Painterly empty wooden courtroom bench with a small gavel beneath a spotlight.

Original artwork, not a still

Frank Castle

In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law. To pursue... natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it's an emotional response. No. Not vengeance. Punishment.

— The Punisher

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker argues that when the law fails badly enough, acting outside it is necessary to expose its shortcomings. The speaker calls this natural justice, insists it is not vengeance because revenge is merely an emotional reaction, and settles on the word punishment.

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