What is the Problem with Revenge

This volume was first published by Inter-Disciplinary Press in 2013. This multidisciplinary book furthers the debate on the much-contested concept of revenge. It offers a combination of conceptual arguments, and historical, fictional and socio-cultural examples of revenge. What is revenge? Is it a deliciously sweet and non-fattening affair, as Alfred Hitchcock suggested? Or is it, as John Ford argued, an all-consuming affair, inevitably proving more damaging to the avenger? Herein lies the focus of this book: it explores the puzzling, conflicting and intricate nature of revenge. Welcome to the conundrum. With sixteen multidisciplinary chapters, this book tries to disentangle this puzzlement. The first section of this book explores the philosophical dimensions, including notions of the self and the linking of 'punishment' and 'revenge.' The second section offers historical perspectives on revenge, from nation states in conflict situations to the internal battles of an ancient royal family. The third section investigates socio-cultural examples of revenge, consisting of ethnographic accounts of cultures and examinations of mass killings. Finally, the fourth-and largest-section examines the 'storytelling' of revenge, ranging from classical literature depictions to contemporary televisual narratives