Punishment
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›
7.Revenge and the blood feud
7a.Vengeance as a sacred duty of kin
See also: Family 10e · Revenge 8a · Emotion 4f
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 10Aegisthus paid the price for killing Agamemnon; Orestes will avenge; Athene approves that such doers perish.read · scan
- p. 15–17He should slay the wooers, as Orestes slew his father's murderer, by guile or openly.read · scan
- p. 35–38Orestes avenged his father by slaying Aegisthus, who paid a terrible reckoning.read · scan
- p. 39Orestes returns and slays Aegisthus, avenging his father, and holds a funeral feast over the slayer.read · scan
- p. 206–207Theoclymenus flees the kin of a man he slew, who seek to kill him in vengeance.read · scan
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 56Orestes will requite his father's blood, so vengeance answers vengeance.read · scan
Aeschylus, The Libation-BearersVol. 8
- p. 76–77Orestes prays to avenge his father's murder; the dead are wrathful against their slayers.read · scan
- p. 79Chorus urges praying that the slayer be slain; Electra asks whether vengeance may rightly be sought from heaven.read · scan
- p. 79–83She prays that the slayers be slain and lays a counter-curse on their prayer.read · scan
- p. 87–88Apollo's command that the slayers be slain; disobeyed, avengers bring disease, madness and outcast death.read · scan
- p. 89–91Blood demands blood; the dead's wrath will rise to reclaim vengeance.read · scan
- p. 93–95Orestes vows vengeance for his father's shameful burial, commanded by the gods, even at cost of his life.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 318–319Blessing invoked on one who repays Babylon as she served Israel, dashing her children.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 48Nitocris avenges her brother's murder by drowning the guilty at a banquet.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 145Ulysses's men avenge slaughtered comrades by blinding the sleeping Cyclops.read · scan
- p. 145The blinding is described as vengeance for slaughtered friends.read · scan
- p. 152–165She curses him with shipwreck and vows her ghost will haunt him.read · scan
- p. 165–167Dido's shade will know his punishment.read · scan
- p. 167Dido curses Aeneas, calling on the Furies and gods to avenge her and imposing hatred on Tyrians and heirs.read · scan
- p. 210Deiphobus prays that his betrayers suffer the same fortune.read · scan
- p. 325Aeneas refuses Magus's ransom plea, saying Turnus broke all rules of war and Pallas must be avenged.read · scan
- p. 325Aeneas kills without pity, citing Turnus's breach of the rules of war when Pallas fell.read · scan
- p. 355Evander demands Turnus' life as vengeance owed to the living and the dead.read · scan
- p. 366Diana orders that whoever slays Camilla shall not go unpunished.read · scan
- p. 383Diana's nymph Opis kills Aruns to avenge Camilla; the coward's name will be abhorred.read · scan
- p. 412Aeneas refuses mercy and kills Turnus as vengeance for Pallas, whose spoils Turnus wore.read · scan
Plutarch, CiceroVol. 12
- p. 258–259Pomponia takes revenge on the traitor Philologus, forcing him to cut off and eat his own flesh.read · scan
Plutarch, CaesarVol. 12
- p. 317–318Antony and young Caesar kill Octavius and Lentulus, punishing ill-will rather than avenging the deed.read · scan
BeowulfVol. 49
- p. 34–36Any Frisian who recalls the old hatred with a taunt is to be killed by the sword.read · scan
- p. 46–48Grendel is well paid for his raids; Beowulf guerdons him for the men he slew.read · scan
- p. 59Vengeance for a father's slaying drives retaliatory killing of the Dane.read · scan
- p. 68–70Beowulf repays the death of his lord by helping Eadgils slay the king.read · scan
- p. 70–72Murderer killed by kinsman in return for kinsman; blood vengeance.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 17The Jinni threatens to kill the merchant in retribution for his son's death.read · scan
- p. 182The brother takes vengeance, beheading the slave and girl for having lured and wounded him.read · scan
- p. 182He kills the treacherous old woman, but spares the captive damsel who pleads for pardon.read · scan
- p. 414–415Ala-ed-Din beheads the drugged Moor as retribution for his treachery.read · scan
- p. 421–423Ala-ed-Din kills the second sorcerer as retribution for his brother's schemes and for murdering Fatimeh.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 361–363Sigrun curses oath-breaking Dag with ruin; vengeance and recompense offered by wealth and lands.read · scan
- p. 377–380She predicts that Atli will avenge her and her woe will be avengedread · scan
- p. 391–394Vengeance is promised on the oath-breakersread · scan
- p. 400–403Gudrun vows vengeance on Atli for the brothers' coming slayingread · scan
- p. 414–417Gudrun stabs Atli and burns the hall as retribution for her brothers' murder.read · scan
