There is a common theme in my favorite stories — in Hamlet, Dune, the Iliad, the Odyssey, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Crow, Conan The Barbarian, V For Vendetta and so on –: that theme is revenge.
Why such an intense love for this theme in stories? Because only in stories are we still allowed to unabashedly revel in the joy we instinctively experience in taking revenge upon our enemies, an instinct I think is especially strong in me. Often it is too strong for my own good, but it is also an instinct without which I could not survive, a source of belligerence that allows me the liberty to show the enormous generosity I show to those I consider worthy. Deny me the ability to be cold to some and you deny me the ability to be warm to others. I could not take such risks without being sure of my ability to insure that I become no one’s victim. As we progressively deny humans the ability to exact vengeance, we progressively deny them the intimacy and the depth of love they once felt. We head towards mediocrity in all of our feelings towards others. The capacity for hatred is the price of true love.