The Shapes of Revenge

Book excerpt: This approach to Shakespeare's treatment of revenge emphasizes the psychology of revenge and, in particular, the relationship of revenge to the experience of victimization. Instead of assuming that dramatic avengers reflect mental imbalance to be condemned for moral and civil offenses, Keyishian treats revenge as a strategy by which victims strive to restore personal integrity and recover from feelings of powerlessness, violation, and injustice. Keyishian bases his discussion on Renaissance theories about the proper and beneficial role of the passions, from Aristotle and Aquinas to Francis Bacon, Niccolo Machiavelli, and others. His study ranges from authentic and redemptive avengers like Macduff to purely vindictive ones like Iago.