Can be any genre really, but the theme should be examined thoroughly and not necessarily in an optimistic light. I’d love to read characters’/authors arguments not only against pursuing the revenge (like basic ones of sort ‘violence will only create more violence’), but also in favor of the vendetta.
P.S: solely scientific interest 🙂
by SoftwarePlayful3571
2 Comments
A classic that I feel really explores the topic of revenge well is The Count of Monte Cristo. I had grown up with the movie as a child and didn’t realize until I read the original book later on that Hollywood had truly glossed over the fallout from Edmond’s revenge and painted everything over as a happily-ever-after. The book will take you through all the emotions from the righteous anger at the betrayal the character experiences at the beginning, to the uncomfortable realization of how changed he truly is at the end after he achieves many of his vengeful goals. It left an impact on me as a young adult. Also (had nearly forgotten!) there are a few families the novel follows in addition to the main character Edmond, and their own subplots also revolve around revenge, justice, and the like. Fair warning that the book is lengthy and dense!
I feel like Once Were Warriers and its sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, both by Alan Duff, show how violence happens on a visceral level.
They don’t present arguments though. Rather, they present experiences. They are fiction, but based on the world the author grew up in.
They are NOT easy to take. Once Were Warriers, in particular, remains the most disturbing book I’ve ever read.
Hopefully that helps a bit.