vengeance

Vengeance is the act or intention to punish or retaliate against someone for a real or perceived wrong, often driven by anger, grievance, or the desire for retribution. The term derives from Old French vengeance and Latin vindicatio, reflecting a historical sense of defending rights or restoring honor.

In everyday usage, vengeance and revenge are frequently used interchangeably, but some distinctions are made. Vengeance can imply a sustained motive or a broader pattern of retaliation, or it may emphasize the moral charge of balancing harms. Revenge tends to denote a specific retaliatory act aimed at undoing a wrong and may be less concerned with broader justice.

Vengeance appears as a central theme across cultures and genres. In myth and literature, it often drives plots and raises questions about justice, memory, and the cost of retaliation. Classic works such as the Oresteia and Shakespearean plays explore how cycles of vengeance can spiral into further violence and tragedy, prompting readers to consider whether justice is achieved or merely perpetuated.

Ethical and legal considerations distinguish individual vengeance from formal systems of redress. Modern societies generally seek to replace personal retaliation with codified justice, and vigilantism is typically illegal and risky, frequently widening harm. Social norms increasingly favor restraint, reconciliation, or lawful redress to prevent the escalation associated with vengeance.

Ultimately, vengeance raises enduring questions about justice, harm, and social order, with responses ranging from forgiveness and reform to the pursuit of lawful punishment.