Vengeful Defence

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Recommended: pros and cons of revenge

The nineteenth century author William Makepeace Thackeray once said, “Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural”. The need to right a wrong is in human nature. It has been in such a way since the beginning of humanity. In the stories “The Lamb to the Slaughter” by Rahl Dauhl, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, and “The Coffin” by Ray Bradbury, the main characters are all wronged by another person. All three go by their human nature to take revenge, and all three result in the death of another. Even though revenge is in human nature, revenge that results in death is only justifiable in cases of self defense.
To be considered as self defense, the defender must believe that they are being threatened. Charles in “The Coffin” always hated his lazy younger brother. One day, when he knew his death was near, he built a foolproof trap that would insure the death of him. Mary in “the Lamb to the Slaughter” lived as a normal housewife. She always cooked and cleaned, until one day when her husband informed her that he wanted to get a divorce. She was so devastated that she hit him on ...

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