Could it be argued that seeking revenge is a sort of forgiveness if the person experiences a profound sense of inner relief? In other words, this person has a similar outcome as the person who genuinely forgives. They both find inner relief. I say that because feeling better occurs when seeking revenge or forgiving.
My answer to your question is no. Seeking vengeance and forgiving are two very different things. We need to keep in mind that, despite having comparable internal outcomes (of at least a temporary “feel good” scenario), revenge and forgiveness have quite distinct processes. One wants to hurt the other (revenge), and the other wants compassion and understanding toward the person who acted unjustly (forgiveness). Forgiving allows one to give love and possibly get it back. If this does not occur, if nothing else, the desire for revenge on the part of the person who was treated unjustly might have vanished. By concentrating solely on results, we cannot confuse forgiveness with retaliation. Finally, consider how fleeting the “feel good” feeling of vengeance may be. Merely providing a brief solace from resentment, revenge does not usually result in long-term emotional healing.
