Of Revenge - Summary
(1) "And if any man should do wrong merely out of ill
nature, why, yet it is but like the thorn or briar, which prick and scratch,
because they can do no other. The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those
wrongs which thre is no law to remedy: by then let a man take heed the revenge
be such as there is no law to punish; else a man's enemy is still beforehand,
and it is two for one.
Reference - These lines are an extract from "Of Revenge" written by
Francis Bacon.
Context - Revenge is a kind of wild justice, so it should be avoided so far as
possible. In pardoning an offence, a man is superior. Solomon supported such
forgiveness. Explanation: In these lines, the great writer describes the
comparative nature of a revengeful man. He says that the bad nature of
revengefulness is certainly unexcusable. It causes only petty injuries which
are like the scratches which we get from the thorns. It does not harm us
anymore. By acting under such revengfulness men become like thorns only to
cause minor injuries. A man be careful when law places no punishment for such
an act of revengefulness.
(2) Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the
more ought law to weed it out. For as for the first wrong, it doth but offend
the law; but the revenge of that wrong pulteth the law out of office.
Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy : but in passing
it over, he is superior, for it is a prince's part to parden. And Solomon, I am
sure, saith, It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.".
Reference to the Context - These lines have been taken from Becon's essay 'Of
Revenge".
Explanation - Bacon says that revenge is natural to man. Man has a natural
inclination to take revenge for the wrongs done to him. Just as wild plants,
weeds grow quite naturally in the forest so also the desire for revenge grows
naturally in the human heart. The desire for revenge is natural but all the
same it must be rooted out as a gardner roots out weeds from the garden.
Revenge is the justice of the jungle, and so is opposed to civilized conduct.
Where the original injury is concerned, which provides the occasion for
revenge. it is merely a violation or breach of law but revenge which is taken
usurps the function of law, for offences should be punished by law-the legal
machinery of the state and not by the sufferers themselves. Individuals who
take revenge take, so to say, the law into their own hands. No doubt by taking
revenge, a man can settle a score with his enemy but then he brings himself on
the same devil as his enemy but in ignoring the wrong done or by forgiving his
enemy he exalts his own position in comparison to his enemy for it is the
characteristic of a great man, an act worthy of a King. It implies nobility and
large-heartedness worthy of a King. One who forgives, rises much higher than
one's enemy. Bacon says that it was most probably King Solomon, the wise who
had said that to forgive an offence done by someone shows the greatness of that
man.
Francis Bacon's Of Revenge
Explain Of Revenge
MA English Of Revenge summary
Of Revenge summary
English literature Of Revenge Summary
Francis Bacon's biography
Francis Bacon's Of Revenge Explanation