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Essay Samples on Revenge

Revenge, at its core, is the act of seeking retaliation for a perceived injustice or harm. It stems from a primal human instinct to restore balance and redress wrongs. The desire for revenge often emerges from feelings of anger, betrayal, or a sense of injustice, compelling individuals to take matters into their own hands.

In the realm of literature and mythology, revenge has been a recurring theme, inspiring some of the most memorable characters and stories. From Shakespeare’s Hamlet seeking vengeance for his father’s murder to Alexandre Dumas’ iconic Count of Monte Cristo plotting his elaborate revenge scheme, these tales exemplify the enduring fascination with the intricate workings of retribution.

How to Write an Essay on Revenge

When crafting an essay on revenge, it is essential to explore the various dimensions and consequences of this primal urge. You may examine the psychological toll revenge takes on individuals, the ethical considerations surrounding acts of revenge, or the societal impact of perpetuating cycles of violence in revenge essay example.

Furthermore, consider exploring the ways in which revenge has been depicted in different cultural contexts. Analyze the rituals and codes of honor in ancient civilizations, such as the concept of an eye for an eye in Hammurabi’s Code, or the vendettas of medieval Europe. Additionally, examine how revenge is portrayed in contemporary media, including films, television series, and literature, and the influence it has on popular culture.

To make your revenge essay compelling and well-rounded, draw from a variety of disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, philosophy, and literature. Incorporate relevant theories and concepts, such as Freud’s concept of the “repetition compulsion” or Nietzsche’s exploration of the will to power.

Explore our collection of meticulously curated revenge essays, which encompass a wide range of perspectives, historical analyses, and literary interpretations.

The Power of Revenge, a Virtuous, Ethical and Principled Man I

Sanctimonious hypocrisy, causing one to commit an even greater wrong than the one they seek vengeance for, consumes them with the desire for revenge. Caused by the desire to seek vengeance and punish someone who has caused internal or external pain to one or someone...

• Ethical Dilemma

Form of Abuse, Bully or Revenge or Domestic Violence

The essence of the word “pornography” is obtained from the Greek language, i.e. “Porne and graphos”. The word “porne” comes from the meanings, a captive who is a female or a harlot or a prostitute. While the word “graphos” is “writing with regard to” or...

• Domestic Violence

Motivation Of People Seeking For Revenge

People tend to become extremely motivated in the pursuit of seeking out revenge on others for various reasons. From something mediocre to an extreme. Revenge is the forceful desire to inflict hurt or harm to another for a wrong suffered at their hands or just...

The Powers Of Revenge And Forgiveness

The novel A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, is a memoir about himself, sharing his harrowing experience as a child growing up and his struggle for survival in Sierra Leone. The unthinkable happened in his village, Mattru Jong. The civil war occurred out of...

• A Long Way Gone

Representation of the Theme of Revenge Through the Characters in Beowulf

In the epic poem Beowulf, there is one prominent way that virtually every major character can be compared: the actions that they take against one another are caused by a desire for revenge due to events in the past. Each of the three primary monsters...

• Beowulf Hero

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Revenge and Injustice in King Lear's Society

In William Shakespeare's renowned tragedy, King Lear, the theme of revenge against society is explored through the character of Edmund. As the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, Edmund is often belittled and mistreated due to his birth. This mistreatment fuels his bitterness towards...

Exploration of the Theme of Revenge in Shakeapeare's Play Hamlet

Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, is renowned for its compelling exploration of the theme of revenge. Through the character of Hamlet himself, Shakespeare delves into the complex and multifaceted nature of revenge, showcasing its psychological and moral implications. This essay examines how Shakespeare skillfully portrays revenge in...

• Hamlet Revenge

The Destructive Nature of Revenge in Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare delves into the theme of revenge and its impact on the characters, particularly Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff. The story shows how revenge serves as a powerful motivator that ultimately leads to tragic consequences. This essay aims to explore...

• William Shakespeare

Medea Occur Without Just Explanation

Many actions in Euripides’ Medea. The psychology behind these actions appear unpredictable, but still control key parts of the play. The play begins with a heartbroken Medea, angry and depressed because her husband, Jason, has left her for a new bride. However, the rage Medea...

Best topics on Revenge

1. The Power of Revenge, a Virtuous, Ethical and Principled Man I

2. Form of Abuse, Bully or Revenge or Domestic Violence

3. Motivation Of People Seeking For Revenge

4. The Powers Of Revenge And Forgiveness

5. Representation of the Theme of Revenge Through the Characters in Beowulf

6. Revenge and Injustice in King Lear’s Society

7. Exploration of the Theme of Revenge in Shakeapeare’s Play Hamlet

8. The Destructive Nature of Revenge in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

9. Medea Occur Without Just Explanation

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Revenge Theme in Literature: Examples & Quotes

Revenge provides relief. Characters in many literary stories believe in this idea. Convinced that they were wronged, they are in the constant pursuit of revenge. But is it really the only way for them to find peace?

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This article by Custom-Writing.org is going to answer this and other questions related to the revenge theme. Together we will dig deeper into:

• the meaning of revenge;
• its characteristics as a literary theme.

And, of course, there will be plenty of examples.

⚔️ Revenge Theme: Meaning

• Wuthering Heights
• Frankenstein

🔍 References

Revenge is a response to injustice. To be more precise, it is both a desire and an action of a person who wants to react to a wrong done by the offender. Seeking revenge is a natural impulse of the wounded.

Usually, people want to do it in order to get satisfaction. However, the result will be temporary. Psychologists believe that only forgiveness can provide freedom and the desired peace. Nevertheless, revenge remains an enduring concept in many cultures.

In the English language, various terms denote revenge as well as other closely related notions. We are going to deal with them in the following sections.

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Avenge vs Revenge

The major difference between “to avenge” and “to revenge” lies in the inflicted party:

• If one wants to pay back for someone who was offended, we use “to avenge .”
• If a person wants to pay back for themselves, we use “to revenge.”

Vengeance vs Revenge

The main difference between vengeance and revenge is that revenge refers to personal action, while vengeance is connected with abstract concepts such as morality.

• When a person seeks revenge , they want to punish the transgressor.
• When they seek vengeance , they want to achieve justice or to protect their honor.

Revenge vs Justice

The difference between revenge and justice is that justice as a concept is logical and rational, while an act of revenge is selfish and emotional.

Digging deeper, we can say that justice is fair, while revenge isn’t. Usually, when people confuse these two notions, they think that revenge will help them seek justice. However, justice isn’t about equality, and it’s not about experiencing joy because of retaliation. Instead, it’s about acting according to the norms set by the majority.

According to American Psychological Association, revenge is often associated with the concept of emotional catharsis . It means that a person can get an enormous emotional burst after the act of vengeance. It evokes pleasure when a person sees the offender’s suffering. However, this satisfaction is fleeting, and those who take revenge end up feeling even worse.

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Revenge is mainly associated with anger, hatred, and grief. That’s why the theme of revenge is so prevalent in art and literature. It allows authors to show the feelings people experience before, during, and after an act of vengeance. Most of the works demonstrate that revenge isn’t worth spending time and effort because it doesn’t provide relief.

🎭 Revenge in Literature: History & Characteristics

The revenge theme has always been popular, and it goes back to ancient times. It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t know the story about brothers Cain and Abel described in the Bible. Also, the topic of revenge was explored in epic poems such as The Iliad and Beowulf . This theme became especially popular in the form of revenge tragedy during the Renaissance.

Revenge Tragedy: Definition

A revenge tragedy is a type of dramatic writing in which a person tries to pay back for the moral or physical harm done to their loved ones. Usually, the protagonists seek revenge because they believe in retributive justice —a concept which, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, is based on the principle “an eye for an eye.”

Revenge tragedies date back to the times of Ancient Rome. The theme of revenge was one of the central issues in the works of a famous Stoic philosopher and politician, Seneca. He described shocking actions, such as incest, violent murders, or cannibalism. In plays such as Oedipus and Agamemnon , revenge is the central theme. So, it’s possible to say that Seneca invented the notion of a revenge tragedy.

But why was revenge tragedy so popular during the Renaissance? The matter is that Senecan tragedies were of significant interest to the writers of that time because of all the terrific plot twists. Jacobean audiences especially adored the bloody scenes. Roman plays were translated into English, and they served as an example for English playwrights.  

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William Shakespeare, an outstanding representative of Elizabethan drama, used many Senecan motifs in his plays. However, the major difference between the approaches of these two playwrights is the description of bloodshed. In Senecan tragedies, all the bloody scenes occurred offstage, while in Shakespearean plays, they happened onstage. That’s why the audiences who came to Shakespeare’s theater always knew they’d get to see a thrilling spectacle.

Revenge Tragedy Characteristics

We have already explained the historical side of revenge tragedies. Now, let’s deal with their core aspects. Here are the elements that characterize this kind of writing:

Revenge Theme’s Elements

Just like revenge itself, the theme of revenge is a complicated thing. Its components include specific character motivations and consequences of revenge. Want to learn more about these aspects? Read the following sections.

Plotting Revenge

Taking revenge is usually a lengthy process. An avenger needs to plan everything carefully to carry out their vengeance in the most satisfying way. The proverb “revenge is a dish best served cold” sums up the whole process perfectly.

Cycle of Revenge

The revenge cycle is a continuous repetition of a person’s attempts to avenge themselves or their loved ones. An avenger focuses on the idea of paying back and continuously tries to realize it. Usually, this vicious circle can be broken only with the help of forgiveness.

The Price of Revenge

Avengers tend to pay a high price for their vindictive actions. Revenge is a morally dubious act that causes pangs of consciousness. A person may lose their humanity in the process, and there is no guarantee that they will feel satisfaction.

📚 Examples of Revenge in Literature

It’s time to get to the practical part of our investigation. We have gathered for you some excellent examples of the vengeance theme from famous literary works. Ready to read them? Let’s start!

Revenge in Hamlet

Hamlet is considered to be a revenge tragedy. But is it really? Let’s find it out together.

It’s worth mentioning that the revenge theme is prominent throughout the whole story. There are 3 revenge plots:

• Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s murder. He blames his uncle, King Claudius. The story of Hamlet and his revenge plan is the central one.
• Fortinbras is targeted at fighting against Denmark. The reason is that King Hamlet took his father’s life and his land.
• Laertes intends to kill Hamlet, considering him guilty of his father’s and sister’s deaths.

So, what is the problem with the main character and his retaliation? It roots in his indecisiveness. Even his father’s death didn’t instigate him to act. Hamlet works on his vengeance plan very carefully throughout the whole play. In the end, his delay in action caused many unnecessary deaths: Gertrude’s, Laertes’s, Polonius’s, and Ophelia’s.

