# In classical or modern literature is there any revenge plot based around a stolen thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [February 18, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757 "2022-02-18T21:33:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/1 "2022-02-18T21:33:22Z")
In classical or modern literature is there any revenge plots based around stolen things? Other than The Revenant which has as its theme revenge/satisfaction for among other things(leaving Hugh Glass for dead) stealing Hugh Glass’s Anstandt rifle, are there any other examples of plots involving vengeance over the theft of things. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/2 "2022-02-18T21:34:56Z")
The Trojan War, perhaps? Fought over the kidnapping of Helen by Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/3 "2022-02-18T21:35:23Z")
I’m referring to the novel ‘The Revenant’ by Michael Punke ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/4 "2022-02-18T21:40:26Z")
That’s kidnapping. I’m really interested in revenge for theft of things. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/5 "2022-02-18T21:44:40Z")
How about the Sherlock Holmes’ novel _[The Sign of the Four](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sign_of_the_Four)_? ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/6 "2022-02-18T21:50:49Z")
Yes. I suppose novels invoving pirates would also count. Thanks Dewey\_Finn. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/7 "2022-02-18T21:53:08Z")
There must have been so many that Alexander Pope satirized the theme in _The Rape of the Lock._ ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/8 "2022-02-18T21:53:18Z")
Novels involving pirates/piracy, bandits/banditry as well. I still looking for other suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/9 "2022-02-18T22:04:51Z")
Season 3 of Fargo has a man plotting against his brother because the brother tricked him out of a valuable stamp collection. I think in most cases, if person A steals an object from person B, then person B just tries to get the object back rather than taking revenge, per se. ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/10 "2022-02-18T22:14:56Z")
Yes, true. The Revenant is unique in the sense that Hugh Glass is out for more than just retrieving his stolen goods. He aims to kills the thieves. That’s what prompted my question. I don’t think I have ever read a plot involving revenge phantasies over the theft of things. In real lifde there are of course murders over stolen goods. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/11 "2022-02-18T22:28:40Z")
The Count of Monte Cristo is a terrific tale of betrayal and revenge. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/12 "2022-02-18T22:29:20Z")
The idea of murdering someone for theft must seem so farfetched for writers of fiction that the only examples are found in real life (or novels like _The Revenant_ based on real life). The whole Hatfield-McCoy feud that resulted in multiple murders apparently started over a stolen hog. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/13 "2022-02-18T22:37:40Z")
Manon des Sources is about a woman getting revenge on the men who blocked the water supply on her father’s farm (and indirectly caused his death). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/14 "2022-02-18T22:50:49Z")
> [@Skunkdog](#): > > The Count of Monte Cristo is a terrific tale of betrayal and revenge. Though the OP was looking for stories driven by the theft of things, which isn’t really what The Count of Monte Cristo was all about. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/15 "2022-02-18T23:08:44Z")
Ngaio Marsh, the famed mystery writer, based her first novel around a stolen sacred object that precipitates the murder her detective must figure out. I’m pretty sure that early 20th century adventure novels are full of jewels and other sacred objects that lead to similar acts of revenge, but fortunately I’ve never had to read any. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/16 "2022-02-19T00:02:18Z")
Theft of his freedom, family and fiance sound like good reasons to seek revenge. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/17 "2022-02-19T00:10:45Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m pretty sure that early 20th century adventure novels are full of jewels and other sacred objects that lead to similar acts of revenge, but fortunately I’ve never had to read any. I’m surprised no one has mentioned The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings yet. Gollum was all about revenge due to having his Precious stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/18 "2022-02-19T00:44:24Z")
Of course it is. But the OP specified they were seeking stories in which the revenge was driven by the loss of “things”. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/19 "2022-02-19T01:19:34Z")
There’s _The Moonstone_ by Wilkie Collins, which has as part of its plot the recovery of a stolen diamond by three Indian priests. But not so much revenge as recovery. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757/20 "2022-02-19T01:43:51Z")
In _A Fish Called Wanda_, Ken gets revenge over Otto after Otto eats Wanda, Ken’s pet goldfish. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-classical-or-modern-literature-is-there-any-revenge-plot-based-around-a-stolen-thing/959757.md?page=2)