- p. 417–418Gudrun burns Atli's household as vengeance; the song ends praising a bride who avenged her brothers.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 264–265The Volsung brothers are bound in stocks and devoured one by one; vengeance for Volsung's death is sought.read · scan
- p. 270–271Sigmund and Sinfjotli burn Siggeir's hall in vengeance for Volsung's slaying.read · scan
- p. 350–351Gudrun vows Atli will rue the killings; revenge is hidden behind sweet words.read · scan
- p. 352–353Gudrun and Hogni's son slay Atli in his sleep as vengeance, then burn the hall.read · scan
Jean Froissart, The Chronicles of FroissartVol. 35
- p. 69Tyler remembers past beating and takes vengeance by killing the merchant Richard Lyon.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 80–82The Jew's daughter murders the boy Hugh.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 148The earl's nephews try to avenge by burning the hermit, but he is preserved.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 143–144Cellini kills Pompeo as private vengeance.read · scan
- p. 303–304He wounds his accusers to force them to drop suits.read · scan
- p. 314Cellini calls his cruel treatment of Caterina a revenge on her husband, compounding the pleasure with profit.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 129Requital and vengeance for wrongs: the great man's injury is repaid by the meaner man he wronged.read · scan
Captain Walter Bigges, Drake's Great ArmadaVol. 33
- p. 238The English burn Santiago in revenge for the Spaniards' murder of Hawkins's men and the mutilated body of a boy.read · scan
- p. 241–242Drake hangs friars in reprisal for a murdered messenger and forces the Spaniards to execute the culprit; discipline hangs an Irishman.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, The Discovery of GuianaVol. 33
- p. 333Berreo executes Morequito in revenge for the slain friar and soldiers.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 138Revenge for his father's murder; he plans a play to catch the King's guilt.read · scan
- p. 161–162Hamlet refuses to kill Claudius at prayer, since it would send him to heaven; revenge must damn him.read · scan
- p. 162Hamlet kills Polonius by mistake for the King; the killing is rash and bloody.read · scan
- p. 184Laertes demands why Claudius did not punish Hamlet's capital crimes; revenge for his father promisedread · scan
- p. 186Laertes would cut Hamlet's throat in church; revenge should have no bounds; unbated sword plannedread · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 285–286Cornwall dies at the servant's hand while blinding Gloucester; Albany vows revenge for Gloucester's eyes.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 350–352Murderers embittered by fortune and Banquo's supposed wrongs are recruited by grievance.read · scan
- p. 378–381Macduff and Malcolm resolve on revenge against Macbeth; Macbeth is ripe for shaking.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 720–721The King sees his injuries must be revenged; Pharamond threatens vengeance if she is not found.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 786Ferdinand vows desperate physic, fire and blood to purge her.read · scan
- p. 786Ferdinand imagines burning the lovers and boiling their bastard.read · scan
- p. 814–817Ferdinand pursues revenge; she prays heaven punish tyrants.read · scan
- p. 850–852Bosola kills the Cardinal as retribution for the murder of his sister.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 45–52Segismund names himself heaven's avenging minister, accuser, judge and executioner, seeking retribution on the usurping King.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 253–255Damis seeks revenge, calling it a signal vengeance given by Providence.read · scan
John Dryden, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 393–395Vengeance is demanded for the unburied Grecian dead, and the Persian temples are burned.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 464–465Tell treats his oath to kill Gessler as a sacred debt of vengeance.read · scan
- p. 477Queen Agnes seeks vengeance on the murderers' whole race, servants, children and even castle stones.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 98–99Renzo threatens vengeance and death for the oppressor.read · scan
- p. 181Attilio plots revenge on the friar through his uncle the Count of the Privy Council.read · scan
- p. 586–587Renzo threatens vengeance on the man who separated him from Lucia.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 306She wants a swift, irreversible vengeance that will make her suffering a shadow beside the lightning avenging it.read · scan
- p. 318Orsino calls Cenci's death a just deed; hired Olimpio and Marzio, whom Cenci wronged, will do it.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 312–313The young storks desire revenge on the rude boys, while the mother defers it.read · scan
