Popular culture is suffused with revenge fantasies in which the aggrieved bring horrible retribution down on those who have hurt them.
This narrative is popular because it speaks to a deep seated need for people to feel seen, heard, respected. It is incredibly validating for the person who identifies with the wronged party. It is also not the point of our justice system. That's why it's called a "justice" system and not a "revenge" system. We're so tied to thinking of winners and losers for everything in our lives. This zero sum game makes us believe that unless the strongest possible sentences are given out, the wronged party never got justice.
