If that [has] not avenged me, I can do no more!" (Hawthorne 122). Chillingworth is obsessed with taking personal revenge on Dimmesdale, but lets the community revenge itself on Hester. Puritan society persuades Chillingworth into evil, making him do anything to punish the couple who have sinned. Nonetheless, the revenge takes over Chillingworth’s life describing, "…That old man's revenge [is] blacker than my sin.
Giles Fraser explains in his article that when Jo Berry wanted to seek revenge on Patrick Magee, the man who killed her father but reminds us that revenge is inflicting pain on others but only hurt ourselves. In King Lear Shakespeare makes it clear that Edmund is a Bastard, not just because the way he is born but the way he acts throughout the play. The audience understands the feeling you will get if you went to a party and your dad said “Oh, here is my son his mother is a harlot, but we had fun together so here he is” who would not be mad. Also with the bastard name that follows him, Edmund does retaliate with schemes states “Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law, my service are bound. Wherefore should I, Stand in the plague of custom and permit, the curiosity of nations to deprive me,” (Shakespeare 1.2.1-4) so Edmund punish his father for the lack of respect he has gotten over the years.
The theme of action vs inaction was most striking in my personal response. This theme is shaped through the strong values of hatred and revenge, characterising Hamlet and his existential dilemma. Hamlet is a man uncertain of which course to take in the circumstances he has been presented with; should he murder the murderer of his father, seducer of his mother, the man who pushed in front of his claim to the throne and made an attempt on his life? Existentialism, particularly Soren Kiekegaard's works, focus on individual existence, freedom and choice, and the existence of the afterlife. Hamlet's courses of action, shaped by his hatred and revenge, and the consequences each bare lead to his existential dilemma.
There is often one companion that the vigilante can seek help from and reaffirm their belief in doing the right thing; the side kick. The vigilante is a memorable archetype that relates to the audience in that is more realistic than a pure and just hero, and the emotions that one feels when one sees crimes going unpunished. The vigilante haunted by the past, morally ambiguous, sacrifices all relationships except for the side kick in order to bring punishment to the wicked. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet is so determined to get his revenge for the murder of his father; he adopts the archetype of the vigilante. The beginning of the vigilante is a traumatic past.
Iago not only attempts to seek out his own personal revenge, but he manipulates several other characters in order to help him reach his own goal. He plays on the other characters’ weaknesses and personal tragedies to help him reach his own ultimate revenge. As is proven by the end of the play, Shakespeare is clearly stating his personal belief that revenge is improper. This can be seen through the ultimate downfall of Iago and all those involved. In his play Othello, Shakespeare uses the plot, characters, and ultimate destructive ending to all to show the reader his opinion that all revenge is improper.
When he says “Vengeance is in my heart” I think he means that most of the motives his actions are for “love” but not necessarily for his love over Tamora but also his love for being bad. “Death in my hand” means that he is responsible for all of the deaths and misery that he has caused. And when he says “Blood and revenge are hammering in my head” means that the thought of being evil and sadistic is always is his mind and it has become part of his life. He is one of the main characters of the play and is shown as the principal agent of vengeance. Every bad thing that comes out in this act is a direct result of Aaron's planning or initiative.
The tragic aspects of the play although stemming from Iago’s actions, all relate back to one cause, envy. The play illuminates the danger sof jealously and how just a bit can destroy lives. Jealousy is shapes the actions of Iago, Roderigo, and Othello, ultimately destroying lives. From the beginning of the play, Iago’s words forshadow his intentions. When Iago tells Rodergo that he has been denied a prmotion that was given to Cassio he states, “"And what was he?
At the same time he is directing the rest of the cast down a dark and tragic path. Self-preservation and self-promotion are Iago’s main goals. His amorality allows his him to embark on accomplishing these ideals by lying, stealing and eventually murdering the ones around him. He is an artist of words, able to manipulate people with his “silver tongue.” In the beginning of Act I the reader gets their first glimpse at Iago in action, as he is confronted by Roderigo about his misappropriation of the funds that were given to him to win Roderigo “favor” with Desdemona. Iago is able to skirt the issue and convince him of where his loyalties lie, “I follow to serve my turn upon him.
Similarly in Poe’s William Wilson the relationship that the main character has with his double is quite the same. At times he is fascinated by him “Deep awe” but that soon turns to hatred “Scoundrel!” Wilson's doppelganger is what you would say obssessed with Wilson, which other than looking exactly the same as him strains the relationship they have and turns it sour "imperious domination" . Wilson same as Marlowe was brought together with his double due to negative circumstances. However Wilson’s relationship with his doppelganger is rather sinister in the fact that his doubles presence is somewhat paranormal “damnable whisper”. Wilson wants to kill his double, remove him from his life and doesn’t have a problem doing so “frenzy” describes his hatred.
Montresor is a man that has wicked mind and with his wicked mind he successfully murder Fortunato. Montresor’s cruel mind allows him to carry out a repulsive thing. He tells us why he has this twisted mind when he says: “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.”(528) If we only knew why he carried out this terrible thing is true about the insult that Fortunato made calls for a murder. Montresor does not use fair methods to resolve his issue with Fortunato. He kills the man with his own wariness.