Lex Talionis

by jclong

Gendo is a man possessed by a singular, all-encompassing goal: the return of Yui. To this end, he crafted his great scenario and set himself against SEELE and Yui's designs. Misato is a woman driven by the all-encompassing need for revenge; to that end, she has created a scenario of her own. What will come of those caught in the crossfire? Whose plan will win?

Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Lex Talionis

Retribution is not simple justice or mere punishment.

Justice is blind and therefore not appropriate to redress insult upon injury. The dispassionate meting out of punishment is not sufficient for fulfilling the obligation to restore personal or family honor.

Revenge solves everything that these do not.

The aspects of vendetta must be carefully considered if revenge is being sought. For perfection to be had, three aspects are necessary: it must be emotional, it must be symbolic, and it must be total.

For it to be symbolic, the nature of the insult must be addressed in the execution of revenge. It must be artistic in its execution and infliction. It is not enough to merely kill a man who has seen one falsely imprisoned; he must be incarcerated in turn. Insult for insult, loss for loss, dishonor for dishonor.

For it to be emotional, the subject of the vendetta must know that you have orchestrated their downfall from the very heights of their station. They must taste the wine of success before supping the dregs of loss, and they must know that it was you who served it to them. Their immediate understanding may be immaterial to your revenge depending on their final disposition. If your plans do not see them dead, a long, miserable life where they slowly puzzle out the reason why may be preferable.

For it to be total, they must be stripped of all avenues of redress, all methods of escape, and every move they may take must leave them in a worse position than before. It must be final and irrecoverable. The subject's death is not always required; in some cases, it is preferable that it be avoided. However, your revenge must be so all-encompassing that nothing else they may do or achieve in life will remove the taste of your victory from their mouths.

If perfection is to be had, the road to satisfaction may be long and fraught with peril. Careful study, meticulous planning, and flawless execution are all required. Diligent utilization of one's resources and allies are required. Personal sacrifice is often required. Beware the many pitfalls for the unwary; not all who set out on this road see its end, and those that do often do not reach it unscathed.

Before you set out for revenge, first dig two graves. There can be no doubt and no remorse. There is no room for error, regrets or second guesses. If there is a cost that is too much, a line beyond which you will not cross, do not set out upon this road. One must seek vendetta with their whole being.

The best revenge is to live well.