The Psychology of Revenge - Why Readers Root for Mort's Brand of Justice
Revenge is a dish best served cold. Or hot. Or with tactical precision and a silenced weapon.
In the Mortice series, Mort doesn't wait for the justice system to catch up. He takes matters into his own hands—and readers love him for it. But why? What makes vigilante justice so deeply satisfying on the page, even when we'd condemn it in real life?
The answer lies in psychology, narrative design, and a cultural appetite for characters who refuse to play by broken rules. Let's dig into why Mort's brand of revenge resonates so powerfully with thriller audiences worldwide.
The Revenge Fantasy: From Hamlet to John Wick (and Why Taylor Swift's Fans Get It)
Revenge narratives are nothing new. They're woven into the fabric of storytelling itself—from ancient Greek tragedies to modern action blockbusters. But right now, revenge is having a cultural moment.
Thanks to Taylor Swift's latest era and her reference to Ophelia in her work, Hamlet is trending again. Shakespeare's Danish prince didn't just brood—he plotted, he spiraled, and ultimately, he enacted bloody vengeance against those who wronged his family. Sound familiar?
Hamlet's Revenge vs. Mort's Revenge: Parallel Justice
Both Hamlet and Mort are driven by personal loss and systemic betrayal. But where they differ reveals everything about why modern readers crave Mort's approach.
Hamlet's Paralysis:
Hamlet spends five acts deliberating. He questions the morality of revenge, wrestles with existential dread, and ultimately causes collateral damage to nearly everyone around him (poor Ophelia). His revenge is messy, tragic, and born of indecision.
Mort's Precision:
Mort doesn't debate. When his wife dies under suspicious circumstances, he doesn't wait for corrupt officials to "investigate." He moves with military efficiency, strategic intelligence, and zero tolerance for bureaucratic failure. His revenge is surgical, intentional, and satisfying.
Hamlet's story is a warning. Mort's story is a wish fulfillment.
And in 2025, when institutions feel slow, justice feels selective, and the system seems rigged? Readers want Mort, not Hamlet.
For more on how modern Australian action heroes are rewriting the vigilante playbook, check out: From Crocodile Dundee to Tactical Justice: Why Mort Might Just Be the Fourth Hemsworth Brother
Why Revenge Stories Work: The Neuroscience of Narrative Satisfaction
There's a reason revenge thrillers consistently top bestseller lists. It's not just about violence—it's about narrative justice.
The Brain's Fairness Instinct
Research in neuroscience and storytelling shows that human brains are wired to seek balance. When we witness injustice—whether in real life or on the page—our brains experience genuine distress. We crave resolution.
Revenge narratives deliver that resolution in its purest form:
Harm → Retaliation → Equilibrium Restored
When Mort takes down a corrupt politician or dismantles a bikie gang, readers aren't just entertained. They're experiencing psychological relief. The scales are balanced. Justice—real justice—has been served.
The Role of Catharsis in Crime Fiction
Aristotle wrote about catharsis in tragedy: the emotional purging audiences feel when witnessing intense drama unfold. Modern revenge thrillers function the same way.
Readers live vicariously through Mort. They channel their frustrations with real-world injustice—systemic corruption, unpunished crimes, bureaucratic inefficiency—into a fictional character who actually does something about it.
"I've had readers tell me Mort feels like an outlet," A.J. says. "They can't punch through red tape in their own lives, but Mort can. And that release? That's powerful."
The Moral Complexity: Why Mort Isn't a Villain (Even When He Should Be)
Here's where literary fiction gets interesting. Mort operates outside the law. He kills people. He manipulates systems. He's technically a criminal.
So why do readers see him as a hero?
Narrative Devices That Reframe Vigilante Justice
As someone with a background in critical literary analysis (think PhD-level thesis work on narrative morality and reader identification), A.J. Wilton HQ can break down exactly how the Mortice series uses narrative framing devicesto make Mort's revenge feel justified rather than villainous.
1. Moral Contextualization
Every act of violence Mort commits is preceded by clear moral context. Readers see:
The crime that was committed (his wife's murder, systemic corruption, innocent victims)
The failure of official systems (police corruption, political cover-ups)
Mort's restraint and strategic planning (he's not reckless; he's calculated)
This framing positions Mort's actions as reactive justice rather than random violence. He's not a sociopath—he's a soldier responding to a broken system.
