'Justice' in Michael Kohlhaas

Michael Kohlhaas suffered injustly at the hand of the law because of Junker Wenzel von Tronka's relations to the law. He was lied to about obtaining a permit, and had his horses and groom abused. Being unable to resolve the problem through the justice system, he sought to take measures into his own hand. His personal revenge set many towns on fire and took many lives. He went through all this for "punishment [for] the Junker according to the law; the restoration of the horses, and damages for what [he] and Herse suffered from the violence that was done to [them]." As Martin Luther explained in the short story, Kohlhaas had "borrowed sums running into thousands, against bills and securities, from Jews and Christians alike, to pay for [his] savage personal revenge. " Luther asks Kohlhaas, "Will you add them to your account as well when the reckoning is made?" This shows the injustice Kohlhaas served to the people by getting them involved in his revenge as he sought for compensation for his. Will the people who suffer at his hand too receive compensation for the chaos and destruction Kohlhaas caused? Despite being robbed of his rights at the hands of Junker Wenzel von Tronka, Kohlhaas took out his anger out not only on Junker, but innocent people. In the end, Kohlhaas is justly beheaded for the violence he caused. Before he is beheaded, upon seeing his horses restored, he assures the High Chancellor that "his dearest wish on earth had been fulfilled," knowing that Junker has undo his injustice. Kohlhaas' death too is, in a way, undoing all the trouble he caused. With this, we see the natural tendency of how justice is served in the end.