Monte Cristo Essay

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Michael Rossi
July 10, 2009
Advanced Placement Language and Composition
Essay Topic One: “Is Edmond’s vengeance justified? Consider this question within the contexts of just retribution. Based on what he had taken from him, is what he does just?

The Black Hole

What are the contexts of retribution, and when is retribution just? In the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, the protagonist, Edmond Dantes was faced with this question of just retribution. Edmond was wrongly imprisoned, and his life was ruined because of this imprisonment. He was unable to be with the love of his life, he lost the position of captain, and he was unable to be at his father’s side as he died. Whilst in prison Dantes thought that his life was shattered and devoid of meaning. All Edmond had to reflect upon was the horrible intensity of his suffering and the betrayal he felt against those who had forsaken him. When he meets Abbe Faria, he is given newfound hope and a chance at escape. This, along with the prospect of an enormous wealth, inspires Dantes with thoughts of revenge. He undoubtedly believes that this revenge is just. Dantes uses the knowledge and techniques taught to him by Abbe Faria to aid in his quest for revenge. The vengeance that Edmond takes is indeed justified because he is unable to regain the fourteen years lost as a result of his enemies. Although the Count’s desire for administering vengeance wavers when he begins to see those who he is harming as people and not objects of hatred. The Count is still entitled to revenge.
The Count’s enemies are depicted as crude heathens that any of Dumas’s readers would be able to identify as horrid villains. Each of Edmond’s adversaries were worthy of his
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vengeance. Through the use of characterization Dumas portrays Fernand, Danglars, and Villefort as different forms of society’s evils. Fernand represents a juvenile form of jealousy. He simply desires Dantes’ lover Mercedes. His form of jealousy simply covets objects and Mercedes is subject to this objectification. Fernand does this to achieve his own happiness. Villefort is the embodiment of corruption. Villefort’s rash and hostile judgment towards Dantes represents the strife coursing through the government due to Napoleon Bonaparte. Edmond thought he was doing the correct thing when he wished to follow his conscience and distribute Napoleon’s letter only to be convicted of high treason.
Danglars is the novel’s most pristine embodiment of evil. Danglars sought to destroy Dantes simply because he achieved the rank of captain without arduously pursuing it. His jealously is clearly unjustified because Dantes hadn’t expected his promotion, nor had he boasted about it. Using unjustified jealously as his basis for revenge, Danglars committed an act that set him apart from both Fernand and Villefort as the main antagonist. He acted upon his anger toward Dantes and had others rally to his cause.
Dantes receives hatred from the antagonists as a result of circumstances which were beyond his control. He could not control who Mercedes chose to love, who Morrel chose as captain, nor could he choose the current political situation. Dumas inspires in the reader a hatred for Dantes’ enemies by attributing to them an unjust evil.
The Count had the courage and wisdom to spare those who were related to his three main enemies out of respect for Mercedes: “’What do you ask of me?’ He said. ‘Your son’s life?’ Well then, he shall live!’” (472). He even believed that these people were destined to receive his

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revenge. The Count showed mercy to young Albert who attempted to strike the Count with his glove. This action was one of the most despicable insults one could issue against another in
Dumas’ time. Not only would the Count’s emotion grant him the permission to return the blow, but society also dictated retaliation. For the Count to not retaliate allows him to rise above societal pressure and retain his God-like qualities: “’You cannot suppose I have the least desire to live after I have been publicly insulted, before a theatre full of people, in the presence of your friends and those of your son, challenged by a mere child who will glory in my pardon as in a victory?’” (473). This line truly emphasizes the sheer magnitude of Albert’s insult. Therefore, the Count deserves revenge against the entire society who had damned him so. The case of unjust imprisonment caused by the bitterness of villains was left dormant by society.
The Count was double crossed by his so called, “friends” and fellow worker. The fact that society had no desire to investigate the mistreatment of an innocent sailor whom most people adored alone, grants the Count the right to revenge. Everything that gave Edmond joy was destroyed by his imprisonment. His father died without him, Mercedes married another man, and his occupation was revoked.
Although the Count’s desire for administering vengeance wavers when he begins to see those who he is harming as people and not objects of hatred, he is still entitled to revenge. Through revenge the novel was able to portray the reoccurring theme of man versus God. While the Count sought revenge he thought himself to be God, however by seeking revenge be became more like Satan. Through mercy for Valentine and witnessing Edward’s death the Count was able to see through a humble lens and become more like God: “’Fool that I am,’ said he, ‘that I did not tear out my heart the day I resolved to revenge myself!’ (474). The Count was subdued
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by his ever present love for Mercedes and understood his error in acting like God. This turn of events illustrates a drastic change within the Count. The Count regresses from being the Count of Monte Cristo back to Edmond Dantes. He no longer has mortal enemies and his generosity and
love were revived. He gave riches to Morrel and Valentine and set off to be with Haydee. Edmond’s once blissful happiness was absorbed by the suffering within the Count’s heart was and replaced with a black hole that he sought to fill with vengeance. Dantes most important victory was not over his physical adversaries, but over the Count whom Edmond apprehended. Edmond filled the darkness with what he originally withdrew from it, the Count of Monte Cristo.