Course Introduction and Readings
Although revenge may be "a dish best served cold," its intensity can scorch the pages of classic and contemporary literature. The desire to retaliate when you have been (or feel you have been) wronged can be found and has governed works as diverse as Hamlet, Titus Andronicus, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and The Godfather.
In this course we first will consider a brief historical overview of the revenge genre and then discuss reasons for its enduring popularity. We then will study closely specific essays, short stories, plays, and novels that hinge on seeking revenge, the injuries provoking it, the actions taken, the resulting after-effects, and the morality of "getting even."
Additionally, film clips will be shown in class and discussed.
In this course we first will consider a brief historical overview of the revenge genre and then discuss reasons for its enduring popularity. We then will study closely specific essays, short stories, plays, and novels that hinge on seeking revenge, the injuries provoking it, the actions taken, the resulting after-effects, and the morality of "getting even."
Additionally, film clips will be shown in class and discussed.
Class Readings
Francis Bacon, "On Revenge" (essay, 1625)
- https://www.thoughtco.com/of-revenge-by-francis-bacon-1690067
- https://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/caska.htm
- https://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/hopfrgb.htm
- http://bomedia3.pbworks.com/f/Ray%20Bradbury%20Usher%20II.pdf
- http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/12/19/stone-mattress
- http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lamb.htm
John Cheever, "The Five-Forty-Eight" (story)
Euripides, Medea (play)
Charles Portis, True Grit (novel)
Louise Erdrich, The Round House (novel)
Laura Blemenfeld, "The Apology: Letters from a Terrorist" (article)
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/03/04/the-apology-2
Optional book:
Laura Blumenfeld, Revenge: A Story of Hope (non-fiction)