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.

compose at least 1 paragraph about your life

Middle school had me drowning in my own failure, and once it was through I was quick to submerge the experience to the depths of my subconscious beyond recollection. Experiences of all kinds were the result of lethargic inactions conducted under the impression that it would all arrive together effortlessly, in such a fashion that fled my influence like the alignment of planets. I often wondered if it would be once again permissible to resume my academic prestige now that Marc had become stricken with an undefined illness. Since my abilities were not in symphony with the court of public appeal, I continued to believe that a lazy stupor was the only way to achieve a bearable social status.
None of the personalities I tried to assume truly brought about any signs of alteration; however they did successfully mask my true feelings. To allow my peers to jeer at my ignorance to such an extent that they had found difficult to believe to be stored in a single mind, was just the nudge necessary to provide me with the incentive I needed to remove the shackles of a self-induced oppression.

Native son to page 360 - 381

"He unfolded the Tribune and his eyes caught a headline: TROOPS GUARD NEGRO KILLER'S TRIAL. Troops? He bent forward and read: Protect Rapist From Mob Action." (365)

Bigger’s situation is similar to that of Jesus. Bigger and Jesus are both hated by people. The judge most likely feels some degree of pressure to appease the angry mob in the same way that Pontius pilate succumbed to the will of the people. Like jesus, Bigger is having trouble understanding why he must die for others, or abstract concepts like racial equality. Based off of these observations, I believe that Bigger’s death will not have immediate significance. Bigger sacrifice will be recognized after his death and create awareness to American racial injustice.

Will the mob cease if Bigger is not killed?

Does Max truly value the outcome of Bigger's trial?

Native son to page 340-360

"He had to die. It was more important to him to find to find out what this new tingling, this new elation, this new excitement meant" (363)

Bigger’s new dream to find a deeper meaning to life is destined to fail. Even if he were not condemned to die Bigger would be thrown back into the under tow of society. If Bigger hadn’t been killed, he would still have to live with the history of his crimes. He would most likely be unable to attain employment to sutain himself in his family. Consequently, he would be forced to remember his family hardships and shame. This would set Bigger back on the track of his original cycle of life.

Does Max really care about Bigger or does Max just use Bigger to showcase his politics?

Will Bigger’s new dream lead him to happiness before he dies?

Native son to page 340 part 3

“I can die without a cross!” (338)

This is outburst by Bigger is his last straw. In Bigger’s situation, with everything set against him, he mind as well act pious in case there, is in fact, a God. When Bigger rejects religion, he rejects his mother and the preacher which were the only people who never exhibited signs of hating him for his crime. Now that Bigger has turned away from heaven and earth, remaining sympathetic toward him is becoming an arduous task.

Will anyone visit Bigger before his death (besides max and Jan)?

Will Bigger regret turning away from God?

Native son to page 340 part 2

“He wept because he had once again trusted his feelings and they had betrayed him. Why should he have felt the need to try to make his feelings known? And why did not he hear resounding echoes of his feelings in the hearts of others?”(310)

The society in which Bigger resides does not allow him to live naturally. He cannot trust his feelings or instincts because they are the ways in which Bigger violates the laws of society. When Bigger gives in to his sexual instincts and molests Mary it led Bigger to killing her. Bigger struggles immensely with surpressing his instincts and he wonders if others share his struggles.

Will Bigger commit suicide?

Will Jan be blamed for Bigger’s crime?

Native son to page 340 part 1

"I want you to know that my heart is not bitter," Mr. Dalton said. "What this boy has done will not influence my relations with the Negro people. Why, only today I sent a dozen ping-pong tables to the South Side Boys Club...." (294)

In this section Richard Wright makes it apparent that communism is the only way that Chicago could have changed. It is simply insufficient for Mr. Dalton to donate a few pinball machines when those to whom he is giving them to cannot even afford to eat. If all of Mr. Dalton’s wealth was distributed to the masses then crime and negative feelings toward those who are more fortunate than you will be inexistent.

Will Bigger survive?

If Bigger does not get sentenced to death how will he face his family?