When I Think Killing Someone is Justifiable

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Recommended: Revenge as a theme in Literature

“We all know the civilized way to wreak revenge: You don’t. You rise above it. Francis Bacon saw this nearly 400 years ago,” said Susie Boyt (Boyt 2014). This isn’t always the case though and there are individuals in the world such as myself that believe differently. There are three types of revenge crimes that happen. There are silly childish forms of revenge such as tattling on a friend to a teacher. Another is a passion crime, a murder when the emotional stress becomes too much and a person snaps. Lastly, a justifiable crime, such as when the actions of a person are reasonable and a person is free of charges within the justice system. I believe that there are circumstances that happen in the world when it is justifiable to murder a person based on their actions.

In the short story “Killings,” by Andre Dubus, revenge, loss, and consequences are explored. Richard Strout, a man of little to no morality, committed a crime of passion, which I do not think is a justifiable crime, since he murdered a man who was in a relationship with his wife that he is separated from. Strout is an impatient and violent man with no boundaries. This is evident since he did kill Frank in front of his children and his estranged wife.

Many individuals try to forget about instances that shape them into the people they are. With out a doubt, the killing of Frank and the killing of Strout, form the character traits of Richard Strout and Matt. There are multiple things that occur time after time with acts such as these that were committed in Killings. There are no guilty feelings of remorse from Richard after the murder occurred. He seemed to feel completely justified in the killing of Frank and even makes the statement, "He was making it wi...

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... where somebody is intentionally hurting someone you care about deeply is a reason I believe that murder is justifiable.

Works Cited

Bennett, Chuck. "Tragic Kids of '01 Hamptons Slay: We Grew up In agony." New York Post Tragic Kids of 01 Hamptons Slay We Grew up Inagony Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

Boyt, Susie. "Tragic Desire for Revenge - FT.com." Financial Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

Dubus, Andre. “Killings.” Making Arguments about Literature: A Compact Guide and Anthology. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2005. 290-303.

The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New. Cambridge: Printed by John Field ..., 1668. Print.

"JUSTICE SERVED … Texas Dad Will Not Charged Who Beat To Death the Man Who Was Raping His 5 Year Old Daughter." ScaredMonkeys.Com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

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