Mr Martin And Miss Dent example essay topic

Revenge Defined Through Fiction Revenge. One of the definitions in Webster's Dictionary refers to it as a chance to get even, as by a return match after having lost the first one. Revenge can be found inhuman nature, but can be best and most vividly described when written. Many authors seem to find that adding revenge to a plot can lead the reader to believe something is true when in reality there can be an unexpected twist to the story just waiting to happen. This leaves the reader guessing, hanging on every word, and makes for an interesting story. Fiction is usually an excellent channel of this because the revenge in the plot is well thought out by the author.

In stories such as The Catbird Seat by James Thurber, The Five-Forty-Eight by John Cheever, and Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Bashevis Singer, the theme of revenge is prevalent. Even though it is found in all three stories, the most classic example is Mr. Martin's plan for revenge. Miss Dent and Gimpel, even though having planned revenge, seemed to have achieved something greater. Because of Mr. Martin's inability to go through with his murder plot, his revenge on Mrs. Barrows became even more satisfying than he expected.

The original plot consisted of Mrs. Barrows being rubbed out (553). The plan was moving along very smoothly until Mr. Martin realized he had forgotten something very important- the murder weapon. This signifies that even if Mr. Martin had actually wanted to kill Mrs. Barrows, his subconscious knew that he would not do it. After realizing that he had forgotten the murder weapon, inthe back if his mind a vague idea stirred, sprouted (556). The plan would be to make Mrs. Barrows think that he was preparing a bomb to blow up that old windbag, Mr. Fitweiler and he would also make her think that he was on heroin (557).

When she went to informer. Fitweiler of this, she ended up incriminating herself because everyone thought that shew as crazy. Mr. Marti was then left with no guilt on his conscience about any wrongdoing because Mrs. Barrows did it all herself. He escaped the consequences of being arrested and taken to prison by not killing her.

Also, what made the revenge all the more satisfying was the fact that Mrs. Barrows finally realized what head done when she said, If you weren t such a drab, ordinary little man, I d think you planned it all. My God it's really too perfect (558). In the end Mr. Martin finally got to sit in the catbird seat (553). Similar to Mr. Martin, Miss Dent planned to take revenge on Blake, but she, unlike Mr. Martin, willingly relinquished it for something greater.

When she was in the coal yard with Blake, she first wanted him to feel the pain that he had caused her. Miss Dent did not care about Blake at that point, but just knowing that she could determine his fate gave her a sense of power. She expressed this when she says, Kneel down! Kneel down! Do what Is ay.

Kneel down! (89). Threatening Blake was not just to get even, she did it to make herself feel better. In the end, Miss Dent did not kill Blake because she found a kindness in herself and she told him, Oh, I m better than you, I m better than you, and I shouldn taste my time or spoil my life like this (89). If revenge had taken place, she would have killed him right there, but instead she gave it up for empowerment. In relinquishing her original intent, she gains back her dignity and self worth which was much more important tower than revenge.

Like Mr. Martin and Miss Dent, Gimpel's original plot for revenge was to create harm, but resulted in something greater than simple revenge. Because of his deviation from this plan, he was able to attain knowledge and experience the world, something that thepeople of Fram pol would never get to do. Throughout Gimpel's life, the town made fun of him, but he let himself be taken advantage of because he knew that anything could be true (99). Elk a's appearance to him to tell him not to serve the bread he had urinated in was a turning point in Gimpel's life. He decided that it was time to break free from the cruel town.

He told his apprentice, I know what I m doing and he went into the world (108). Gimpel, even though he became a homeless storyteller, enjoyed his travels and thepeople he met because they were kind and listened to his stories. In his old age, Gimpel achieved a greater wisdom when he finally confirmed to himself that there were no lies because anything was possible. In all three stories, the characters stray from their original intent to create harm. This could tell us something about human nature. The writers of these stories probably realized that even though most people would like to take an evil revenge, most of us are not capable of doing so.

In the end, the sweetest and most satisfying revenge to take is for us to be true to ourselves and not let others actions affect us.