Is it wrong to have vile thoughts about your stepfather and to think about killing him?

Answer 1

If he hasn't done anything to you to evoke that kind of response, yes, it's not only wrong but a little nuts. Maybe you should talk to a counselor. No matter what another human does to you it's against not only the law to murder that person, but what divides us as good human beings from becoming like those that chose to harm, maim, rape, sexually abuse, murder, etc. If you are sexually abused or beaten there is help out there for you. If your stepfather disgusts you for reasons of your own such as making you take responsibility, coming home in good time, telling you what friends aren't great to hang around with or do chores around the house, then this is not a good reason to even utter the word "murder", but making you become responsible for your own life. If you are a minor you can seek legal counsel and perhaps live with a relative and if you aren't a minor then you have the control over yourself to get out on your own. I highly suggest as the other poster said that you seek counseling. It appears you are filled with rage and perhaps you have good reason, or, perhaps it is you that needs to simmer down and get some control over yourself. The world is full of rules so get use to it!

Answer 2

People often get angry at other people for one reason or another and can, as a result, work through their anger by imagining violence to the person they are angry with. As long as this dissipates the anger and is not translated to slanders and actual violence it is harmless. If the anger stems from some kind of criminal action on the part of the stepfather, the appropriate authorities should be involved. But what I find most interesting is the fact that people's reaction to this question is totally different if it is imagined to be about a person in today's society or if it is imagined to be about the character Hamlet in Shakespeare's play. When talking about Hamlet, people keep on saying not only that Hamlet was right to have vile thoughts about his stepfather and to think about killing him, but that his "fatal flaw" was that he didn't actually kill him without delay. They wouldn't likely say that about the kid down the street.