What Is The Meaning Of The Phrase, "A Wrong Is Unredressed ... - Notes

Sunday, August 9, 2015

What is the meaning of the phrase, "A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser"?

Montresor takes a lot of pride in explaining (or over-explaining) the means, reasons, and effects of his revenge. In this phrase, Montresor is saying that a wrong is not really avenged if the punishment (retribution) controls or overtakes the redresser (Montresor). What is meant by "overtakes"? I think it means one of two things. The wrong is not really avenged if the retribution becomes more important than the person exacting the retribution. In other words,...

Montresor takes a lot of pride in explaining (or over-explaining) the means, reasons, and effects of his revenge. In this phrase, Montresor is saying that a wrong is not really avenged if the punishment (retribution) controls or overtakes the redresser (Montresor). What is meant by "overtakes"? I think it means one of two things. The wrong is not really avenged if the retribution becomes more important than the person exacting the retribution. In other words, Montresor wants to punish Fortunato, but he wants this to be about himself and Fortunato. The other, more accepted explanation of this line is that the redresser should not get caught. This is what is meant by the retribution taking over the redresser. If the redresser gets too involved with the retribution, he may forget the overall strategy. He may get careless and get caught. He will be overtaken by the retribution. Montresor seems to be saying that revenge will not be as satisfying if he gets caught himself. So, he vows to remain in control of the retribution. 

This is why Montresor chooses to bury Fortunato. He essentially hides all evidence of his crime. In this way, he completely controls the retribution and the evidence. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Is Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre a feminist novel?

Feminism advocates that social, political, and all other rights should be equal between men and women. Bronte's Jane Eyre discusses many...

  • Who is the intended audience of "Dulce et Decorum Est"? Interestingly, the intended audience for Wilfred Owen's graphic war poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" is other poets, specifically o...
  • Discuss how the geostrategic location of Kenya is behind the British occupation of the country. Geostrategic location refers to the reason why a place is important because of its geography.  Kenya offered some important benefits for Gre...
  • What are the poetic devices found in Edgar Guest's poem "Equipment"? Guest uses a broad array of poetic techniques and devices in "Equipment." Let's start with the most basic. The poem uses line ...

Search This Blog

  • Home

Report Abuse

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2015 (1065)
    • ▼  August 2015 (96)
      • Does imperialism as a foreign policy result in mor...
      • Critic Catherine Golden describes what happens to ...
      • What does Captain Keller mean when he says, "The h...
      • What happened the night the narrator hung Pluto? W...
      • What evidence could be used to say that Atticus wa...
      • Where was the Civil War fought?
      • What are the most important facts regarding women'...
      • What is the significance of the blossoming of the ...
      • Although a skilled actor, it is only when Hamlet i...
      • What is evidence from the passage that shows Eveli...
      • What would be an object/item which is representati...
      • How should I approach writing a thesis on why spor...
      • Why do we call Matthew, Mark, and Luke the synopti...
      • What is the overall mood at Jack's feast in Lord O...
      • Why is the crown related to Macbeth?
      • According to Shaw, Professor Higgins has "touches ...
      • Is Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest a...
      • From what point of view is James Thurber's story "...
      • How do acids and bases affect our environment?
      • What aspects of friendship are seen in The Epic of...
      • A 1000 W microwave is used for 0.15 h, how much el...
      • Predict reasons that a citizen would apply for rel...
      • Why were the Anti-Federalists against a strong fed...
      • What are some examples of asyndeton in Charlotte P...
      • Question a..Petrol remains affordable because it i...
      • What types of stylistic elements can you identify ...
      • When it comes to The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin...
      • In the novel Never Let Me Go, do the guardians fee...
      • In Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3, what is an example of d...
      • In "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara, what were...
      • How would one write a character sketch of Jeremiah...
      • What is a hook for an essay talking about green in...
      • What lie did Bud tell the man in the fancy car in ...
      • What happens to end the Witches' Sabbath in "Young...
      • In Slaughterhouse-Five what detail about the hog b...
      • What literary devices do the sane people in Hamlet...
      • Give an example of a movie or book character who t...
      • Discuss how "development" and "underdevelopment" a...
      • Is Jay Gatsby someone to envy or pity in The Great...
      • In what way is Candy similar to his dog? How does ...
      • How does the author's reference to The Arabian Nig...
      • Discuss any four modes of transport and briefly el...
      • Why did Helen Stoner visit Holmes?
      • What is the context for this paragraph from Act II...
      • How are Crooks and Curley's wife presented in Of M...
      • `1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1` Write an expression for the ...
      • Which characters inform Scout about proper behavior?
      • In Lord of the Flies, chapter 6, what connection d...
      • Why does Mary Maloney insist the police eat the le...
      • What “streak” does Atticus tell Aunt Alexandra tha...
      • In his opening paragraph of his letter, King says ...
      • I have chosen the question, "Compare the ways in w...
      • What does the following quote mean by W.E.B. Duboi...
      • How does Junior change throughout the story and ho...
      • To The Doctor Who Treated Poem Analysis
      • How does Shakespeare present Lord and Lady Capulet...
      • What are the conflicts in "Shooting An Elephant"?
      • What does the last line, "Now what the hell ya sup...
      • In The Crucible, why does Ann Putnam dislike Rebec...
      • What is the poem "A Poison Tree" mainly about?
      • What happens when Nagaina and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi get...
      • Where would you be likely to find a market economy?
      • How can I justify the main characters in Macbeth?
      • How many times is night invoked in Shakespeare's M...
      • What is relation between force and pressure?
      • In what city and state does Raymond Carver's "Cath...
      • What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk abou...
      • What is the dramatic importance of the coat episod...
      • What is the meaning of the phrase, "A wrong is unr...
      • Susan likes a lot of sugar in her tea. She cannot ...
      • On what page is this passage in Fahrenheit 451?"Do...
      • Does South Africa have any current conflicts with ...
      • Do you think the ending of the story is appropriat...
      • Is news spreading quickly a positive or negative q...
      • Why is Niccolo Machiavelli still considered import...
      • Why do cats always land on their feet?
      • How many musical compositions can be found from th...
      • I have a container that has CO2 in it. The root-me...
      • What is an important detail about the house from t...
      • Compare and contrast the rise of the Klan with the...
      • What are some pros and cons of the Louisiana Purch...
      • What questions did Anti-Federalists ask Federalists?
      • What is the impact of women in society today?
      • What is Betty Parris' condition?
      • Describe the relationship between Bessie and Nora ...
      • Is The Little Prince an allegory, fable, fairy tal...
      • In To Kill a Mockingbird, what are some quotes to ...
      • I need to write an essay that relates to the follo...
      • What are some examples of Daisy hiding behind a ma...
      • In the play Julius Caesar, what kind of a friendsh...
      • What hallucination is Macbeth describing in Act 2,...
      • I am creating a class assignment for a senior Engl...
      • What was the significance or importance of the Pen...
      • At the end of "Winter Dreams," what happens to Judy?
      • How does the fossil record show us that species ha...
      • Who was the intended audience of slave narratives?

Tag » A Wrong Is Unredressed When Retribution