Although hesitation is a common phenomenon in Elizabethan revenge tragedies, Hamlet is unique because the main character’s revenge ends up almost as an accident. This way, one of the most prominent revenge tragedy elements becomes subverted. Besides, the whole story is morally ambiguous . You can’t point out who is right and who is wrong or pick the side. It’s not typical for revenge tragedies because usually, you can do both. That’s why this play is so extraordinary.

Still, Hamlet can be called a revenge tragedy because the rest of the elements are there.

• Does it have a vengeful ghost? Sure, it’s a ghost of Hamlet’s father who induces him to punish King Claudius.
• Are there mad and bloody scenes? They can be found there as well. In fact, Hamlet acts mad throughout the whole play, starting after his encounter with the ghost. One of the most notable examples is Hamlet’s absurd conversation with Polonius in act 2, scene 2. Moreover, the final scene can be called bloody as almost everyone in the court of Denmark is killed.
• Is there a play within a play? It’s included: it is The Murder of Gonzago .

As you can see, Hamlet is an ambiguous story about revenge that subverts some of the traditional elements. You can learn more about it from our Hamlet study guide .

Revenge in Hamlet Quotes

Below you will find the best revenge quotes from Hamlet . They reflect the inner hesitations and intentions of Hamlet and Laertes.

O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her working all his visage wann’d, Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit—and all for nothing! ( Hamlet , act 2, scene 2)

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, And now I’ll do ‘t. [He draws his sword.]       And so he goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. ( Hamlet , act 3, scene 3)

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with. To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father. ( Hamlet , act 4, scene 5)

Hamlet Revenge Essay Topics

Need to write an essay on the revenge theme in Hamlet? Check out these topics:

• Compare and contrast Hamlet’s and Laertes’s attitudes towards revenge .
• Would it be better if Hamlet killed Claudius right away ?
• The reasons behind Hamlet’s delay of his revenge.
• Vengeance and manipulation in Hamlet by Shakespeare.
• “To be, or not to be” soliloquy : how does it relate to Hamlet’s revenge?
• How do comedic elements subvert the revenge plot in Hamlet ?
• The moral ambiguity of vengeance in Hamlet .
• Fortinbras as an avenger.
• Why does the ghost of King Hamlet demand revenge?
• Compare and contrast the revenge plots in Hamlet and The Spanish Tragedy .

Wuthering Heights Revenge

The themes of love and revenge are intertwined in Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights . Heathcliff wanted to take revenge on Edgar Linton and Hindley Earnshaw because they separated him from Catherine Earnshaw, his true love. The problem is that this desire for vengeance blinded him and made him cruel. Having stuck in a cycle of revenge, he ruined the lives of innocent people.

In the beginning, Heathcliff directed his anger at Edgar and Hindley , who mocked him and deprived him of his beloved. The fact that he wanted to avenge himself is understandable. However, he chose the wrong method to get satisfaction: Heathcliff made their relatives suffer.

• He abused Isabella to get revenge on her brother Edgar.
• He treated Hindley’s son Hareton as a servant. He taught him vulgarities, paying no attention to his education. As a result, Hareton could only read his name.

Heathcliff believed only in long-term vengeance; that’s why he intended to make his offenders suffer for the rest of their lives. He fulfilled his promise, but still, it didn’t bring him the desired satisfaction.

As you can see, this novel is full of fascinating twists. Want to learn more? Check out our Wuthering Heights summary .

Wuthering Heights Revenge Quotes

In this section, we have gathered some quotes that reveal the revenge theme in the novel. Look through them to find out about the feelings and emotions of the protagonists.

I’m trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do! ( Wuthering Heights , chapter 7)

He had the hypocrisy to represent a mourner: and previous to following with Hareton, he lifted the unfortunate child on to the table and muttered, with peculiar gusto, “Now, my bonny lad, you are mine! And we’ll see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it!” ( Wuthering Heights , chapter 17)

I meditated this plan—just to have one glimpse of your face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure; afterwards settle my score with Hindley. ( Wuthering Heights , chapter 10)

Revenge in Wuthering Heights Essay Topics

Write an excellent essay on Wuthering Heights with these topics:

• Revenge as a vicious cycle in Wuthering Heights .
• Compare and contrast Heathcliff’s and Hindley’s revenge.
• What made Heathcliff give up on his revenge?
• How does vengeance contribute to Heathcliff’s self-destructive behavior?
• The role of social inequality in Heathcliff’s vengeance.
• Does Heathcliff redeem himself after having his revenge on Hindley and Edgar?
• Love and vengeance in Wuthering Heights .
• Isabella Linton as a victim of Heathcliff’s vengeance.
• Why did Heathcliff choose Hareton as the target of his revenge?
• The long-term effects of Hindley’s revenge in Wuthering Heights

Revenge in Frankenstein

The revenge theme plays a significant role in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . Both protagonists want to pay back to each other. However, the reasons for their hate are different:

• Victor Frankenstein wants to kill the monster because the latter murdered his family.
• In contrast, the Creature’s revenge is rooted in his loneliness.

At the beginning of her novel, Shelley shows Frankenstein as an innocent young man with benevolent intentions. Unfortunately, his desire to become a pioneer in science ruined him in the end.

We can see that in this novel, a scientist assumed the role of a creator. Here, the author alludes to the Bible. Victor wanted to act as God, but when he brought his creature to life, it led to moral anarchy. Unlike God and his creation— Adam, Victor didn’t accept the Creature, considering him demonic. Such an attitude became the source of the monster’s desire to revenge. He wanted to have vengeance because he was neglected and abandoned. Neither his creator nor society accepted him.

In this gothic novel, the concept of revenge is depicted in an unusual way. It’s connected with one’s ego and ambitions, as well as social acceptance. If you want to learn more, feel free to read our article on themes in Frankenstein .

Frankenstein Revenge Quotes

Want to see the revenge theme in Frankenstein in action? This section contains some of the quotes that represent this topic in the novel.

“Devil,” I exclaimed, “do you dare approach me? And do you not fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head?” ( Frankenstein, chapter 10)

If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends. ( Frankenstein, chapter 10)

The mildness of my nature had fled, and all within me was turned to gall and bitterness. The nearer I approached to your habitation, the more deeply did I feel the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart. Snow fell, and the waters were hardened; but I rested not. ( Frankenstein, chapter 16)

Frankenstein Revenge Essay Topics

Explore the revenge theme in Mary Shelley’s novel with the following essay ideas:

• How does revenge create monstrosity in Frankenstein ?
• Compare and contrast Frankenstein’s and the Creature’s revenge.
• Was the Creature’s revenge aimed at Frankenstein or humanity as a whole?
• Explore the cycle of revenge in Frankenstein .
• Does the Creature succeed in getting his revenge on Frankenstein?
• How did prejudice contribute to the monster’s desire for vengeance?
• How does revenge turn into the only purpose of Frankenstein’s life?
• Vengeance vs. forgiveness in the Creature’s attitude towards Frankenstein.
• Why did the Creature choose to direct his revenge on Frankenstein’s family ?
• Is Victor’s love for his family the only reason for his vengeance?

In conclusion, we want to note that revenge is a somewhat controversial concept. You may think it will bring you consolation, but the reality is far from this. This simple truth can be found in the literary works we’ve analyzed in this article and many other stories.

We hope that you find our article interesting and useful. Don’t forget to share it with your friends! We would really appreciate it.

❓ Revenge Theme FAQs

This quote from chapter 16 reveals the revenge theme: “My feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery.”

Both Victor and the Creature are driven by the desire for revenge. Frankenstein lost not only his relatives but also the opportunity to get appreciation for his creation. The monster, in turn, turned to revenge because of loneliness and rejection.

Hamlet teaches us that seeking justice through revenge doesn’t always bring desired results. In the tragedy, it led to many unnecessary deaths. The play also shows that revenge is a morally ambiguous action.

One of the novel’s messages is that social inequality can lead to personal destruction. The main character couldn’t marry his beloved because of his low social status. As a result, he turned into a vindictive person and ruined the lives of those around him.

The monster blamed his creator for not accepting him. He couldn’t understand the reason for his existence. He felt lonely and rejected. The message of the story is that creators are always responsible for their creations.  

• The Power of Forgiveness: Why Revenge Doesn’t Work: Psychology Today
• The Complicated Psychology of Revenge: Association for Psychological Science
• The Hidden Upsides of Revenge: BBC
• Revenge Tragedy: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Hamlet and Revenge: British Library
• The Cycle of Revenge Can Be Broken: The New York Times
• What Do Restorative Justice and Revenge Have in Common?: EMU
• The Effects of Past Lives on Males in Wuthering Heights: A Comparative Analysis of Heathcliff and Hareton: Research Gate
• Revenge Stories of Modern Life: JSTOR
• Isolation and Revenge: Where Victor Frankenstein Went Wrong: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Writing a Revenge Essay: Hamlet, Frankenstein, and Other Examples

As Alfred Hitchcock once claimed: “Revenge is sweet and not fattening.”

Would you agree with this statement?

We bet you are striving to start philosophical reasoning in your revenge essay. Well, let us give you the first hint!

One can find the best revenge stories in literature. Thus, it will be your wisest decision to start the essay on revenge with a literary example.

Check out our ideas below!

• ✍️ How to Write a Revenge Essay
• 🤴 Hamlet Essay Prompts
• 👩‍❤️‍👨 Wuthering Heights Essay Prompts
• 🧟 Frankenstein Essay Prompts
• 📝 Revenge Essay Samples
• ⚔️ 35 Topics for a Revenge Essay

✍️ How to Write a Good Revenge Essay? 5 Rules

You may be starting to wonder how to write a revenge essay if you’ve never done it before. Obviously, before getting down to writing, you have to get some essential key points.

We suggest you go through five good rules of creating an excellent essay on revenge.

Rule #1 No Condemnation in an Essay on Revenge

Revenge essays shouldn’t turn into sermons!

Instead of making judgments about a character’s behavior and actions, try to choose a more intelligent approach:

• Explore the background of characters thoroughly: those are most likely to give you the answers;
• Analyze the underlying reasons for the particular character’s deeds;
• Try to interpret the character’s behavior from a psychological perspective.

Rule #2 Less Description – More Analysis

Retelling is excellent when you are delivering the story to your friends. It works the other way round with a revenge essay.

• You should analyze the very depth of revenge with the help of the example;
• Do it by searching for all possible methods and techniques the author uses to describe revenge in literature.

Rule #3 Avoid Subjunctive Mood in Your Revenge Essay

There’s no sense in discussing how things would have turned out should a character acted differently. The revenge has already been implemented. We have no power to change anything.

• The best option is to perform the analysis based on the literary source data;
• Don’t use the subjunctive mood in topics about revenge. Just don’t.

