Is Revenge Ever Justified?

926 Words4 Pages
Revenge, is it ever justified? We will get to that later. First, what is revenge? I am not sure what the real meaning of it is. I don't mean the dictionary meaning but what it actually means. Revenge is a human thing, so it would be different for everyone. For example, revenge for some would be throwing water-balloons at people you dislike, for others it would be throwing grenades. I call it a thing because it wasn't created out of nowhere and I don't know whether it is an emotion or an instinct. However, we all know that it is wrong. So why do we feel the need for revenge? I have three examples of revenge for you to read. In the film 'Sleepers', four young boys are sent, by court order, to the Wilkinson Home for Boys. Whilst staying there in the home for boys, four grown men, who were guards, sexually abused, harassed and humiliated the boys. We fast-forward ten or so years to when the boys are in their mid-twenties. Mickey is a lawyer, Shanks is a journalist, Tommy and John are straight out criminals. One night, while having their dinner, Tommy and John notice Nokes (the leader of the four abusing guards). So, John and Tommy decide to have a chat with Nokes. Before exacting their revenge (via shooting him), they asked why he and his friends had abused them. Apparently, Nokes was toughening them up; they were too soft. Afterwards, Tommy and John are in court for shooting Nokes. Mickey had a plan to tell the public the truth about Wilkinson and to get Tommy and John off the hook. The whole trial was a set up. In the end two of the offending officers where shot, and the other two were sent to prison for the abuse they had induced. John, Tommy, Mickey, Shanks and Carol had a celebration after the court case for their revenge. It lasted for about three hours. However, it did not affect them for the long-term. Tommy and John did not live past 30, Mickey gave up

More about Is Revenge Ever Justified?

Open Document