THE NEW REVENGE AND THE OLD RETRIBUTION: INSIGHTS FROM MONTE CRISTO

Abstract

What do crime victims want? The answer suggested by Alexandre Dumas’ iconic character Edmund Dantés in The Count of Monte Cristo suggests that victims may want retribution, not revenge. Victims may seek more than restored honor or personal restitution. They may long for justice to prevail as an affirmation that the world still makes sense. Yet, Dumas also reminds us through the novel that human justice is only human and cannot provide this kind of cosmic guarantee. From this perspective, it is revenge, not retribution that looks more measured and more humane.

Citation

Ross Meyer, L. (2003), "THE NEW REVENGE AND THE OLD RETRIBUTION: INSIGHTS FROM MONTE CRISTO", Studies in Law, Politics and Society (Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, Vol. 31), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 119-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1059-4337(03)31005-1