Rule #4 Think Big – Revenge Is a Piece of a Larger Puzzle

In a literary work, there cannot be any accidents. Everything is intertwined and interrelated. This statement is especially true when it comes to a story with the revenge leitmotiv.

• Mind that the act of vengeance can’t be floating in the air. It indeed has the context. Look for it carefully.
• Insert this context into your essay on revenge.

Rule #5 Be Careful with the Personal Opinion

It’s easy to start making judgments about the events and characters’ behavior when writing a revenge essay. But you have to control yourself.

• Avoid expressing the biased and subjective assessment if the essay format doesn’t imply that;
• Try to create a perfect balance of analysis and expressing attitudes towards the events in a story.

🤴 Revenge in Literature: How to Write a Hamlet Revenge Essay

Perhaps, one of the best revenge stories in literature is Hamlet which unwinds very dark parts of a human soul. Vengeance is a propulsive force in Shakespearean drama. So, let’s see how it moves things in the play.

The Theme of Revenge in Hamlet

In ‘ The Tragedy of Hamlet ,’ revenge at times seems to become the lead character. Almost everyone tries to take revenge on others, using various forms. Avengers, successful and not, are convinced in the righteousness of their behavior. Except for Hamlet.

Let’s have a closer look at three extensive revenge themes in the play.

Revenge in Hamlet Topic Ideas

Here are the revenge essay topics you can develop from these three themes.

• Why was Hamlet constantly delaying the implementation of retribution? Elaborate on the reasons for Hamlet’s lengthy deliberations. Was he born and meant for that? Does the concept of vengeance fit his nature?
• Did Hamlet love Ophelia, or was she a tool for revenge? Analyze the story of their relationships, how Hamlet eventually rejects Ophelia. Try to find answers in his attitude to his mother. Perhaps, he despises and blames all women?
• What drove Hamlet – his pride, madness, fairness? Or something else? Eventually, he accomplishes what the Ghost wanted from him. Why? Try to dive deeper into Hamlet’s character and attitude towards the society he lives in.
• Ponder over the incestuous relations between Laertes and Ophelia. Was Laertes’ affection for his sister the reason he tried to prevent her relations with Hamlet? Perhaps, that is why he decided to take revenge?
• Compare the passionate revenge of Laertes and the passive one of Hamlet: what do the young men have in common? What makes them different? Elaborate on their attitude to women: Hamlet to Gertrude and Laertes to Ophelia.
• Why was Laertes calling himself a bastard? And was he, indeed? Try to prove his words were nothing more but a grounding to his revenge on Hamlet.
• Between Heaven and Hell. Why do you think the Ghost chose Hamlet to implement the revenge? Could the spirit of the murdered King know what consequences it would bring?
• The revenge is a matter of males. Elaborate on possible reasons why the Ghost didn’t want Gertrude to suffer from Hamlet’s revenge? Was she innocent?
• Were there the reasons for Hamlet not to believe the Ghost? Why was it so necessary to find proof for the evil deeds performed by Claudius? Try to build up a consistent connection between the will of the Ghost and Hamlet’s behavior.

Hamlet Quotes about Revenge

Nothing can be more illustrative than direct quotations about revenge.

We offer you this set of the most expressive Hamlet quotes.

• “For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ.” Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
• “I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father.” Laertes, Act 4, Scene 5
• “No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize; Revenge should have no bounds.” King Claudius, At 4, Scene 7

Here you can find more Hamlet quotes about revenge, and not only.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Revenge in Literature: How to Write a Wuthering Heights Revenge Essay

Another great story about the intricacies of life and revenge is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It introduces complicated and intertwined life stories where you can find a lot about love and revenge.

The story is rich in philosophical and social issues . Thus, a revenge essay based on Wuthering Heights is sure to turn out very fruitful.

Wuthering Heights Theme of Revenge

Revenge, bitter and unsatisfying, pierce the whole novel. Heathcliff performs as the main avenger, but there is more.

Wuthering Heights Revenge Topic Ideas

This is how you can elaborate on the theme of revenge in Wuthering Heights.

• Are all children innocent? Why did they turn out to be vengeful adults? Traceback to the roots of mutual hatred between two boys: what was the start of it? Why was Hindley jealous of Heathcliff? Did Hindley have good ground for despising Heathcliff?
• What is the role of Mr. Earnshaw in the development of toxic relationships between Heathcliff and his family members? Was his bringing Heathcliff to the house a subconscious desire to avenge his children or prove something to them?
• Extreme anger sometimes happens to be the concealed liking, especially between men. Is it possible that Hindley had a latent affection for Heathcliff? If so, was his behavior justified a bit?
• Were the children (Hareton, Cathy, Linton) to suffer from Heathcliff’s vengeance? Do you think they are responsible for what their parents have done? Why didn’t Heathcliff spare them from suffering?
• Why did Catherine choose Edgar Linton to become her husband? Was it ever possible for Heathcliff to let them live? Catherine provoked Heathcliff on these feelings; was she aware of the potential consequences?
• What are the reasons for Heathcliff’s ill-treatment of Isabella? Was she a proper target for his outrageous revenge? Why didn’t she try to defend herself thoroughly from the abuse? Perhaps, she accepted herself as a sacrifice?
• What does the cycling structure of the novel mean? Elaborate on the reasons for such an outcome. Why was the society Heathcliff lived in so ill-fated? Do the participants deserve what they got?
• Think about the existential cycle of Heathcliff. Perhaps, his soul was cursed from the very beginning? Was he destined to make a journey filled with suffering through life for redemption? Can we speak about it in such terms at all?
• Build Heathcliff’s accurate psychological portrait and analyze his burning desire for revenge from this perspective. Was he mentally sick? Who, in your opinion, perfectly deserved the revenge, and who doesn’t?

Wuthering Heights Revenge Quotes

There were many words said about revenge in the novel by different characters. Let’s get to know them to understand the story better!

• “… the young master had learned to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent’s affections and his privileges; and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries.” Nelly Dean, Chapter 4
• “I’m trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!” Heathcliff, Chapter 7
• “Whatever he may pretend, he wishes to provoke Edgar to desperation: he says he has married me on purpose to obtain power over him; and he sha’ n’t obtain it—I’ll die first! I just hope, I pray, that he may forget his diabolical prudence and kill me! The single pleasure I can imagine is to die, or to see him dead!” Isabella, Chapter 14
• “You, and I… have each a great debt to settle with the man out yonder! If we were neither of us cowards, we might combine to discharge it. Are you as soft as your brother? Are you willing to endure to the last, and not once attempt a repayment?” Hindley, Chapter 17

This is just a tiny part of quotes about revenge in Wuthering Heights . Look at this website to find more.

🧟 Revenge in Literature: How to Write a Frankenstein Revenge Essay

Perhaps, the story about the Frankenstein monster is the most tragic of all that we discuss in this article. One of the central themes in the novel is ultimate and outrageous revenge. However, we can feel sympathy towards the avengers. How come?

Let’s figure it out together, so you can write an excellent revenge essay!

The theme of Revenge in Frankenstein

There are two major revenge lines in the novel about the Frankenstein monster:

Revenge in Frankenstein Topic Ideas

What are the ways to expand the theme of revenge in Frankenstein? Let’s look at some of them.

• Analyze the psychological portrait of the monster . Why do we feel sympathetic despite all the murders? Do you think his revenge was fully acknowledged and justified?
• Is it ethical to consider the monster to be just a flawed and imperfect human? Study through his motifs of revenge and methods of its implementation. Elaborate on the outcome the monster eventually came up to: was he genuinely remorseful?
• Why didn’t the monster kill his creator right away to take revenge on him? How did he understand that taking away the closest and beloved people from Frankenstein would hurt him more?
• Did Frankenstein have the right to do what he did? Is it ethical to use dead body parts to satisfy your curiosity and create a monster? Why didn’t Frankenstein give in to the beast to prevent his revenge?
• Think of the reasons why Frankenstein stopped creating the female monster. Did he realize the consequences when he deprived the beast of his only hope of getting a partner? Was it a part of Frankenstein’s revenge?
• Does the young man deserve all this damage and pain the monster brought to him? Elaborate on the cyclic structure of the novel that starts with the monster’s creation and ends with Frankenstein’s death.

Frankenstein Revenge Quotes

To illustrate the characters’ motivation in your revenge essay, use these quotes from the novel! We have selected the most significant statements for you:

• “When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation. I would have made a pilgrimage to the highest peak of the Andes, could I when there have precipitated him to their base.” Victor Frankenstein, Chapter 9
• “The nearer I approached to your habitation, the more deeply did I feel the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart.” The monster, Chapter 16
• “Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy–to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.” The monster, Chapter 16

Visit this website to see more quotes about revenge in Frankenstein.

📝 Revenge Essay Samples: Hamlet, Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein

Good news! The theoretical part is over, now we want you to look at some real examples of a revenge essay.

These are just excerpts from the essays, though they contain the main elements.

Hamlet Revenge Essay Example

“What would he do, had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?” — exclaims Hamlet on seeing the actor performing on the stage. Endless reflections tear hamlet: to revenge or not to revenge? His constant postponing of vengeance has reasons. Deeply inside, subconsciously, he believes: even well-grounded revenge is poisonous and destructive. This idea is being proclaimed between the lines throughout the whole play. Evil causes evil, and this vicious circle is yet to be broken. Hamlet is a hero of another era: he needs solid and persuasive evidence to implement his revenge. The young prince wants to be sure whether the ghost is real if Claudius is an actual murderer. But even realizing the truth, he takes pains to set the mood for revenge, to pull his decisiveness together. “O, from this point forth my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” are his words in Act 4. Other characters in the play may seem blind or half-blind and don’t notice obvious things. Perhaps, they don’t want to catch them to keep their consciousness clear. They are more shallow and less sensitive than the prince. Hamlet is almost the only person who sees through all the intrigues, making him sarcastic and suspicious. He mourns the passing of his father, but at the same time, the burden of revenge presses upon him. He’s undoubtedly not made for seeking revenge. This destructive thought starts to corrupt his mind and soul gradually. It is this spiritual splitting of his that leads to tragic consequences and pointless deaths of many people.

Wuthering Heights Revenge Essay Example

Wuthering Heights is a novel the plot of which is wrapped around the revenge purposes of the main character. We see the same circular structure as we do in many revenge stories: come events lead to the outcome where the only aim is taking vengeance. The problem is that no matter how fair revenge may seem to an avenger, it barely brings satisfaction. On the contrary, it destroys any virtues and even the whole fates. The trigger for the whole revenge story here is Hindley, who is jealous and mean in his very nature. It is the type of antagonist that is downright vicious: he seems to lack anything human in his heart. His unfair mistreatment plants the seeds of desire for revenge in Heathcliff. The latter grows up with a solid wish to pay Hindley back for all the damage. Heathcliff cannot be blamed for that: he was merely deprived of love and decent life in his childhood. We can only feel compassion towards him being so traumatized. Everything he did after is probably more dreadful than what Hindley did to him, but could it be different? Heathcliff is blinded by the striving to take revenge. The man loses any sense of reason. He also cannot stay safe and untouched, hurting other people. He ends up feeling even more bitter than he used to. We can clearly see that revenge didn’t bring Catherine back to him, while it was what he wanted in the first place.

