poetical justice en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /pəʊˌɛtɪkl̩ ˈd͡ʒʌstɪs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [-ɾɪk-] (General-American)
- /poʊˌɛtɪk(ə)l ˈd͡ʒʌstɪs/ (General-American)
Etymology
From poetical + justice, coined by the English literary critic Thomas Rymer (c. 1643 – 1713) in the work The Tragedies of the Last Age Consider’d and Examin’d (1678): see the quotation.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The idea that in a literary work such as a poem, virtue should be rewarded and vice punished.
For though historical Juſtice might reſt there; yet poetical Juſtice could not be ſo content. It vvould require that the ſatisfaction be compleat and full, e're the Malefactor goes off the Stage, and nothing left to God Almighty, and another VVorld.
1678, Thomas Rymer, “The Tragedy of Rollo Duke of Normandy”, in The Tragedies of the Last Age Consider’d and Examin‘d […], London: […] Richard Tonson […], →OCLC, page 26:
- (broadly, qualifier:generally, uncountable) Synonym of poetic justice (“the fact of someone experiencing what they deserve for their actions, especially when this happens in an ironic manner”).
Synonyms
poetic justice · poetic justice
Translations (2)
fi runollinen oikeudenmukaisuus (idea that in a literary work such as a poem, virtue should be rewarded and vice punished) · pl poetycka sprawiedliwość (idea that in a literary work such as a poem, virtue should be rewarded and vice punished)