- p. 351He kills the Witch when she refuses to explain the Tinder-box.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1175–1177Queen Jane pursues dire vengeance, demanding the regicides' names and refusing burial until they are dead.read · scan
- p. 1177–1178The queen withholds burial until the slayers die by torments; she rejoices that they suffered more.read · scan
7b.The cycle of retaliation and the Furies
See also: Revenge 4a · Justice 9b · Sin 6b · Fate 6a
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 13Vengeance and counter-vengeance between farmer and serpent; reconciliation refused.read · scan
- p. 13–14The serpent refuses forgiveness, since neither can forget the death of the son or loss of the tail.read · scan
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 12–13Wrath at home lurks like a snake, biding its time to avenge a murdered child.read · scan
- p. 62–63She calls the killing recompense, evil for evil to an enemy disguised as friend.read · scan
- p. 64–65She says banishment would have atoned for his deed; the Chorus warns Fate will smite her likewise.read · scan
- p. 69–70The Chorus says the slayer of today dies tomorrow; Zeus's fixed law returns vengeance on the doer.read · scan
- p. 74Clytemnestra calls for an end to bloodshed and speaks of the Avenger; the chorus predicts Aegisthus will pay quittance.read · scan
Aeschylus, The Libation-BearersVol. 8
- p. 78–79Vengeance seeded in spilled blood inevitably brings pain to the guilty.read · scan
- p. 91–93Blood shed calls for more blood; Furies crown crime with crime, and the children pray for the avengers.read · scan
- p. 102–103Doers of impious deeds perish with their seed; the Fiend repays blood shed long ago.read · scan
- p. 114–115Vengeance long tarrying finally falls on Priam's and Agamemnon's houses' foes.read · scan
- p. 118–119Orestes flees as banished suppliant to escape the doom of kindred murder.read · scan
Aeschylus, The FuriesVol. 8
- p. 126–127The ghost goads the Furies to hunt Orestes down and exact vengeance for her blood.read · scan
- p. 127They vow unending fiend-wrath on the head of the blood-defiled slayer.read · scan
- p. 129–131Apollo threatens the Furies with his dart and describes bloody punishments as their proper home.read · scan
- p. 131–132The Furies hunt Orestes like hounds tracking a wounded fawn, following the scent of a mother's blood.read · scan
- p. 133Furies insist a mother's spilt blood is indelible and must be atoned by the slayer's own; Death records every deed.read · scan
- p. 134–136They claim to wring the price of blood from the slayer in life and in death.read · scan
- p. 136–137Blood atones for blood: they pursue kin-slayers, unmoved by tear or prayer, bringing the great low.read · scan
- p. 154–155The Furies threaten venom of vengeance blasting the land's crops and people.read · scan
- p. 160–162Those who do not feel the Furies' stern decree suffer sudden blows, however high their state.read · scan
BeowulfVol. 49
- p. 40Vengeance is repaid in kind, a dire exchange of loved ones' lives between Dane and Monster.read · scan
- p. 61Grendel's mother avenges her son by killing Aeschere, a retribution answered by Beowulf.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 418–421Hamdir accuses Gudrun of over-baleful vengeance for slaying her own sons.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 351–352Gudrun's monstrous vengeance on Atli; he threatens burning and stoning in return; retribution answers retribution.read · scan
- p. 355–356Swanhild is trampled and smothered; Gudrun incites her sons to avenge their sister.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 205–207The King's plot with the poisoned cup begins to turn upon the plotters.read · scan
- p. 207Hamlet forces the King to drink his own poison.read · scan
William Hamilton of Bangour, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 574–576She calls her father's hands bathed in slaughter and demands how he can woo her.read · scan
Thomas Gray, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 456–458Revenge and curse on the king; avengers of native land weave his line's ruin.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 429–430Nemesis avenges men on enemies and makes them repent their revenge.read · scan
William Morris, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1188–1190She fears God's pity failing and pleads mercy, not to be haunted forever.read · scan
Sidney Lanier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1395–1396Hamish demands ten blows on Maclean's back as vengeance for his own earlier flogging.read · scan
- p. 1397–1398Maclean is lashed and Hamish exacts revenge, showing retribution as cruel and treacherous.read · scan
7c.Revenge condemned; forgiveness and forbearance urged
See also: Emotion 4f
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 380James and John want fire from heaven on the inhospitable Samaritans; Jesus rebukes them.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 153Pittacus forgave a wrongdoer, saying forgiveness is better than revenge: gentleness against savagery.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 232–233The best way of avenging oneself is not to become like the wrongdoer.read · scan