Revenge in Frankenstein Essay Example

‘Frankenstein’ is sure to be not only a horror story with gothic elements but also a profound ethical parable. It touches upon very distant and dark aspects of human life. In a story about Frankenstein and his monster, we can see what can happen when a human is trying to play God. All these tragic events in the novel conclude: a human must remain human. Otherwise, a wannabe god will be paid back by the whole Universe and destroyed. This is what happened to the main character of Shelly’s story. The plot somehow refers to an old biblical story about Adam, Eve, and forbidden knowledge. What was the outcome of the first people’s selfish desire to know things that only God knows? They were exhaled and cursed forever from Eden. Before that happened, all pleasures were at their disposal. Victor had everything, too: wealthy and caring parents, a beautiful bride, loyal friends. When he started craving something above, the tragedy occurred. The point is that to be a creator means to have an enormous responsibility. Victor Frankenstein wasn’t ready to take it and to deal with his creature’s ugliness or with the prospective to teach his monster how to live. The creature was collecting the idea of life by bits. Realizing his creator’s nonchalance distresses the monster to a great extent. The only thing that is left to him due to his indescribable loneliness is revenge. Ironically, Shelley’s monster possesses more humanism and sensitiveness than real people. He wants to be helpful, tries to help people; eventually, he even repents for everything he’d committed.

If you’ve read our small samples and now wonder how to write your essay, please approach us. We are ready to assist you with any kind of question.

⚔️ 35 More Topics for a Revenge Essay

Of course, we wouldn’t limit you to only three literary works covering the theme of revenge. Here are other great topic ideas you can use for your essay on revenge.

• Revenge is a dish served cold: do you agree with this statement? Is it ethical to blow a strike back when the fight is over?
• Revenge, Deceit, and Murder in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Poe .
• A desire for revenge: what is a mix of feelings that drives a person to take vengeance on someone?
• The difference between thinking and acting: can one satisfy their thirst for revenge by only imagining it?
• Emotion Regulation: Anger .
• Describe the possible or real situations where revenge is perfectly justified and grounded if there are such.
• Is it ethical for a modern person to consider taking revenge?
• Addressing an Anger Issue with Phenomenological Method .
• Can verbal abuse be answered with physical revenge?
• Compare and contrast the depiction and development of the revenge themes in “Hamlet” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Explore how revenge appears in mind, its triggers, and the psychological benefits.
• “An Act of Vengeance” by Isabel Allende and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor Comparison .
• Forgiveness and revenge: what is fairer – to take revenge or forgive? How is one to make a choice?
• Is it acceptable to seek revenge when you know for sure your enemies are dysfunctional and weak?
• “Othello” by Shakespeare: Heroes Analysis .
• Compare and contrast how the revenge theme is covered in the original text of Hamlet and the movie.
• Consider the most famous and significant revenge stories in US history.
• How People Deal With Being Threatened and Scared .
• Blood will have blood: reveal the development of the revenge themes in Shakespear’s famous play “Macbeth. “
• Mahatma Gandhi once said: ‘An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.’ But how can one reach justice if not through revenge?
• Debate on Punishment v. Rehabilitation .
• ‘Tell me, tutor, I said, is revenge a science or an art?’ asked one of the characters in Mark Lawrence’s “Prince of Thorns.” How would you answer this question?
• Crime and Its Victims: Victim Precipitation .
• “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” These were the words of Marcus Aurelius written in “Meditations.” Do you agree that such ‘revenge’ is the best option?
• Violent Crimes’ Impact on Victims and Society .
• How does Aeschylus’s play “Agamemnon” prove that vengeance leads to no peace but causes more violence?
• Just and Sharp Revenge: compare and contrast revenge and justice themes in “Hamlet” and “The Spanish Tragedy.”
• When Will Things Get to Normal After the Death of a Loved One?
• Critical Analysis of “ The Scarlet Letter” : Character analysis and the themes of revenge.
• The morality of revenge: how to draw the line between justified vengeance and violence?
• Enlightenment in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” .
• A man takes revenge on himself: elaborate on the magnificent twist of revenge in “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
• Hamlet as the Hero of the Play
• Why is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn more about insanity than about revenge?
• Tell about your own experience with revenge: what were the reasons for it, your feelings after?

These were the most important things we wanted you to know when writing a revenge essay. One more piece of advice for you.

Do not consider revenge as something necessarily wrong. Try to point out the reasons and intentions of a person who wants to take revenge.

Once you take such a position, you have a chance to write a perfect essay on revenge!

We wish you lots of inspiration and happy writing! 😉

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How to Write Revenge Stories That Thrill and Satisfy Your Readers

by Joslyn Chase | 0 comments

A heinous murder. A jilted lover. An angry hero determined to get justice. Revenge stories are a vital part of the human experience. Let's take a look at how to write one of your own.

Willa Cather famously said, “There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.”

I don’t know if the number is really two, three, or ninety-seven, but her point that humans keep doing the same things over and over throughout history is sound. We act, strangely enough, according to human nature and our stories reflect that. Consequently, there are patterns that recur time and again in the stories humans write and read, because that’s what resonates in our souls.

I’ve long been a believer that, as writers, we should concern ourselves less with finding a story that’s never been told before, and more with expressing our story ideas with our own unique voices and perspectives. That’s what makes it ours, and that’s what will draw readers to our version of a story pattern they’ve surely read before.

A dish best served cold

One of the oldest story patterns is the revenge story. Revenge is visceral—it grabs us by the gut, sending feelers deep into the bed of our emotions. We hate to see a grave injustice go unpunished and most of us, as law-abiding as we may be, can get behind a little vigilante action in our fiction. We itch to see the scales balanced, the savagely maligned victim avenged.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is probably the most famous example of the revenge plot, and makes use of some of its stock devices—the ghost crying out for vengeance, the feigned madness, the play-within-a-play, and the ultimate carnage that results—but the Bard was not the first, or the last, to use this pattern. He simply wrote it in a way that made it undeniably his.

If you’ve got an idea for a revenge story, and want to write it in such a way as to make it undeniably yours, I’m here to help.

Assemble your cast

You’ll need a hero . Make your protagonist a basically good person who’s forced to take justice into his own hands when the law fails to provide satisfaction. Take care to round your character and make him real and likeable because you’ll want the reader firmly in his corner.

You’ll need a villain . The antagonist is the character who committed the unpunished act. Keep in mind the range of crimes that might apply and the fact that it may be real or imagined. Maybe the hero is placing the blame on the wrong culprit. Maybe the hero has bought into a false portrayal of the situation. There are all kinds of twists you could throw into the works to cast a different light on the story.

You’ll need a victim . The victim’s purpose is to arouse our sympathies and ire. The hero could double as the victim, as in The Count of Monte Cristo, or it may be a family member, love interest, or even someone the hero barely knows but whose situation inspires him to action. However, you must give the hero a personal stake of some sort, an emotional tie to the victim.

Behold, a heinous crime

The more monstrous the central act—murder, rape, torture, and so on—the more justified your hero is in seeking out and dispensing revenge. And it strikes a nice balance if the punishment fits the crime: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

The desire to overstep those bounds may eat at your hero, may comprise his inner struggle, but if he can exercise a degree of restraint in administering the proper punishment, he’ll gain reader respect and provide a nice catharsis—that final release of tension that leads to reader satisfaction.

Typically, you want to start by firing up your audience with a portrayal of the crime. You present happy people, going about their own business, whose lives are interrupted and forever changed by the commission of a shocking crime that goes unpunished.

In some cases, the crime occurs before the story begins. Done right (as Shakespeare did in Hamlet ) this can work, but it’s a safer bet to actually dramatize it for your reader and let her experience the pain and indignities first hand. This allows the reader to form an emotional bond with your characters, getting good and outraged, wanting revenge as much as your hero does.

The hero may try to go through official channels, such as the police, but these efforts fail and he realizes that if there’s to be any justice administered, he must do it himself.

This is the planning and preparing stage of the story. The hero researches, trains, tracks down the antagonist, or whatever needs to be done to put his plan into action. If your story involves multiple villains who need to be dealt with, as in The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville, your hero may start dishing out revenge during this phase.

To add even more conflict, you may introduce a third party who is trying to stop your hero from exacting revenge—a law enforcement official, family member, or religious personality, perhaps.

Phase Three

This is where the confrontation happens, when your hero and the villain go head to head. If your protagonist has been dealing out serial revenge to a list of offenders, this is the final confrontation and involves the most important villain.

This is your hero’s moment of triumph! Or his ultimate failure. Readers will be most satisfied, of course, if your hero prevails in dispensing the requisite justice, but there are instances where failure is called for at the end. If this is the case, keep in mind that it doesn’t release you from the responsibility of providing satisfaction for your readers.

Think of the movie Braveheart. In the end, William Wallace is viciously executed, drawn and quartered, but he goes to his death with such dignity and courage that it drives home the point of the movie and delivers a fitting conclusion that viewers can live with.

Usually, though, it’s best to conclude the story with a sense of mission accomplished.

A twist ending to die for, or not

Sometimes it’s possible and fitting to build right up to the point of revenge, that culminating moment the protagonist and reader has anxiously been waiting for, and then let your hero reach an epiphany that drives home an aching truth: vengeance will not call back the original crime, undo the damage, or restore the hero’s world. It will only serve to inflict further damage on those who are left.

Though our hearts sometimes rage with a desire for revenge, deep down we know it can’t bring real or lasting relief. We strengthen our families and enrich our societies when we go beyond the “eye for an eye” mentality and remember the injunction to forgive seventy times seven.

Never easy and never neat, it can nevertheless provide a heart-rending and satisfying ending to a revenge story, and is certainly an option you can consider.

The lighter side of revenge

Most often, revenge stories involve horrific crimes and violent reprisals, but the patterns of revenge can also be used to write comedy or other types of lighter fare. The same basic tenets apply, but violence doesn’t usually rear its ugly head. For instance, The Sting , where con men are beaten at their own game, is a revenge story. Other examples include John Tucker Must Die, 9 To 5, and The First Wives Club.

Everyone loves a well-told tale of revenge with a cleansing cathartic ending. Why not try your hand at writing one?

How about you? What’s your favorite book or movie revenge story? Have you ever thought about writing your own? Tell us about it in the comments .

Today we’re going to practice patterns of revenge to get the hang of the three phases and how they work together. First, choose the tone you’re going for—dark crime, comedy, sting—and come up with a suitable crime to kick off your story. Write it down.

