Cycle of Revenge

Revenge is always messy no matter the circumstance. In Jimmy's case, he took the route of revenge to avenge his daughter's death. Unlike Tarantino's highly stylized and exuberant portrayal of revenge, Eastwood took a much more silent approach adding a greater level of realism to this story. 

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 He explores how events in the past can ripple into one's future like the after effect of a rock thrown into a river. Revenge is sparked by an incident where one feels as if they have been done wrong, or great harm as been thrust upon them. Jimmy feels whoever inflicted this pain of losing a daughter on him, must feel this same pain he feels. When there are allegations it was his old pal Dave that killed Katie, Jimmy pursues his quest of revenge and kills Dave.

The "little right" Jimmy does is making Dave come face to face with his demons, and confess to what he actually did the night of Katie's death, when he killed the child molester. Jimmy also portrays his love and devotion for his daughter and family by going to extremes in killing Dave, but with the "little right" comes the "great wrong." Dave turns out not to be Katie's killer making him innocent of that crime causing his death to be completely out of a jump to conclusions. Jimmy also didn't let him die with dignity, but instead made him confess to a crime that he did not even commit. The ripple effect mentioned earlier also continues with Dave's death because now his son is miserable growing up without a father. Isn't that what got them there in the first place? A boy's father leaves so the boy goes mute, and only depends on his older brother. So when the older brother is going to leave, the boy shoots his girlfriend so he stays. Revenge is not only messy, but it is a cycle. After one incident, it ripples into the lives of others and repeats.