If someone read the whole thing, i would like to hear your thoughts. I'm very sorry if i worded anything wrong. Here's the main point for revenge stories; Character A suffered for a very long time because of Character B, so thus Character A is filled with rage and decides to direct that rage out at Character B. It's theorectically okay since the rage is directed at a deserving target right? Now what happens if Character B isn't available, for example dead, what happens then? Revenge is just anger in it's purest form, and anger is an amoral emotion. Because of that, what describes as deserving or justice or fairness doesn't really matter here. They could've move on if Character B is dead, sure, but that would be really difficult. So the Sins of the Father comes right in— directing the rage at someone who's related to Character B and they're mostly innocent. Do they deserve it? Of course not, it's not their crime. So the righteous fury is not, well, righteous anymore. Now, what if a story is about this trope? How are you gonna feel? Pissed off by the main character cause they're directing their rage at someone who doesn't deserve it? I have seen revenge stories where, well, the main character being heroic because they're stopping the bad guys and for other reasons such as self satisfaction as well. But what if it's the complete opposite? Quotes from Red, "Vengeance can be justified, but justification is the same thing as an excuse" and "An eye for an eye, no matter who that eye is from" I would like to read a story on what their take on this trope.
I have to say, I love revenge tropes, though it could just be speaking to something sadistic in me, or just to my copious amount of trauma. They have been and will probably continue to be my favorite, however only when it is justified.
Revenge is really only fun if the ass hole is alive and taking your rage out on their kin is unacceptable, because no matter how justifiable your anger is (it is okay to be angry, actually, even being able to feel anger is healthy, and it is an important part of processing emotions) if you take it out on the innocent, you allow the asshole to change you, and that gives them power, even beyond the grave.
Now, if a main character does try to take it out on an innocent side character/people who were uninvolved in the matter, that doesn't always mean they're bad, if they succeed its bad, but if they don't and coming face to face with them on their path to revenge heals them and makes them feel even a little better and allows them to grow, then they are not bad. It may have been a little misguided, but it's what they felt was right and they didn't cause any irreversible damage. In that case, it becomes less about revenge and more about healing.
Ultimately, with these things it's important to understand how trauma affects people, trauma can run you into the ground and break you, and with that, it is also important to note that nothing is completely right or wrong. You would be better off defining matters like these by your own principles.
Thank you for your answer! Like what you said, this trope could've been more healing to the character rather than focusing on revenge, and i like to see that actually.
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I have to say, I love revenge tropes, though it could just be speaking to something sadistic in me, or just to my copious amount of trauma. They have been and will probably continue to be my favorite, however only when it is justified.
Revenge is really only fun if the ass hole is alive and taking your rage out on their kin is unacceptable, because no matter how justifiable your anger is (it is okay to be angry, actually, even being able to feel anger is healthy, and it is an important part of processing emotions) if you take it out on the innocent, you allow the asshole to change you, and that gives them power, even beyond the grave.
Now, if a main character does try to take it out on an innocent side character/people who were uninvolved in the matter, that doesn't always mean they're bad, if they succeed its bad, but if they don't and coming face to face with them on their path to revenge heals them and makes them feel even a little better and allows them to grow, then they are not bad. It may have been a little misguided, but it's what they felt was right and they didn't cause any irreversible damage. In that case, it becomes less about revenge and more about healing.
Ultimately, with these things it's important to understand how trauma affects people, trauma can run you into the ground and break you, and with that, it is also important to note that nothing is completely right or wrong. You would be better off defining matters like these by your own principles.
Thank you for your answer! Like what you said, this trope could've been more healing to the character rather than focusing on revenge, and i like to see that actually.
I love creating this kind discussions/topics actually, so whenever i thought of something, i might feel like posting it here.