Sketch out rough details for your hero, villain, victim, and possibly a third party character who tries to stop the hero from accomplishing her vengeance. Brainstorm ideas for phase two—the planning and preparation for the revenge—and phase three—the confrontation. Write all these things down and expand on them for fifteen minutes .

When you are finished, you’ll have an outline for a revenge story. Post it in the comments and be sure to give feedback for your fellow writers. Then go write the story!

Joslyn Chase

Any day where she can send readers to the edge of their seats, prickling with suspense and chewing their fingernails to the nub, is a good day for Joslyn. Pick up her latest thriller, Steadman's Blind , an explosive read that will keep you turning pages to the end. No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense , Joslyn's latest collection of short suspense, is available for free at joslynchase.com .

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Revenge - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Revenge entails retaliating against someone in response to perceived wrongs or injustices. Essays on revenge might explore its psychological underpinnings, moral implications, or its representation in literature, film, and history. Discussions could delve into famous revenge stories, the societal or personal consequences of seeking revenge, or the ethical debates surrounding retribution and justice. Analyzing different cultural or historical perspectives on revenge can provide a multifaceted exploration of human emotions, social norms, and justice systems. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Revenge you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Revenge is the Overarching Theme of the Play Hamlet

Revenge is a strange idea. It has been around since the dawn of time. An Eye for an eye, right? If someone hits you, you hit them back harder. In the play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Revenge is the overarching theme of the play. It shows what revenge can do to a person. Hamlet views revenge as a good deed: something that he must complete to avenge his dad. Revenge is binary, meaning it isn't only the act of revenge, there […]

Revenge and Foreshadowing in the Cask of Amontillado

"Edgar Allan Poe is a famous writer known for his thrilling short stories. One of his shorts, “The Cask of Amontillado” is most known for its intense and prevalent themes, including irony and foreshadowing. Foreshadowing in an element in the story is used to hint an event that will occur further along in the story. There are many types of Irony. One of these is dramatic irony, which refers to when a character thinks something is true, yet the audience […]

Edgar Allan Poe’s the Cask of Amontillado Essay

"Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado expresses enigmatic themes of desire and human complexity. The protagonist desires revenge on an acquaintance through premeditated murder. Although conversely, that is only on the surface. Montresor's needs and desires are that of something beyond vengeance. It is known that our narrator and protagonist Montresor, seeks vengeance against Fortunato for the insults and ""the thousand injuries"" he felt had been done to him. Although, Montresor never clarifies how Fortunato degrades him nor backs […]

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Frankenstein Revenge

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With Love, Violence and Vengeance

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Internal Conflict in Hamlet: the Inner Struggle of Revenge

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Hamlet — Revenge And Justice In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Revenge and Justice in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

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Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor. London: Arden Shakespeare, 2006. Print.Frye, Northrop. "The Mythos of Autumn." Shakespearean Criticism, edited by Laurie Lanzen Harris, vol. 4, Gale, 1986, pp. [...]

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The 25 Greatest Revenge Movies of All Time

By todd gilchrist | mar 21, 2023, 3:17 pm edt.

As Khan Noonien Singh once said, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” and cinema is filled with stories where vengeance and retribution get served with chilling brutality and precision. There is a natural impulse to see one’s enemies, or even just the people who wronged us, punished for their misdeeds, or have karma visited upon them. Movies give us the unique opportunity to live and experience that satisfaction acted out without having to get off our couches, much less face the repercussions of getting someone back for being hurtful, hateful, or destructive.

What’s even better about a revenge movie (as opposed to good, old-fashioned revenge) is that the way it gets dished out can be wildly different from anything we ever imagined via an elaborate heist, a thrilling chase scene, or some quiet act of catharsis. Below, we’ve collected some of cinema’s definitive revenge movies, from the gruesome to the transcendent. It's a broad and eclectic spectrum of deep cuts and classics alike for the next time you put a hex on an old boss, a former pal, or just that jerk who cut you off in traffic.

1. The Lady Eve (1941)

Preston Sturges was among a small handful of filmmakers in the 1930s and ’40s considered to be masters of the screwball comedy, and this is one of the greatest examples of his work. In the film, Barbara Stanwyck plays a beautiful con artist named Jean who jeopardizes her scheme when she accidentally falls in love with her mark, Charles (Henry Fonda), and decides to trick him all over again after he discovers the first ruse. Charles’s gullibility and Jean’s determination makes for a nonstop roller coaster of darkly funny hijinks as the two fall in and out of love while simultaneously trying to get back at one another for betraying the other.

2. Point Blank (1967)

John Boorman directed this stylish thriller about a thief trying to exact revenge on his partner after being betrayed during a heist. Star Lee Marvin looks and acts exactly like you imagine a thief ruthless enough to take his revenge out one person at a time would, but meticulous enough not to ask for a penny more than he was originally owed. By loosely adapting Richard Stark’s The Hunter —which also later became the basis for the Mel Gibson film Payback —Boorman turns the story as much into an exercise in jazzy ’60s style as a brutal battle between one man, his former partner, and a crime family big and ominous enough to simply be called “The Organization.”

3. The Bride Wore Black (1968)

Despite François Truffaut’s deeply mixed feelings about The Bride Wore Black 's legacy (the director agreed with early criticisms of the film, then warmed to it as public approval changed, then fretted about color choices as audiences embraced it as a classic), this drama occupies a unique corner in the "revenge movie" canon. Jeanne Moreau plays the title character, a woman who hunts down the five men who killed her husband on their wedding day; unsurprisingly, Truffaut treats her errands with a meditative, poetic flair that turns this murder story into something more beautiful, and thoughtful, while Moreau helps cement the film as a provocative hybrid of French New Wave aesthetic and Hitchcockian suspense.

4. Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)

Sergio Leone made a number of great films that hinged at least in part on seeking revenge. But this western—not only his best, but one of the greatest of all time—follows a mysterious man with a harmonica ( Charles Bronson ) as he disrupts the efforts of a hired gun named Frank (Henry Fonda) and his wealthy benefactor from trying to gain control of a frontier town on the verge of becoming an industrial hub in the Old West. Bronson, Fonda, and Jason Robards play the violent trio at the center of this slowly evolving conflict, while Claudia Cardinale plays a recently-married prostitute whose inherited land—and transcendent beauty—becomes a fulcrum for their professional responsibilities and their desires alike. As is the case with many great revenge stories, the reasons don’t become clear until late in the story; but as always with Leone, the build-up is too tantalizing to miss.

5. The Last House on the Left (1972)

Wes Craven was always a “big idea” man—he was, after all, a teacher before he became a filmmaker—as is evident in his debut feature, . Borrowing from Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring , Craven tells the story of two teenage girls who are dragged into the woods and tortured, and then the perpetrators accidentally visit the home of one of their parents, who discover their crimes and exact revenge. This low-budget classic is violent and upsetting, but Craven imprints it with intriguing ideas about retribution, as well as thematic ideas related to the Vietnam War and then-current social ills, that have kept audiences examining its violence for decades.

6. Lady Snowblood (1973)

Even if you’ve seen Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2 , which pay tribute both to Lady Snowblood 's story and its spirit, it’s impossible to start this film starring Meiko Kaji and not immediately think, “Am I watching one of the greatest movies of all time?” (Answer: you are.) Toshiya Fujita’s 1973 masterpiece starts with three murders in a snowy courtyard and escalates from there into precisely the kind of “roaring rampage of revenge” that Tarantino used as the backbone for his 2003-2004 saga. Kaji gives an incomparable performance in the title role, while she and composer Masaaki Hirao together create a funky, melancholy score that cuts deeper than the blade she hides in the handle of her umbrella.

7. The Sting (1973)

Robert Redford and Paul Newman reunited after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) for this caper about two grifters who team up to pay back the mob boss (Robert Shaw) who killed their mentor. Like so many great con artist stories, the twists come so fast and furious that you’re not sure who you’re rooting for by the end of the film. But George Roy Hill maintains such an effervescent tone—buoyed by Marvin Hamlisch’s piano-driven score—that it feels like a victory just to watch these gods of 1960s and ’70s cinema work together.

8. Death Wish (1974)

Looking at Charles Bronson, previously represented here in Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West , it’s easy to think of him as somebody who would absolutely mess you up if you crossed him. But in Michael Winner’s adaptation of Brian Garfield’s Death Wish , Bronson plays a mild-mannered architect who becomes an armed vigilante after his wife and daughter are assaulted by street thugs. Because crime was spiking in America at the time, the film inadvertently seemed to validate the idea of citizens meting out justice for themselves if the authorities would not; but whether or not the film was socially responsible, it was undeniably dynamic entertainment, producing multiple sequels, a remake in 2018, and several other adaptations of the source material.

9. Carrie (1976)

Brian De Palma adapted this Stephen King story into a monstrous treatise on a young woman’s blossoming femininity under the puritanical control of her ultra-religious mother. Sissy Spacek plays the luminous title character opposite a domineering Piper Laurie, while supporting turns from John Travolta, P.J. Soles, and frequent De Palma collaborator (and one-time wife) Nancy Allen as bullying schoolmates pave the way for a bloody, explosive finale where Carrie exacts her revenge on everyone who tormented her. The juxtaposition between Carrie’s tender adolescence and frightening powers set a horror template—and hinted at the genre’s potential for social commentary—for years to come.

10. Rolling Thunder (1977)

John Flynn directed this ice-cold sleeper about a Vietnam veteran who returns to a civilian life he doesn’t recognize, and that doesn’t want him—and he’s understandably not happy about it. William Devane plays Major Charles Rane, a seven-year prisoner of war who enlists fellow soldier Johnny Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones) to find the men who stole his homecoming reward and killed his wife and son, leading to a brutal showdown in a Mexican whorehouse. Coming off of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver , co-screenwriter Paul Schrader takes his meditations on vigilante justice and the violence that lurks inside troubled men to operatic new peaks.

11. I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

Meir Zarchi wrote and directed this iconic film about a woman who exacts revenge on the four men who brutally raped her and left her for dead. It followed Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left , but it quickly became a template for dozens of revenge films—in part because of its graphic violence, which earned I Spit On Your Grave a place of infamy even among the most gruesome horror movies on the 1970s.

12. Mad Max (1979)

The film that started a 40-year franchise (and counting), George Miller’s breakthrough film follows cop Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) in an Australian landscape “a few years from now” as he attempts to carve out a small piece of happiness while pursuing gangs that freely roam and terrorize ordinary citizens. After his wife and child are murdered, Max gets behind the wheel of his custom V8 Interceptor and hunts the murderers down one by one, showing them the same mercilessness that they showed his family. A great car movie, a great revenge movie, and a great start to one of cinema’s greatest and most enduring franchises.

