Final answer:
The phrase means that a wrongdoing is not properly corrected if the person seeking revenge suffers retribution. This principle is articulated in Poe’s "The Cask of Amontillado," exemplifying the concept that true revenge requires the avenger to avoid consequences for their actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “a wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser” comes from Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The Cask of Amontillado.” It means that a grievance or wrongdoing is not properly corrected or set right if the person seeking revenge (the redresser) is subject to retribution themselves. In essence, if the avenger ends up punished or harmed by their actions of vengeance, justice has not truly been served. In the story, the narrator seeks to avenge the insults of Fortunato and is adamant about exacting revenge without facing any consequences himself. The quote suggests that for revenge to be satisfactory, it must not only punish the offender, but the avenger must also escape any form of punishment for their actions.