Justice Vs Revenge Research Paper

Justice V. Revenge
“Only remember this: to seek justice is a good and noble thing, to seek revenge out of hatred is something that will devour your very soul.”(James Mace). One of the themes in Othello is the ideas of justice and revenge. It has been argued that the concepts of justice and revenge are the same, however they are very different. Not only do the two consist of completely different methods of achieving each one, but Justice is more satisfying that revenge. Justice does not come at the expense of one’s character and it last longer than an act of revenge.
Revenge involves harming another person in an attempt to right a wrong. Harming another person to get even is previously conceived as the most satisfying way to make a situation

right. However revenge often causes harm to the person enacting it as well as the person on which revenge is taken upon. In Othello, the main character Othello is distraught when he is convinced that his wife is cheating on him. He believes that the best way to correct this is to kill her, “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light.”(V.II.6-7).This however quickly backfires on him, because he realizes that Desdemona was faithful to him. Othello then kills himself, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” (V.II.376-377). Although Othello thought he was doing the right thing by killing Desdemona he realizes that he was wrong and he commits suicide because he is so upset with himself.
Justice is deserved punishment that rights a wrong. Justice sometimes comes in ways that are least expected, however does not come at the expense of the heroes character. In Othello the main antagonist does everything in his power to keep Cassio from having any power under Othello. Justice is served when Cassio is reinstated with a higher title then before after the truth about Iago’s plan is revealed, “You must forsake this room and go with us. Your power and your command is taken off and Cassio rules in Cyprus.” (V.II.346-349). Cassio did not have to compromise his morals to get justice for the wrong that was committed against him; Cassio was rewarded because he stayed true to his character.
Justice is more satisfying than revenge because it is long lived and is not a short resolution. In Othello justice was not the death of the villain but the downfall. When Othello finds out that Iago lied to him he stabs him out of revenge, but when Iago survives Othello reveals he is glad he has to live, “I am not sorry neither. I’d have thee live, for in my sense ’tis happiness to die. (V.II.303-304). If Iago had died then Othello would only feel justified at the moment and would later regret that Iago was not punished more. When Iago lives, he is stripped of his power and must spend his life being punished for ruining so many lives, “For this slave, if there be any cunning cruelty that can torment him much and hold him long, it shall be his.” (V.II.349-352).
In conclusion, as demonstrated in the play Othello, revenge and justice are not the same thing and justice is the more satisfying option. Justice allows for closure while revenge opens up another set of issues for the person enacting it.