Most everyone is familiar with the saying “revenge tastes sweet”, but is there some truth in this? It is only recently that revenge, and the psychological and behavioral implications, have received any empirical attention. The aim of the present article is to provide an overview on the issue of revenge from a scientific perspective and to gain insight into the potential “functionality” that acts of revenge might have. Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” is a classic tale of revenge and retribution set in France in the early 19th century. The plot revolves around Edmond Dantés, a...