous environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author on the subject of corporate sustainability. In his book, Paul Hawken charges business and industry as, one, the major culprit in causing the deterioration of the biosphere, and, two, the only institution that is large, pervasive and powerful enough, to really lead humankind out of this situation. The book focus on the total of damage to the ecosystem and the risks that it poses for mankind. Environmental risks comes from in the extinction of many different species, and many species have already become extinct due to human. All and every species is a part of the ecosystem and each species play a role in the global system. When
Quintessentially speaking, revenge is a thing that many have sought in response to a tragic event unfolding. Typically, as a result, vengeance is contemplated upon by the victim as a means of retribution, a way of making things right and seeking justice on the behest of the victim, if the law will not grant justice through due process due to corrupt forces stemmed deep within it- corrupt seeds of a corrupt plant. Therefore, revenge become an apparent option for those willing to walk that path [of no return]. However, instances of revenge not being attained in the “clear cut” way it is ordinarily acquired have occurred from time to time throughout history. One of the most prominent examples of unconventional revenge attainment can be found within the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, entailing the revenge path walked by its eponymously named main character, Prince Hamlet. Specifically, his intentful delay in attaining his revenge against his uncle Claudius for his direct role in the death of his father, King Hamlet. This literary conundrum has dumbfounded literary critics for over 400 years and counting- due to the fact that a universally accepted consensus amongst them as well as the general public as to why Hamlet delayed his revenge has not yet been reached.
The relevance and significance of the revenge tragedy is in the way it explores human nature and forces audiences to evaluate ideologies such as revenge and justice. The concept of revenge is accompanied by moral conflict and Shakespeare demonstrates that by acting immorally society is likely to be riddled with corruption. Hamlet seeks to avenge the death of his father but struggles with the ramifications of seeking righteous revenge through an immoral act. The imposition of revenge instills the existential questioning on Hamlet as it contradicts his with his social expectation. His
The single most destructive force in this world is revenge. An immense amount of wars, murders, division, and hatred is due to the evil that is revenge. There are many famous forms of literature that discuss revenge. One is “Of Revenge” by Sir Francis Bacon. In this essay Bacon explains the evil of revenge and why it shouldn’t be taken. Also, down-playing revenge, Robert Kennedy gave a speech called “A Eulogy for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Immediately following the death of Dr. King, Kennedy pleads with the African American community and America to forgive this offense instead of taking revenge for King’s murder. The final piece of media that discusses revenge does it in a different manor. Edgar Allen Poe writes about revenge in a short story called “The Cask of Amontillado.” The plot of this story is that of a man named Montresor desperately seeks revenge upon a colleague and eventually murders him by trapping him in catacombs deep underground. No matter what the circumstances, revenge should never be taken because men become controlled and destroyed by revenge, and revenge creates division among people.
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself”, as is what happens to those who take revenge, buried in their own unforgiveness. Francis Bacon’s idea of revenge attempts to bypass this problem of unforgiveness, with the forgiveness of the perpetrator. But not all revenge can be simply forgiven, which is the case in Hamlet; Francis Bacon also knows about this problem, but describes it in his own words with “The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish”(Francis Bacon 15). Sir Francis Bacon’s idea of revenge relates to Hamlet in how revenge is handled, the repercussions of acting in revenge, and its ability to change a person's thought process.
The theme of Revenge has been utilized in numerous works of art throughout history, including books, plays, movies, etc. Revenge is the result of one’s desire for vengeance, however, revenge is known to be implied under high emotions of anger thus not with reason concluding with a horrible outcome. Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’ is no doubt a play about a tragedy caused by revenge; Prince Hamlet’s retribution for his father, King Hamlet’s murder and Laertes vengeance for his father, Polonius’ murder. The theme of revenge in Hamlet is portrayed through various literary techniques such as foreshadowing and irony.
The poem “A Poison Tree” by William Blake discusses human nature’s true form. Someone who is furious with a friend would obviously want to mend the friendship, so they let their anger simmer. However, someone who is upset with an enemy has no reason to tell him or herself to not be mad because all they are to you is an enemy. Therefore, your hatred eventually takes over and you do something dreadful. This literary composition shows the readers how anger can take a toll in two different directions. The poet writes with such ease, that it makes us readers believe he’s gone through it already.