- p. 246–247Pardon and pity, not anger, are the right response to wrongdoing.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 204Visions of meekness: a ruler forgives, Stephen prays for his stoners' forgiveness.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 364He resolves to take a greater revenge on enemies through his work than by killing one.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 462Quixote pardons Sancho and forgoes revenge over the blanket tossing.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 15Revenge should be only for wrongs no law remedies, and such that no law punishes it.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 50Gaveston beheaded by Warwick, against the law of arms; Edward vows vengeance on the barons.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 814Ferdinand calls pardon the honourable revenge, then cruelly torments her with a dead man's hand and wax figures.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 52Clotaldo counsels pardoning enemies who mistakenly took up the rod, per holy canon.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 365–366We retaliate rather than forgive; forgiving first wins the laurel.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, A Discourse upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among MankindVol. 34
- p. 190–191Violence was seen as reparable evil, not injury deserving punishment or revenge.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 120–122Prayer that enemies be shaken over hell, flogged by devils, or hanged.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 477–480Furst says revenge bears no fruit, feeding on itself and ending in despair; the murderers gain nothing from their crime.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 63–64Forgiveness replaces vengeance: the Signor pardons him.read · scan
- p. 394–395Agnese predicts God will repay Don Rodrigo; Lucia refuses to wish suffering on anyone and prays for his conversion.read · scan
- p. 481He accepts any harm as just retribution and denies himself the right to punish.read · scan
- p. 588Revenge is condemned; a hating heart will find all things punishment until it truly forgives.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 276Revenge, retaliation and atonement are called pernicious mistakes; injuries should be met with kindness and forbearance.read · scan
Treaty with the Six NationsVol. 43
- p. 232Retaliation is replaced by orderly complaint to preserve peace.read · scan
7d.Vengeance as God's alone
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 242–244Plea that God avenge the shed blood and repay neighbors sevenfold.read · scan
- p. 285Imprecation calling down ruin on the adversary: guilty verdict, fatherless children, cut-off posterity.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 240The murderers are hunted down and caught; Macedo was avenged in his lifetime.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 280God's vengeance will not be scared off by mere ritual; the guilty shall be slain.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 378Beatrice says the shout foretells vengeance he will witness.read · scan
- p. 379The sword of Heaven neither hastens nor lingers, except to those desiring or fearing it.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 182God punishes evil and rewards good, so honourable men should not be executioners.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 127–128Felix offers his death to atone for his perfidy; Severus threatens vengeance.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 220Son declares vengeance belongs to God alone and that he will pour indignation on the godless.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 70–72Willie begs God's vengeance on his enemies, the presbytery and Hamilton.read · scan
- p. 72–74Prays God to destroy his adversaries and spare not.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 287–288Bortolo warns that killing quarrelsome neighbours would mean facing God's tribunal with murders on one's head.read · scan
- p. 587–588Vengeance by man is contrasted with divine chastisement.read · scan
- p. 601–602Renzo argues the wrongdoer already suffered punishment; Lucia leaves judgment and mercy to God.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 437Manfred challenges the church to prove and punish; Abbot leaves vengeance to the Lord.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 310Orsino urges that Providence commits vengeance into human hands; neglecting to punish crime lets the criminal triumph.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 402He says vengeance is God's, not man's.read · scan
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›