Of Revenge
by
Francis Bacon
(Summary
& Analysis)
The revenge that a man takes for a wrong done
to him by somebody represents an arbitrary kind of justice. The redress of a
wrong should be obtained through legal means, but revenge means setting the law
at naught. By taking revenge, a man can settle a score with his enemy. But if
he refrains from taking revenge, he shows a moral superiority over his enemy.
To forgive an enemy is a sign of an exalted heart. It was Solomon who said that
by ignoring a wrong that has been done to him, a man shows how noble he is.
A
man does a wrong in order to make a financial gain or for the pleasure of it or
in order to win a higher position or for some other similar reason. There is,
therefore, no point in feeling annoyed with a man just because he is selfish.
And if a man does a wrong merely because of his malicious nature, it is best to
ignore him because he is like the thorn or briar which can only prick and
scratch but serve no useful purpose. A man can be forgiven for taking revenge
for a wrong against which law provides no remedy. But, in such a case, a man
should be careful that his revengeful action is such as does not bring any
legal consequences with it because otherwise he will still be at a disadvantage
as compared with his enemy. It is generous on the part of a man to reveal his
identity to his victim when he takes revenge, because the pleasure lies not so much
in the retaliatory action but in making the enemy repent his misdeed. It is
commendable to forgive an enemy for doing us a wrong, but it is unwise to
forgive a treacherous or faithless friend. However, Job was morally superior in
declaring that, if we receive favours from our friends, we should also tolerate
injuries or wrongs from them. History tells us that public revenges have, by
and large, proved fortunate. But private revenges are not generally so
fortunate. Revengeful persons often live miserable lives.
Analysis
This
essay is an excellent example of Bacon’s tendency to dilute high ideals with
expediency and a utilitarian approach to life. When Bacon says that a man, who
pardons his enemies, reveals a noble heart, he certainly aims at a high ideal.
But he dilutes this high ideal by justifying a revenge that is taken for a
wrong for which there is no legal remedy. He shows his worldly wisdom when he
cautions a man, wishing to take revenge by saying that the revenge should be
such as there is no law to punish.
In
other words, Bacon would not mind a man’s taking revenge for those wrongs which
there is no law to remedy; but he would suggest a revenge which law cannot take
cognizance of. This is, indeed strange morality. In the same way, Bacon does
not feel angry with a man who loves himself better than others. Bacon is
slightly off the mark when he says that a person taking revenge finds pleasure
not in doing the hurt so much as in making the enemy repent. Actually, a man
takes revenge precisely in order to do the maximum possible damage to the
enemy. Bacon is, however, right when he says that a man who meditates revenge
keeps his own wounds green. He is also right when he says that revengeful persons
live miserable lives. Bacon’s attitude towards those who do willful injury to
their friends can also be defended.
This
essay is more or less a lesson in morality. It is a didactic essay and is an
intelligent study of human nature. As for style, this essay is a model of
compactness. Bacon’s terse and pithy manner of writing finds a perfect
illustration here. Many of the sentences have that aphoristic quality for which
Bacon is famous.
Bacon
makes a liberal use of quotations in his essays. This essay, which is very
brief, contains three quotations, one from Solomon, another from Cosimo de
Medici, and the third from Job. The ideas of this essay are such as go straight
to the bosoms and hearts of readers. In fact, we find in this essay a
confirmation of the ideas that most people already have in their minds.
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