13. 9 to 5 (1980)

Patricia Resnick co-wrote this timely comedy about three women working under the thumb of a sexist tyrant (Dabney Coleman) at a company where gender roles remain sadly regressive. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton play the three put-upon employees of Coleman’s sleazy, credit-stealing boss; but it’s not until the three of them decide to exact revenge on him that its empowerment story truly takes off, forcing them to figure out a way to beat him at his own game—and better conditions for their fellow working women in the process.

14. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)

Nicolas Meyer revived this minor character from the original Star Trek series for what would become the Enterprise crew’s greatest cinematic adventure: When Khan (Ricardo Montalban, embodying cunning evil) crosses paths with Captain Kirk (William Shatner) after being banished to struggle for survival on a lifeless planet, the two leaders lock into a battle of wills over Genesis, a terraforming device with infinite potential—including for absolute destruction. Kirk and Khan must not only outmaneuver but outthink one another as the Federation officer becomes the only thing standing in the way of a genetically-engineered tyrant.

15. The Princess Bride (1987)

Rob Reiner directed a script by William Goldman from his own book, and even as it deconstructs love stories, fairy tales, and storytelling itself, packed beautifully into the periphery of Wesley’s quest for a reunion with Buttercup is one of the most memorable revenge stories ever put on film. Watch as the noble, poetic Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) searches not only for the six-fingered man who killed his father, but for the opportunity to deliver a speech he’s been rehearsing for most of his life, announcing his intention to cathartically kill him.

16. Braveheart (1995)

Mel Gibson leveled up as a director after The Man Without A Face with this (heavily dramatized) true-life story about 13th-century warrior William Wallace, who became a freedom fighter for the Scottish people after English troops invaded his village and executed Murron (Catherine McCormack), his childhood sweetheart. Wallace’s journey escalates into a celebration of freedom from tyranny, but not before he becomes Public Enemy Number One under the rule of Longshanks’s son Edward (Peter Hanly), and eventually, attracts the interest of France’s Princess Isabella (Sophie Marceau). If learning what Scotsmen have under their kilts isn’t enough to make you want to watch this, consider that it ends with Gibson getting literally drawn and quartered.

17. The Limey (1999)

Steven Soderbergh was just on the cusp of making his commercial breakthrough when he directed this story of heavily-accented vengeance starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, and Lesley Ann Warren. When Wilson (Stamp) shows up in the U.S. looking for the people responsible for his daughter’s murder, he ends up on the doorstep of a yellowing music producer named Terry Valentine (Fonda), but not before he develops a makeshift family of oddballs (including Warren and the great Luis Guzmán) in the process. Less aggressive but just as emotionally powerful as many other titles on this list, the film looks at the way one man’s revenge offers an opportunity for redemption after his own many failures.

18. Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott directed Russell Crowe to a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Maximus , a Roman general betrayed by the conniving, jealous son (Joaquin Phoenix) of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). When Maximus’s family is murdered and he is sentenced to death as a gladiator, the military mastermind slowly regroups among men of blood and sweat—a different army than he previously led—and bides his time to exact revenge while earning the adulation of the people of Rome, whose thirst for blood surpasses even Commodus’s (Phoenix) yearning for power. The disgraced soldier and the interim emperor soon find themselves on common ground as they battle for control of Rome with the entire city watching.

19. Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan made his breakthrough with this film about Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), an insurance investigator searching for the man who raped and murdered his wife and gave him anterograde amnesia, permanently preventing him from making new memories. Unfolding in reverse chronological order to peel back the layers both of the crime and Leonard’s fractured investigation, Nolan’s film explores unique ideas about the ways that revenge fills a need—sometimes an unhealthy one—in people after the incident that inspires it, while offering a whodunit that arrives at a conclusion that seems inevitable but you will almost certainly not see coming.

20. In The Bedroom (2001)

Director Todd Field tells this unforgettable story about two parents (Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson) whose life erupts in violence after their son (Nick Stahl) falls into a relationship with a divorced older woman (Marisa Tomei). When the divorcée’s ex-husband Richard (William Mapother) resorts to increasingly desperate measures to interject himself into his ex-wife’s life, Ruth (Spacek) and Matt (Wilkinson) find themselves reckoning with the repercussions of their son’s choices and Richard’s subsequent actions, leading to acts of retribution that no one could have anticipated—and neither parent is prepared to come to terms with.

21. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

It’s easy to forget that a movie this fun and surprising all comes down to the motive that connects with the rest of the titles on this list, but Soderbergh’s remake of the 1950s Rat Pack classic is built as much on Danny Ocean’s (George Clooney) lingering love for his estranged wife Tess (Julia Roberts) as the wattage of its cast of stars. Everything that happens leading up to that revelation is just a good bit of fun to put mud in the eye of Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), Tess’s new lover, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t the most fun you’ve ever had hanging with Hollywood royalty in the meantime.

22. Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2 (2003, 2004)

We’re combining parts one and two here not to further fuel a debate about whether they’re two halves or a whole, but to make room for one more great revenge movie elsewhere on this list of standard-bearers. One imagines that Vol. 1 was probably exactly what Quentin Tarantino had in mind when he conceived this star vehicle for his longtime friend and collaborator Uma Thurman, as it allowed her to showcase both her extraordinary acting skills and physicality. But as is often the case with his films, Vol. 2 became the reason for its predecessor to exist, taking The Bride’s quest for vengeance to unexpected places while providing her character with a profound emotional arc for a woman fulfilling training to turn her into an ice-cold killer.

23. Oldboy (2003)

Park Chan-wook’s 2003 film follows a wildly intriguing premise—a man wakes up in a hotel room he cannot escape and has no idea who imprisoned him, or why—and weaves one of the most brutal and transgressive revenge stories ever told on film. Choi Min-sik plays Oh Dae-su, a businessman who gets released from this mysterious imprisonment after 15 years and goes looking for revenge against his unknown captors. Along the way he eats some live seafood and battles a small army of attackers with a hammer, and finally, develops a relationship with Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), a young woman whose connection to him and the people who first detained him forms a twisted web of forgiveness, retribution, and self-destruction.

24. Gone Girl (2014)

Working from a script adapted by Gillian Flynn from her own novel, David Fincher directs this mystery-thriller about a wife named Amy (Rosamund Pike) whose murder immediately points to her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) as the perpetrator, only for an increasingly complex and twisted truth to emerge between these spouses in their deeply dysfunctional relationship. Splitting the film into two halves, Fincher offers one perspective, and then the opposite, exposing their ambitions, failures, and insecurities as he binds them together in a Faustian bargain that neither wants to be part of, but cannot escape without the world condemning them both.

25. John Wick (2014)

Even if you don’t quite agree with his actions, it’s impossible not to empathize with John Wick ’s motives: When low-level mobsters kill the puppy his late wife bequeathed to him, he leaves a path of destruction in the search for their boss. Keanu Reeves blasts and breaks his way through room after room of luckless enforcers en route to the kingpins desperately trying to stop him from bringing down their empire, one bullet to the head at a time, while director Chad Stahelski stages dizzying action scenes that bring John’s wrath down with brilliant, blinding force.

A version of this story originally ran in 2021; it has been updated for 2023.

Home Essay Examples Philosophy Virtue

Virtue Versus Vengeance

• Category Philosophy
• Subcategory Ethics and Moral Philosophy
• Topic Virtue

“An eye for an eye” is a very popular expression that has been used as an alternative term to describe vengeance throughout many years. However, there have been people who have been taught by their families that the value of virtue surpasses the value of vengeance. To know which has more value, you first need to know the difference between vengeance and virtue. You also need to know what these two terms mean and their differences.

Vengeance is defined as punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong. Vengeance also means revenge. Some synonyms of the word vengeance are revenge, avengement, retribution, retributive justice, retaliation, requital, reprisal, etc. Virtue is defined as behavior that shows high moral standards. Virtue also means forgiveness. Some synonyms for virtue are goodness, virtuousness, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness, up standingness, integrity, dignity, rectitude, honesty, honorableness, honorability, honor, incorruptibility, probity, propriety, decency, respectability, nobility, etc. That is what vengeance and virtue mean. In my personal opinion and experience, vengeance is more valuable than virtue. It gives you something to work for and to look forward to in this world of pain and misery.

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Vengeance is more about personal gain and helping yourself. In this world, self-gain is something that many would argue brings you up and above others in life. Revenge spawns an endless cycle of retribution. In my eyes, revenge and vengeance is better than virtue. The satisfaction of knowing the man who murdered my brother would be in jail or prison would be more comforting to me and set me at ease, than knowing this man feels bad and lives like a free man. This is one of the main reasons why I think vengeance is more valuable than virtue. There are some people who would argue that virtue is more valuable than vengeance. It can be said that virtue is the moral excellence and exhibition of good behavior by a person. It could be said that virtues are the basic qualities necessary for our well being and our happiness. People make claims that say recognizing the importance of virtues in our lives will lead to better communication, understanding, and acceptance between us and our fellow man. People have actually proven that forgiveness can be healthier for you and your body if you let go of your hatred and need for revenge. It has been said that it could offer you a higher lifespan. That is why some people would argue that virtue is more valuable than vengeance.

The book claims that virtue or the ability to forgive can lead to peace or a relaxing lifestyle. It says that if you have vengeance or hold anger, you will never have peace. This, I do not believe. I believe the only thing that can lead to peace is justice. If justice is served, I believe that peace will follow suit. I can not really agree with what the book claims, but I do respect what it has to say on the matter. As you can see, many people can have many contradicting opinions on these two topics. Though many people think that virtue is more valuable than vengeance, I believe that I can thrive in my darkness and gain inner strength if I let my need for vengeance help fuel my drive to live and to complete my ultimate goal in life. Many people believe that virtue can lead you to live a happier life, and that may be true. But it is my opinion that vengeance and hatred can help me see a goal to work towards in the future. That is why I believe vengeance is more valuable than virtue.

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85 Odyssey Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Looking for the Odyssey essay examples and writing tips? This article contains the Odyssey literary analysis how-to guide, prompts, title ideas, outlining tips, and examples.

💡 The Odyssey Essay: Themes & Ideas

❗ the odyssey thesis statements, 🎣 hooks for the odyssey essay, 📜 odyssey essay: how to write, 🏆 the odyssey essay examples, 👍 the odyssey essay topics, ❓ odyssey essay questions.

Homer’s Odyssey remains one of the most impressive masterpieces of the Greek literature. It’s not surprising that students often are assigned to write an essay on this poem.

Brainstorm the ideas you’re willing to discuss in the paper and make a list of all the key points. Look through the essay samples represented below for inspiration or check the list of the Odyssey themes and ideas below.

