After looking at some of the other student's projects for our class, I came across one that mentioned that Kohlhaas' actions were in the name of justice and revenge. Often times, people tend to confuse these terms with each other.
To help, I have posted some of the definitions that can be found on dictionary.com:
I. Justice: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/justice
–noun
1.the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
2.rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.
II. Revenge: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/revenge
–verb (used with object)
1.to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, esp. in a resentful or vindictive spirit: He revenged his murdered brother.
2.to take vengeance for; inflict punishment for; avenge: He revenged his brother's murder.
Society tries to regulate itself by administering justice over its members. Meaning that, if a wrong is done by one member to another, it is society's job to help seek justice for the victim. Often times, the victim seeks justice for the injustices done to them, and take the law into their own hands. What starts out as an attempt to seek justice, transforms into revenge!
When trying to distinguish between the two: one can look at the emotional side of the involvement. Justice must must be impartial, devoid of emotional attachment to the situation. When justice is driven by the emotional attachment of the victim, it leads to revenge.
I think Kohlhaas starts out with good intentions by seeking justice for the wrongdoings done at the hands of the Junker von Tronka. He follows the legal route, and when that fails him he decides to take matters into his own hand. He is driven by his anger at society for failing him and eventually he seeks his own justice for the wrongdoing. Driven by his anger, the line between justice and revenge becomes blurred.
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Is there ever really anything but a blurry line between justice and revenge? When justice fails, as is quite common, what other action is there to take? Where is justice when someone breaks into a home, the homeowner tries to defend him/herself and the criminal can win a lawsuit against that person? Where is justice when a rapist or murderer gets off scot-free? Seeing a guilty party get away with a crime can eat away at a person. In this kind of instance wouldn't vengeance be justified? Kind of a temporary insanity type of situation?
ReplyDeleteJustice can often be swayed if you know the right people or have enough money for the right lawyer. The statue of justice is kind of a farce in my opinion. The blindfold seems to be pushed up just enough so she can see a little bit and she probably has a third hand hiding under the table somewhere to take bribes from the rich, powerful or privileged. Just a bit of food for thought...
I like how you point out that justice is supposed to be impartial and that revenge is driven by emotion. I do think however, that impartial may be only in a perfect world. There is rarely anyone capable of true impartiality- that is why Kohlhaas did not get justice from the legal system in the first place- because they were not impartial.
ReplyDeleteDer Namenlose~
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you that there is a blurry line between justice and revenge. Often times justice is not upheld and people seek their own revenge, however, I do not agree on the point where you mention that actions can sometimes be justified.
I understand that the justice system does not always work the way that we need or want it to. That murderers, rapists and other such criminals get away with crimes every single day. Does it bother me...hell yes! But does that really justify the victim to commit the same heinous crimes? If this is justified, then we are just creating more criminals in the long run.
Allison0123~
I totally agree with you that there is anyone truly capable of impartiality and that is exactly why Kohlhaas was unable to receive justice for the wrongs done to him. In a perfect world, this would not have happened. Unfortunately, for Kohlhaas and everyone else, we do not live in a perfect world.