The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal portrays an intense political resentment which causes character to crave revenge against those they presume to have wronged them. This fierce resentment motivates many of the characters to take drastic action, particularly violent action. The most explicit example of this is the OAS, an organization formed in a haze of political resentment following the independence of Algeria. The OAS membership is composed chiefly of former soldiers who feel betrayed by Charles de Gaulle and civilians who loathe him for the detrimental effect de Gaulle had on soldiers in their lives. For these individuals, resentment turns political discontent into a mission for violent vengeance. These characters, such as Bastien-Thiry and Rodin, become so consumed by their need for revenge against de Gaulle that they are willing to kill. Their resentment is so intense that they cannot see a possible future for France while the figurehead of their hatred remains alive. Rather than fighting purely for their country, their actions reveal a personal vendetta against de Gaulle. The need for revenge consumes them, to the extent that they are willing to fundamentally change the landscape of French politics to deal with their resentment. They may