• Symbolism in the Odyssey. What do Odysseus struggles symbolize? How can you compare the Odysseus trials and adventures to our lives? Can we say that our lives are similar to the hero’s journey when we’re on the way to achieve something we desire.
• Hospitality theme in the Odyssey. How do people welcome strangers? Explore the ways Odysseus was welcomed when he returned home and when he was welcomed by the king and queen.
• Theme of loyalty in the Odyssey. Think, why loyalty is important. Explain why Penelope and Telemachus stayed loyal to Odysseus even when they received the message about his death.
• Theme of revenge in the Odyssey. Why does the theme of vengeance is important in the poem? Analyze it from the point of view of Odysseus and Poseidon. You can also compare and contrast vengeance in “Odysseus” and Christian teachings. Think if it is acceptable to kill in the name of vengeance.
• The role of women in the Odyssey. Discuss how does the female characters influence the plot of the story. What roles do they play in Telemachus and Odysseus journeys?

A thesis statement is the main point of your paper summarized in one sentence. It usually appears in the introductory paragraph of the text.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey thesis statements that you might want to use for inspiration.

• There are parallels between the Odyssey and Near Eastern mythology, especially the Epic of Gilgamesh .
• The central themes of the Odyssey are wandering and homecoming.
• Women in the Odyssey are presented as inferior to men; even goddesses are described as angry and short-sighted.
• The key symbols in the Odyssey are the bow, the sea, and the shroud.

When writing your paper introduction, keep in mind that you have to engage your reader and make them want to read the entire text. Avoid phrases like “In this essay I’m going to discuss…” at the beginning of the paper.

A good idea is to start your Odyssey essay with an interesting fact about the epic poem or a quote. For instance, if you’re planning to focus on Odysseus as an epic hero, you can use a quote about heroic qualities of a person.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey hook ideas.

• “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell)
• “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
• “Nobody – that’s my name. Nobody — so my mother and father call me, all my friends.” (the Odyssey)

Regardless of what Odyssey essay topic you will choose, you should tell your readers about the background and event developments of the poem.

Analyze the content and provide connections between the events or/and characters and your essay key idea. Make sure that all the paragraphs are logically connected.

When writing the Odyssey essay conclusion, make it bright and clear. Restate the thesis statement and add your personal impressions on the poem.

After you finish your paper read it again carefully and add some touches you might miss during the writing. Proofread the essay and get rid of all grammar, style and spelling mistakes. Did you know that some professors can cut out up to 20% of grade because of errors?

Still not sure how to complete your essay on Homer’s Odyssey and get the best grade? Check IvyPanda’s essay examples below, written by professionals for your convenience!

• Examples of Hospitality in The Odyssey by Homer: Review While the tale has various mythical and magical motifs in the form of Gods, Goddesses, nymphs, witches, and magic; one of the most interesting and a rather unusual aspect of the story was the astounding […]
• Deception Role in “The Odyssey” by Homer He also pretended to be a beggar to test the loyalty of others and to devise his plan of overthrowing the other suitors.
• Father-Son Relationship in The Odyssey by Homer In Odyssey therefore, it is expected that the relationship of Odysseus and Telemachus is as admiring as it is; the father is proud of his son, who is courageous and the son is proud of […]
• The Ghosts in Homer’s The Odyssey I find the ghost one of my favorite because of the hope and information he gives Odysseus.”The ghost reveals to Odysseus that Poseidon was busy punishing and killing the Achaeans “. From the encounter with […]
• Roles of Women in “The Odyssey” by Homer Of course, she is not a mortal woman as she is a nymph and is beyond the laws of human society. Of course, the woman is meant to be devoted to her husband and her […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Throughout the story, there is a constant struggle of the growing Telemachus to imitate the actions of his father and then eventually become like him that he comes to an end of his journey.
• Disguise in “The Odyssey”: Character Development & Athena’s Impact Athena also had to pour a sea fog around Odysseus to protect him, and then she assumed the shape of a little girl and showed him the way to the palace.
• Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”: Main Themes The Iliad and the Odyssey are anti-war poems, even though the actions in the stories are mainly conflict-oriented. They are anti-conflict because the aftermath of the fights is tragic, and every individual always engaged in […]
• Role of Fate and Divine Intervention in Oedipus and The Odyssey This is because while the gods are obviously responsible for choosing the path that one’s life is to take, it still takes the free will of the involved person to follow that path.
• Odysseus as Husband Being a good father and an excellent husband, Odysseus did everything he could to return home, however, there were a number of barriers, however, having returned home Odysseus killed all people who wanted evil to […]
• An Exemplary Hero: Homer’s “The Odyssey” The masterpiece describes the life of Odysseus and his journey especially after the infamous fall of Troy. One outstanding fact about Odysseus is that he is the main hero of the epic.
• The Symbol of Weaving in the Poem “The Odyssey” The Penelope image is associated with the goddess of the house, the keeper of the hearth, and all households. During his wanderings, the goddess is the patroness of Odysseus.
• Divine Comedy and The Odyssey as Epics It is a poem about the supernatural more than about a hero, which is the first difference between the current poem and ‘The Odyssey’.’Divine Comedy’ has 14, 233 lines, the number that is almost equal […]
• Comparative Literature: “The Odyssey” and “The Aeneid” The Odyssey and The Aeneid are some of the major epics created by the western civilizations. On balance, it is possible to state that the two epics share a lot of features as Virgil’s work […]
• Importance of the Book “The Odyssey” by Homer It is a book with a story that has lasted for ages due to its major themes such as the relation between father and son, the role of women, the significance of hospitality and the […]
• The Journey to the Land of the Dead: Homer’s “The Odyssey” Homer is regarded as a legendary Greek due to his great works of literature such as “The journey to the Land of the Dead”.
• “Bhagavad-Gita”, “The Odyssey” and “The Epic of Gilgamesh”: Contrast and Comparison The sole aim of all the religions is to make the people realize the value of life and to make the most of the same but doing holy acts and by not indulging in undesirable […]
• Women in Literature: Oedipus the King and The Odyssey Two major works of literature, ‘Oedipus the king’ and ‘The Odyssey’, provide some of the best examples of how the role of female characters is portrayed in different ways and how these women influence the […]
• Telemachus Journey From Boyhood to Hero: Homer’s The Odyssey As described by Arnold van Gennep in “The rites of Passage,” the concept of the rites of passage is a ritual event used to signify the process of transition of a person from one social […]
• The Plays “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “Agamemnon”: Understanding of Leadership Finally, the story of Agamemnon told in The Iliad and Agamemnon taught us that a capable leader must remain humble and self-aware.
• Sophocles II and The Odyssey: Book Analysis Penelope’s hand is one of the allusions in The Odyssey that offers the reader a comprehensive picture of who Odysseus was and how powerful he was.
• Women in The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh In particular, the women’s power in the story was shown in their ability to influence significantly men, who were depicted as the wisest and most powerful beings.
• Culture of Ancient Greece in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most well-known epics in the world. This can be attributed to Homer’s ability to describe the culture and life of the people of the ancient era with […]
• The Poems “The Song of Roland,” “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and “The Odyssey” The emphasis on bravery and dignity in Roland represents a stark contrast to the characters of Odysseus and Gilgamesh. Therefore, Roland as a character is vital in the evolution of heroic characters in epic narratives.
• “The Odyssey” by Homer as a Vehicle for Creative Works One of the characters that can be interesting to examine in a more broad way is Telemachus. It works well to tie in a sense of loss and longing for a father with Telemachus, allowing […]
• Community Conflict in The Odyssey The Iliad heroes, Diomedes and Glaucus, provide a glimpse into the constructs of community and conflict. Such a story is that of Glaucus and Diomedes who recognized their ancestors as heroes, resulting in mutual respect […]
• Characters in The Odyssey: Athena, Poseidon, and Polyphemus In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus encounters Athena, Poseidon and Polyphemus are surrounded by unique myths and occupy a distinct place in Odysseus’ journey.
• Deception in King Lear, The Odyssey and Gilgamesh The forms of deception in the book seem to come effortlessly to Odysseus, and the stories he tells throughout the book serve to protect him and his family.
• The Oldest Epics of Ramayana and The Odyssey Thus, the main similarity is the narrative about the difficulties of the protagonists, and the difference is the presence of magical characteristics.
• Heroism and the Spirit of Adventure: The Odyssey and Gilgamesh Interpretation In fact, the ancient epic is famous nowadays mainly due to the fact that some of the works are considered as the first official mentioning of a hero.
• The Role of Women in Great Epic Works: “The Odyssey” and “Gilgamesh” To summarize the influence of both women on Gilgamesh, it is possible to cite Kelley to describe Gilgamesh’s advice to him during one of the toughest period of the epic: When the gods created man, […]
• The Power of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” Nowadays The significance of Iliad and Odyssey in the modern world can be explained by the fact that they are the first ancient epics, which have survived to this day.
• Plot Analysis of Homer’s The Odyssey Through the meeting of Telemachus with Menelaus, the author emphasizes the significance of hospitality as a primary value and develops such features and discretion, leadership, and heroism of the son of Odysseus.
• The Relevance of the Book “The Odyssey” The book’s central motif is the adventurous journey, the complete transformation of the king of Ithaca from the Trojan battle.
• Manhood in Homer’s Poem The Odyssey From the point of view of the author of the poem, the heroism of Odysseus lies in the fact that he remains faithful to his homeland, the island of Ithaca, nothing scares him in achieving […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer and Its Legacy: A Romantic Vision of the State Odysseus is known all over the world as one of the most outstanding models of leadership anthemed in the literature of the ancient world.
• The Odyssey by Homer: Comprehensive Analysis of the Character of Penelope Penelope is believed to be the faithful wife of Ulysses and she stood really strong in his absence. She had a lot of persistence and composure, her image had been overshadowed because of Ulysses, and […]
• Gender Role Expectations in “The Odyssey” by Homer The reason is that many behaviors of these female characters are masculine in their nature, and they need to be further discussed with reference to examples.
• Themes in Books VIII-XI of Homer’s “The Odyssey” For instance, Retief and Cilliers argue that Book XI of The Odyssey largely shaped the perception of Hades, or the Greek land of the dead, as well as of the Ancient views on death and […]
• The 11 Book of Homer’s “The Odyssey” The 11th book of the Odyssey tells about the trip of Odysseus to the Underworld. He expresses pity that Odysseus is also in the land of the dead and tells about his journey in Hades […]
• Varying Moral Worlds in The Odyssey and Aeneid Some of the issues that differ between the two societies, as highlighted in the two poems, include marital love, representation of the underworld, the idea of fate, and pride/hubris. It is believed that the intention […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Discussion With this knowledge, it is necessary to examine the role played by the other characters in the poem. On the other hand, Penelope knows that she is expected to remain faithful to her husband.
• ‘Homer’s The Odyssey’ by Bernhard Frank Literature Analysis Bernhard makes use of clear words and concrete examples as well as numerous quotes to articulate his belief that the cause and sequence of the events in this book were created on purpose by Homer […]
• Monstrous and Human Relationship in “The Odyssey” In each stage of the adventure readers are introduced to an ever increasing similarity between what is monstrous and what is man to the point that the line between the two blurs resulting in actions […]
• “The Odyssey”: The Relationship Between the Monstrous and the Human When looking at the relationship between the monstrous and the human in Odyssey, it can be seen that monsters represent, in many instances, the darker side of humanity.
• The Expression of Sarcasm in The Odyssey The suitors laughed and teased Telemachos of his struggles to defend the beggar. Odysseus simply examines the bow and one of the suitors mocks him saying he is a connoisseur.
• The Comparison of Gilgamesh and Odysseus This paper is aimed at discussing the journeys undertaken by the main characters; in particular one should focus on their motives of the protagonists and the way in which both Gilgamesh and Odysseus were transformed […]
• Greek Culture in Homer’s “The Odyssey” Therefore, a critical analysis of the story enlightens the contemporary society on the aspect of hospitality in relation to the people of Greece.
• The Role of Hospitality in the Homeric World-Odyssey None the less the Homeric world gives a glimpse of the noble men and women who live within that society, they appreciate and acknowledge the little favors and hospitality extended to them and in some […]
• The Meaning and Impact of the Closing Book of The Odyssey Critics such as William Merritt Sale argue that Homer’s purpose in creating the mythic poem of The Odyssey was to represent the inherent struggle of the human condition when faced with the choice between the […]
• Human Potential in Rig Veda, Genesis and Homer’s The Odyssey Human beings need to meditate from time to time to find out specific modes of behaviour they need to observe. The value of hard work is used to explain how human beings need to be […]
• Greek/Roman Humanities: Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey The earliest works of fiction included the work of fiction the Epic of Gilgamesh that dates from the beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia and Homer’s Odyssey, greatest ancient works of literature attributed to Homer.
• Analysis of Job’s and Odysseus The strong character traits of the main characters Odyssey and Job in the epic The Odyssey and The Story of Job help develop their plots from the beginning to the rise of conflict and their […]
• Gods and Humans in “The Odyssey” by Homer For instance, the journey of Odysseus back to Ithaca feature him as an important figure to Calypso therefore helping in building up the story as his return remains the center of all agony that begets […]
• The Concept of Moral Principles in Literature Works He formulated the trick of the great wooden horse to give victory to the Greeks. The prince was also supposed to strike a balance of generosity to the citizens.
• What Is an Example of Alliteration From “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “Odyssey” Mean in Greek Mythology?
• What Occupation Did Eumaeus Have in “The Odyssey”?
• Where Did the Cyclops Live in “The Odyssey”?
• How Is “The Odyssey” Book Written Based on the Flaws and Imperfections of the Main Characters?
• What Is the Land of Death in “The Odyssey”?
• Did Atreides Make It Home in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Odysseus Feel About Telemachus in “The Odyssey”?
• How the Greeks Portrayed God in “The Odyssey”?
• Are Women the Source of Many Difficulties for Odysseus in “The Odyssey”?
• What Is the Main Message in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Hubris Affect Odysseus in “The Odyssey” Epic Poem?
• How Does “The Odyssey” Relate to Life Today?
• How Did Odysseus Display the Characteristics of a Hero in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does “The Odyssey” Represent the Importance of Family?
• What Did Homer Want to Say in “The Odyssey”?
• Whether the Olympians Prefer War or Peace in “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”?
• Did Odysseus Bring the Trouble on Himself in “The Odyssey”?
• Which Epic Has Most Relevance to a Twenty-First Century Reader, Virgil’s “Aeneid” or Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “The Odyssey” Teach Us About Greek Culture?
• Did Odysseus Prove to Be a Good Leader or No in “The Odyssey”?
• What Can We Learn From “The Odyssey” Journey?
• How Telemachus Evolved From a Boy to a Man in “The Odyssey”?
• How Fate and Free Will Play a Part in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Homer Use Suspense to Make the Story of “The Odyssey” More Interesting?
• How Women Are Portrayed in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How Was the Divine Represented in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How the Star Crossed Lover Theme Appears in the “Aeneid” and “The Odyssey”?
• What Is a Good Thesis Statement for “The Odyssey”?
• Why Does Odysseus Fit the Epic Hero’s Mold in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
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Arizona’s Zombie Abortion Ban Is Back. It’s Every State’s Future If Trump Wins.

