Revenge!
I love a good tale of revenge.
More specifically, I love that citrus sweetness which flows through a bloodless sneer of angry satisfaction. It's a feeling that one waits for years to experience because one has no other choice: The sudden release of old unstable frustrations, like kicking a stick of dynamite, wet with glycerine sweat.
Christian doctrine, Buddhist teachings and simple observation all tell us that escalation of hostility leads invariably to further destruction. To enjoy the ruin of an enemy is wrong, we are told, which is all the more frustrating. This frustration serves to tempt us even further, increasing our enjoyment at such ruin by adding a tinge of guilty pleasure to the mix. To make things worse, an antagonist may be unjustly punished, serving as the focal point for all of one's pent up anger, and not simply that which is related to the initial slight.
Perhaps this is precisely why I enjoy it so much: Such a scapegoat can lead to the illusion of control over one's circumstances, however brief. The enemy we can punch in the face is so much better than the one we cannot directly touch, is it not? Who has not felt the one sided emotional turmoil brought on by such nebulous forces as poverty, repressed passion or idiotic foreign policy?
In the film 28 Days Later, a group of characters spend half of the film trying to survive a hoard of zombies, only to lose a friend to chance circumstances. When, near the end of the film, they are confronted with a tangeable (and punchable) enemy, the main character is allowed to visit the full weight of his rage upon a deserving opponent. Not only does he vent his frustration with this enemy but also with his entire situation.
Another crucial ingredient in this delicious equation is that of self-righteousness: The absolute certainty that one is on the side of angels as one commits unspeakable acts, and hence that one can ultimately be forgiven for such extreme measures. The Count of Monte Christo becomes an agent of providence, thus proving that God and all the universe are on his side.
This brings us back to why I enjoy these brutal tales: In the black and white context of a revenge story, it is possible be certain of such a thing. Reality rarely if ever affords us such a guarantee. I enjoy revenge stories for the brief taste of self-reighteous anger, and the release which they offer from the frustration of reality, where one never knows if one is right or wrong.
Listed below are a few of my favorite revenge stories for your perusal.
Traditional Novel:
Graphic Novel:
Film:
More specifically, I love that citrus sweetness which flows through a bloodless sneer of angry satisfaction. It's a feeling that one waits for years to experience because one has no other choice: The sudden release of old unstable frustrations, like kicking a stick of dynamite, wet with glycerine sweat.
Christian doctrine, Buddhist teachings and simple observation all tell us that escalation of hostility leads invariably to further destruction. To enjoy the ruin of an enemy is wrong, we are told, which is all the more frustrating. This frustration serves to tempt us even further, increasing our enjoyment at such ruin by adding a tinge of guilty pleasure to the mix. To make things worse, an antagonist may be unjustly punished, serving as the focal point for all of one's pent up anger, and not simply that which is related to the initial slight.
Perhaps this is precisely why I enjoy it so much: Such a scapegoat can lead to the illusion of control over one's circumstances, however brief. The enemy we can punch in the face is so much better than the one we cannot directly touch, is it not? Who has not felt the one sided emotional turmoil brought on by such nebulous forces as poverty, repressed passion or idiotic foreign policy?
In the film 28 Days Later, a group of characters spend half of the film trying to survive a hoard of zombies, only to lose a friend to chance circumstances. When, near the end of the film, they are confronted with a tangeable (and punchable) enemy, the main character is allowed to visit the full weight of his rage upon a deserving opponent. Not only does he vent his frustration with this enemy but also with his entire situation.
Another crucial ingredient in this delicious equation is that of self-righteousness: The absolute certainty that one is on the side of angels as one commits unspeakable acts, and hence that one can ultimately be forgiven for such extreme measures. The Count of Monte Christo becomes an agent of providence, thus proving that God and all the universe are on his side.
This brings us back to why I enjoy these brutal tales: In the black and white context of a revenge story, it is possible be certain of such a thing. Reality rarely if ever affords us such a guarantee. I enjoy revenge stories for the brief taste of self-reighteous anger, and the release which they offer from the frustration of reality, where one never knows if one is right or wrong.
Listed below are a few of my favorite revenge stories for your perusal.
Traditional Novel:
- 'The Count of Monte Christo', by Alexandre Dumas
- 'The White Plague', by Frank Herbert
Graphic Novel:
- 'The Crow', by James O'Barr
- 'V for Vendetta' (NOT the film.), by Alan Moore
Film:
- '28 Days Later', Written by Alex Garland and Directed by Danny Boyle
- 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan', Written by Harve Bennett and Directed by Nicholas Meyer
posted by Q. at 10:18:00 AM
5 Comments:
Wow, I need to read more.
I tried to think of some of my favorite written stories that pertained strictly to revenge, but I couldn't think of any. Well, maybe Dune, but I it's not strictly revenge..
If you want a great revenge movie I'd recommend Straw Dogs, Last House on the Left, or a Kurusawa classic: The Bad Sleep Well. Sleuth is also a great revenge movie.
Sleuth is awesome. I have it on DVD. I'll definitely check out the others.
Tales of revenge abound in real life too, you know. The only problem is that they tend to lack the sense of righteousness you mentioned.
Still, there may be some situations where you can find it. Why, take a recent DARPA experiment as an example!
http://www.darpa.mil/dso/thrust/biosci/psp.htm
DARPA is running "super-soldier" research involving drugs.
Just a few human experiments and...
...hmmm, a revenge story waiting to happen? In fiction, even Captain America had issues...
No? How about PAL, the computer-based human assistant that learns?
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/programs/pal/index.htm
HAL, anyone?
I do so enjoy browsing DARPA grants.
-M
P.S. For a little light-hearted revenge and the opportunity for some extra cash, here's one of my favorite sights on suing telemarketers. It works. I've made money.
http://www.smallclaim.info/
How about Tin Men as the funniest revenge movie?
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