A Case for Poetic Justice
Literature and Morality in the Classical Period
The term "poetic justice" in its modern sense often implies that you get what you deserve in the end. It is often equated with a kind of divine will or invisible otherworldly justice of the universe. As such, it would be rather interchangeable with the Hindu karma or the Platonic dikaiosyne. You cannot escape from the consequences of your evil or immoral actions because every action has a corresponding reaction and in the end equilibrium will be achieved.
The Original Meaning of Poetic Justice and Morality
But poetic justice in its original sense had different connotations. It was mainly related to morality, and less about real life; it was an inherent logical statement about the world of literature, an ideal reflection of how the world ought to be.
During the classical period, literary critics continued to look for inspiration and guidance among the ancient Greek philosophers, mainly Plato and Aristotle. The classical period, similarly to the Renaissance, was strongly influenced by humanism and stood in rather sharp contrast with the Middle Ages where concern of spiritual matters overshadowed all earthly and human endeavors.
Justice and Morality in the Classical Literary Period
Nonetheless, morality under the guise of unifying universal reason was still of paramount importance in the Age of Reason. Manners and decorum came to the forefront and became the trademark and in many cases, a desired lifestyle of the growing nobility.
As a result, many critics of the classical age agreed that literature should be moral and a reflection of good taste and behavior. Anything that glorified the immoral had to be shunned and only the works that emphasize the ideal properties of a human being were to be considered art.
It was in this climate that Thomas Rymer coined the expression “poetic justice”. It meant that in literature – and by logical extension in real life – evil and shady actions should be punished for the education and betterment of society and humanity. If somebody steals or commits murder or adultery in a story or a play, they should not get away with these “immoral” deeds, but that justice should always reign (at least in the fictitious world). Hence “poetic justice” was initially a rule or guide of literature that one should not forget to portray the good and just being triumphant over the immoral and the dark.
As can be seen there is a difference between today’s understanding of the term compared to the original meaning at the time of its conception. Nowadays, there seems to be more stress on the justice part at the expense of its poetic aspect. However, maybe another often misunderstood expression can be used in a synonymous manner, irony, where in the end even the improbable falls into place and balance is restored.
Statue of Justice
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