Abstract:
BLOOD-REVENGE as a definite code appears sporadically in
contemporary times; but it was universal among primitive peoples and
strongly influenced their religion, law, and customs. The mod ern
theory of crime presupposes the existence of a State whose laws or
regulation are broken , and punishment inflicted by this State for the
breach of its rules. But in the earliest times there CQuid be no crime
because there was n o State. Instead , a simple injury was inflicted by
one individual on another or on a group of individuals bound together
by the tie of relationship. F or redress of this personal injury, in present
times distinguished as a tort, the only possible action for the primitive
individual was a direct revenge upon his injurer. Since an act of
violence was not a crime but merely a personal injury, the revenge for
it in kind was the first manifestation of a consciousness of justice, for
private revenge was the mightiest, the only possible form in which a
wrong could be righted .
Description:
This thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MA in English Language and Literature of East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
