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A feud is when a family or group is in constant conflict with another family or group, usually stemming from an offense in the past. Groups of people have been feuding with each other throughout the world for millennia. While less bloody feuds are more common, they do sometimes escalate to violence. It seems a human characteristic to desire revenge for slights (real or perceived), and the bonds of family are often strong. Because of this, feuds between families are still common, even in modern society.
Feuds most often develop in societies that are lacking adequate law enforcement. When people feel the justice system is failing them, they sometimes take it upon themselves to determine what justice is. We often think of feuding as unnecessary, and that is true in modern day America-- but that is because our legal system can reliably resolve major conflicts. If there is no system consistently enforcing the law, people may attempt to resolve these conflicts on their own. This can sometimes lead to tragic and bloody results. At many points in history, feuds were an accepted part of life. The famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr on July 11, 1804-- where Burr killed Hamilton-- was the result of a feud between the two, which wound up costing us the life of one of America’s founding fathers-- and Burr was never prosecuted for his murder. This was, in part, due to the way people understood duels at the time-- a duel was an affair of honor. Time has changed the way we understand honor, and today, the victor of such a duel would face murder charges in court. There have been many other famous feuds throughout history. William Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, was based on a feud between two real families in twelfth-century Verona. The saga of the 47 Ronin in Japanese history occurred when Japanese Samurai took revenge against their rivals in response to the death of their leader two years earlier. More recently in the United States, a feud between the families the Hatfields and McCoys in West Virginia and Kentucky lasted for almost thirty years, and the hard feelings from it lasted even longer. While feuding has all but disappeared in the United States, it still occurs in other parts of the world. While it may be interesting to learn about feuds, there is little doubt they have done vast damage to humans over the centuries. They have no place in the modern world. |
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GLOSSARY
Aaron Burr third Vice President of the United States, Burr is probably more infamous for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804.
Alexander Hamilton one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Hamilton was also influential in founding America’s financial system, the US Coast Guard, and the Federalist Party.
Millennia a period of 1000 years.
Romeo and Juliet a tragic play written in 1595 by William Shakespeare where two young people from feuding families fall in love.
Ronin a samurai without a Lord or Master in feudal Japan.
William Shakespeare 16th Century Poet and Playwright who was largely considered the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist.
Alexander Hamilton one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Hamilton was also influential in founding America’s financial system, the US Coast Guard, and the Federalist Party.
Millennia a period of 1000 years.
Romeo and Juliet a tragic play written in 1595 by William Shakespeare where two young people from feuding families fall in love.
Ronin a samurai without a Lord or Master in feudal Japan.
William Shakespeare 16th Century Poet and Playwright who was largely considered the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist.
