The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled - but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The narrator vows to revenge a wrong done to him, ensuring he punishes without risk.
- In plain terms
- I promised to get revenge on Fortunato safely without getting caught.
- What can you take from it?
- Revenge is seen as incomplete if the avenger is not recognized.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does revenge become justice?
- Is forgiveness better than revenge?
Another view
It justifies extreme harm as a form of redress.
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