2. Selective Targets
Mort doesn't harm innocents. His victims are always complicit: corrupt cops, violent criminals, morally bankrupt power players. This selectivity is crucial. It allows readers to grant Mort moral permission.
In narrative theory, this is called "villain displacement." The true villains (the corrupt system) justify the anti-hero's methods. Readers root for Mort because his enemies are worse than he is.
3. Emotional Anchoring
The series opens with Mort's wife's death. Readers bond with his grief before they witness his violence. This emotional anchoring creates empathy. By the time Mort starts his revenge campaign, readers are already on his side.
It's a classic narrative technique: establish humanity, then justify the descent.
For more on how psychological manipulation shapes crime thriller plots, see the psychology behind true crime obsession[External link].
The "Justice Gap" Phenomenon: Why Real-World Frustration Fuels Fiction
Revenge thrillers don't exist in a vacuum. They thrive when audiences feel disillusioned with real-world justice systems.
Australia's Justice System Under Scrutiny
Queensland has a complex relationship with law enforcement. From the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption to ongoing debates about bikie laws and organized crime, the state's justice system has faced public skepticism.
When readers see headlines about cases that fall through legal cracks, they feel the "justice gap"—the space between what should happen and what actually happens.
Mort fills that gap.
The Global Appetite for Vigilante Narratives
It's not just Australia. Globally, revenge-driven protagonists are dominating screens and pages:
John Wick (betrayed by the criminal underworld)
The Equalizer (ex-operative cleaning up corruption)
Jack Reacher (drifter dispensing justice outside official channels)
These characters succeed because they operate on a simple principle: when the system fails, individuals must act.
"Readers aren't rooting for chaos," A.J. explains. "They're rooting for accountability. Mort delivers that when no one else will."
The Mortice Edge: What Makes Mort's Revenge Different
Plenty of thrillers feature revenge. So what makes the Mortice series stand out?
1. Australian Grit
Mort's revenge isn't Hollywood-polished. It's grounded in Queensland's real criminal landscape—bikie gangs, industrial espionage, political corruption. The authenticity makes the stakes feel higher.
2. Military Precision
Mort's background as an Australian Army Special Forces operative informs every move. His revenge isn't emotional outbursts—it's tactical operations. Readers get the satisfaction of watching a professional dismantle his enemies methodically.
3. Humor in the Darkness
The series balances intense violence with sharp Aussie humor. Mort's one-liners and banter with Pig provide levity without undercutting the stakes. This tonal balance keeps readers engaged without exhausting them.
4. Romance Amidst Revenge
Mort isn't a lone wolf. His relationships—romantic tension, loyalty to Pig, connections to victims' families—humanize him. Readers get revenge and emotional depth.
Curious how Aussie slang and local culture enhance the series? Read: Crikey, Mort Said What?! Aussie Slang & Local Legends Hidden in Double Tap
Reader Psychology: Why We Want Heroes Who Break Rules
At its core, the Mortice series taps into a universal psychological need: the fantasy of uncomplicated justice.
Real life is messy. Legal systems are slow. Guilty people walk free. Innocent people suffer.
Mort cuts through all of that. He's the embodiment of what readers wish could happen: swift, decisive, undeniable justice.
The Permission Structure of Fiction
Fiction gives readers permission to enjoy morally gray narratives without real-world consequences. We can cheer for Mort's kills, knowing no actual harm occurs. We can fantasize about revenge without advocating for vigilante violence in reality.
This is the power of narrative distance—we're safe to explore dark impulses through the lens of story.
"I don't want readers to become Mort," A.J. says. "I want them to experience what he experiences—the satisfaction of seeing wrongs righted, even if the methods are extreme. That's the thrill of fiction."
The Mortice Series: Revenge That Resonates
Six books in, Mort's revenge campaign shows no signs of slowing. Because as long as systems fail, corruption thrives, and justice feels out of reach, readers will crave characters who take matters into their own hands.
The psychology of revenge isn't about glorifying violence. It's about fulfilling a fundamental human desire: to see the scales balanced.
And Mort? He's holding the scales—and a tactical knife.
Ready to root for justice, Mort-style?
Start with Mortice: You Killed My Wife →
Until next time—stay sharp, stay suspicious, and keep sipping & reading.
—The A.J. Wilton Team