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that its total abortion ban, a seemingly dead law dating back to 1864, is once again enforceable, despite more recent legislation that seemed to supercede it. The zombie ban makes virtually all abortions a felony, imposing a prison sentence of two to five years for any provider. There is no exception for rape or incest. The law was enacted before women could vote, and was long presumed to be permanently unenforceable. But the Arizona Supreme Court’s conservative majority, by a 4–2 margin, has now revived it. Republican governors appointed all seven justices on the bench, and the GOP recently expanded the court to entrench this far-right majority—which had no trouble finding that a ban enacted in an era in which women were chattel remains good law in 2024. As a result of this ruling, in 14 days almost every abortion in Arizona will be a crime, and nearly every clinic will close its doors. For all intents and purposes, it’s 1864 again for pregnant people in Arizona.

The decision should serve as a warning for the rest of the country, in light of ongoing efforts to revive the Comstock Act: In the hands of a far-right court, a dead, openly misogynistic, wildly unpopular abortion ban can spring back to life with a vengeance.

This zombie law was passed in 1864, long before Arizona was a state, and was codified in 1901, at which point it included a narrow exception to save the patient’s life. Much more recently, Arizona has passed less restrictive abortion laws, including a 15-week ban that appeared to wipe out more severe bans that preceded it. In late 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the two conflicting abortion laws in the state had to be reconciled, or “harmonized.” It maintained that abortion would remain legal through 15 weeks when provided by licensed physicians in compliance with the state’s other laws.

But on Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court, tasked with finally “harmonizing” Arizona’s 15-week abortion ban with the total ban dating back to hoop skirts, ruled that in the aftermath of Roe ’s reversal in Dobbs, the total ban takes precedence: The more recent 15-week restriction, wrote the majority, “does not create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion that repeals or restricts” the 1864 law, “but rather is predicated entirely on the existence of a federal constitutional right to an abortion since disclaimed” by Dobbs. In other words, in “harmonizing” the two laws, the harsher one wins out—even though, as the dissenters noted, the Legislature seemed to override this absolute ban when passing the recent 15-week limit. And so, starting in two weeks, even rape victims at the earliest stage of pregnancy may not obtain a legal abortion in Arizona.

Since Dobbs, nearly two dozen states have banned or limited access to the procedure. Arizona now joins those states with almost no exceptions , according to the Guttmacher Institute. As was the case with the far-right Florida Supreme Court’s interpretation of that state’s constitution last week , the majority simply ignored any evidence that the original meaning and text of the recent law provided greater protections for reproductive freedom. Instead, the majority rejected the Legislature’s evident intent to supplant the Civil War–era law with a more lenient ban. As a consolation, it gestured toward the fact that Arizona voters will likely have an opportunity to enact a ballot initiative restoring reproductive rights. So Arizona now joins Florida as a state in which the high court takes away reproductive freedom with one hand while allowing it to go to a popular vote with the other. Abortion-rights groups say they have enough signatures to put the abortion amendment on the November ballot, creating a fundamental right to receive abortion care until viability. Unlike Florida, where amendments need 60 percent approval to pass, Arizona allows amendments to take effect with simple majority support. (Note, as well, that two justices in the majority on Tuesday have retention elections in November; if ousted, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs can replace them with progressives.)

In an election year in which winning the state of Arizona is an absolutely essential factor for the GOP, the abortion dog continues to catch the electoral car in ways that can only hurt Donald Trump and the GOP extremists who seek to harm women’s health and equality. So long as voters are aware of the game as it’s being played and what the stakes will be, Republicans faces the potential for heaving losses. So these efforts to do that which is extraordinarily unpopular must happen via subterfuge, wink-wink nudge-nudge public statements about states’ rights and not taking a national position on abortion, while the courts and would-be Trump administration functionaries do all the quiet dirty work. The self-evident tension between the massive public rebuke of Dobbs —in the form of state ballot initiatives and referenda , local special elections , and state Supreme Court races —and the unabating efforts by rogue legislatures and fringe Supreme Courts to roll back abortion rights, was in evidence with Donald Trump’s refusal to state a coherent position on abortion on Monday : Turning back the clock for women is a demonstrably losing issue at the ballot box. And when candidate Trump says he wants to return the issue of abortion to the states, what he is really saying is that Arizona is free to return the issue to the time before doctors understood the value of hand-washing . (Also, why would anyone take his word on anything, ever?)

What happened in Alabama in February , in Florida last week, and in Arizona on Tuesday makes it clear that returning the reproductive freedom landscape to the Victorian age requires subverting whatever happens in elections. That’s why this massive rollback will be achieved by antidemocratic measures, including promises to breathe new life into the Comstock Act, and revanchist theocratic decisions from courts attempting to do away with IVF and rape exceptions in the name of fetal and embryonic personhood .

Comstock, in particular, is an instructive comparison here. That 1873 law, read expansively, bans all abortions , including both medication and in-clinic procedures. Indeed, far-right lawyers are at the Supreme Court trying to weaponize it against abortion pills right now. Trump’s top lawyers, including Jonathan Mitchell, have said that they plan to use Comstock as a nationwide ban on abortion if Trump regains office. They tell us that they intend to stay quiet about this scheme until after the election, at which point they will prepare for an executive order accompanied by prosecutions and regulations that make abortion a federal felony in all 50 states. The plot is similar to what just happened in Arizona: Republicans enacted a seemingly moderate 15-week ban, only to stand by and watch as their colleagues on a GOP-packed court resuscitated a total ban passed during the Civil War. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes—who beat her anti-abortion opponent in 2022 by 280 votes—has said she won’t prosecute violations of the law. But GOP county attorneys have rejected Mayes’ efforts to shield doctors and may well seek to charge any providers that stay open, throwing access into immediate jeopardy.

The next time someone tells you they really worry about abortion rights, but that President Biden is just too old , please gently remind them that Joe Biden is not, in fact 160. That is the age of the law that will soon be sending abortion providers to prison in Arizona if they attempt to assist a victim of rape or incest. If edgy modernity is truly your thing, be afraid of Republican judges who are at war with modernity itself; they will gladly welcome the assistance of pro-choice voters whose apathy facilitates the rollback of women’s equal citizenship. And it’s now abundantly clear that we’re not rolling back the tape to the 1970s or to the 1920s. The project is to set your clocks back to the time when women didn’t even matter enough to have a vote.