So I'm utilizing this blog space after two whole years! This was an assignment I had when I was studying Creative Writing a few years ago. Stumbled upon it while I was clearing out my overflowing desk. I was pretty smart for a twenty-three year old! We had to write whatever came to mind when given the word 'revenge'. Here's what I wrote:
It is said that revenge is best served cold. The saying is probably true; when you focus on the hurt, anger and agony that an enemy or friend-turned-enemy has caused, you re-live the humiliation that moment caused you. The more time you spend thinking about it, the more devious your mind can become. The fact that so many people never have 'comebacks' when someone is rude to them shows that these people are inherently nice. They don't have easily accessible negative thoughts floating around in their minds. Thus when confronted, they are too shocked to respond with anything mean. However, as they recall the moment again, they come up with nasty things that they could have said but didn't. Mature people forget about the moment and move on with their lives. Or they never really forget the moment, but they do forgive the offender. Alternatively, people carry the resentment with them but never voice out their opinions. This is actually the worst way to deal with anger because if one lets anger and humiliation build, eventually, this seemingly calm person will vent all the pent-up feelings and the result won't be pretty, to put it mildly.
Nonetheless, revenge is a word that makes many uncomfortable. It brings to mind dramatic Hindi movies where the hero avenges the death of his loved ones. The 'villain' is generally a stereotypical bad guy who doesn't have one good bone in him. The fact that good and evil are so clearly distinguished in cinema is what makes it unrealistic. In reality, most of us have good and bad in us. In the real world, everything isn't always black and white. There are shades of grey all around. And that us probably why I haven't enjoyed writing my thoughts on revenge. Writing this post is bringing back memories of instances when people have been rude to me and I haven't had the guts to get my revenge. Or worse, moments where I have retaliated and hated myself for it. For when you give in to anger, you completely lose control of your words and actions. And while spectators may think you had the mettle to stand up for yourself, your conscience isn't convinced. That is what keeps you awake all night when you've had a fight and hurt others. And so, while revenge has been the theme for many a hit movie, make it the theme for your life and it is bound to flop.
It is said that revenge is best served cold. The saying is probably true; when you focus on the hurt, anger and agony that an enemy or friend-turned-enemy has caused, you re-live the humiliation that moment caused you. The more time you spend thinking about it, the more devious your mind can become. The fact that so many people never have 'comebacks' when someone is rude to them shows that these people are inherently nice. They don't have easily accessible negative thoughts floating around in their minds. Thus when confronted, they are too shocked to respond with anything mean. However, as they recall the moment again, they come up with nasty things that they could have said but didn't. Mature people forget about the moment and move on with their lives. Or they never really forget the moment, but they do forgive the offender. Alternatively, people carry the resentment with them but never voice out their opinions. This is actually the worst way to deal with anger because if one lets anger and humiliation build, eventually, this seemingly calm person will vent all the pent-up feelings and the result won't be pretty, to put it mildly.
Nonetheless, revenge is a word that makes many uncomfortable. It brings to mind dramatic Hindi movies where the hero avenges the death of his loved ones. The 'villain' is generally a stereotypical bad guy who doesn't have one good bone in him. The fact that good and evil are so clearly distinguished in cinema is what makes it unrealistic. In reality, most of us have good and bad in us. In the real world, everything isn't always black and white. There are shades of grey all around. And that us probably why I haven't enjoyed writing my thoughts on revenge. Writing this post is bringing back memories of instances when people have been rude to me and I haven't had the guts to get my revenge. Or worse, moments where I have retaliated and hated myself for it. For when you give in to anger, you completely lose control of your words and actions. And while spectators may think you had the mettle to stand up for yourself, your conscience isn't convinced. That is what keeps you awake all night when you've had a fight and hurt others. And so, while revenge has been the theme for many a hit movie, make it the theme for your life and it is bound to flop.
