It is believed by many that it is human nature to deem themselves to be a tantamount to God. Such is the case when one decides to take revenge against those who wrong him. Though vengeance seems like the perfect way to achieve justice, a sense of equity, in actuality it is merely an unsatisfactory hypocritical action. This is the definitive realization of the protagonist, Edmond Dantès in Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo”. The protagonist comes to understand that after a lifetime of searching for justice, he really only yearns justice from himself. Akin to many of Alexandre Dumas’ other masterpieces, “The Count of Monte Cristo” is a dramatic tale of mystery and intrigue that paints a dazzling, dueling, exuberant vision of the Napoleonic era in France. In this thrilling adventure, Edmond Dantès is toiling with the endeavor of attaining ultimate revenge, after being punished by his enemies and thrown into a secret dungeon in the Chateau d’If. He reluctantly learns that his long intolerable years in captivity, miraculous escape and carefully wrought revenge are all merely vital parts in his journey of awakening to the notion that there is no such thing as happiness or unhappiness, there is merely the comparison between the two. Ultimately, the irony that Dumas is presenting through this novel suggests that the inability to attain happiness through the hypocrisy that is revenge is because one is really avenging their own self. This becomes evident through his dramatic transformations from a naïve, young sailor, to a cold, cynical mastermind of vengeance, and finally to a remorseful, humble man who is simply content.
To be naïve is something that pertains to childish innocence. The prevailing theme of innocence to exper...
... middle of paper ...
...ate bliss” (Dumas, 531) As soon as Edmond is able to accept and remorse his hypocritical actions, he returns back to his original state, that of a good man who is content with the simple joys of life.
In conclusion, a hypocritical action, such as revenge, cannot possibly bring about happiness. This is because hypocrisy essentially refers to being the very thing that one hates. Edmond Dantès is initially a man who appreciates all his blessings, however small they may be, although, after being the victim of treachery he morphs into a vengeful, bitter man. When a feeling of discontent arises following his vengeance, Dantès realizes that by revenging others he is really avenging himself. In other words, one cannot repair an immoral action with an equally immoral reaction. Only when accepting this notion can one rejoin humanity and feel content, as Edmond Dantès does.
The notion of Bertrande de Rols in The Wife of Martin Guerre as having good intentions suggests not only that she was mindful of her own feelings in her pursuit of the truth, but also of the feelings of others. However, Bertrande’s intentions were to cleanse her soul and absolve herself from sin by indicting the impostor, Arnaud du Tilh. Yet, she undertakes this task considering the despair it would inflict upon the mesnie. These actions also are detrimental to Bertrande in causing her perhaps the most anguish and grief of all. Bertrande intends to uphold the status quo, yet she has due knowledge that pathway to the greater good will be harmful to her and the Mesnie.
Evil exists naturally in the world, and there are many acts that are considered evil. As a result, evil is often a theme in literature. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by William Shakespeare, and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe each rely heavily on evil to portray a message. Out of all of the evil acts that exist, exacting revenge is the evilest act that a person can make, for a person’s rash decision to exact revenge will ruin their sense of morality. The characters of Hamlet and Laertes in “Hamlet” each commit terrible acts of revenge, as does Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado.”
Many people percieve revenge to be something that falls under justice, as they are driven by emotions, while others consider getting the police involved as serving justice. Moreover, some people find revenge to be pleasing and satisfying, but to argue the point that just because something is more satisfying does not mean it is
	His dream soon becomes shattered by three of his enemies, Danglars, Fernand, and Caderousse. As these three people plot against Edmond, he is about to become married to the beautiful Mercedes. On his wedding day, his betrothal feast was interrupted when the police came barging through the door and arrested Edmond Dantes. Dantes was accused of giving a letter to the usurper while the Pharaon stopped on the Isle of Elba and returning a letter from the usurper to the Bonapartist party in Paris. After his arrest, Edmond was interrogated and questioned by the public prosecutor, Monsieur de Villefort. During the interrogation Villefort promised Edmond freedom, but that was before Monsieur de Villefort read the letter from the usurper addressed to Monsieur Noirtier, Villefort’s father. Edmond Dantes was sent to prison.
There are many ways to express an opinion: paintings, poems, sculptures, speeches, etc. Alexandre Dumas chose to express his opinions over vengeance through his book, The Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas clearly believes that vengeance is not the answer for those who have wrong you in times past. This is shown is his book when the Count of Monte Cristo’s plot for revenge on those who sent him to jail for 14 years goes to far and kills an innocent person. Although at the beginning of the book, when the Count explains to young Albert and his friend, Franz, that he would fight a duel for something simple, but for someone that caused him horrible suffering, he would inflict suffering just as horrible. He justifies his statement with, “‘An eye
However, innocence must be kept in moderation as without it one may become weary and engulfed with situations out of their control. Without innocence, the bliss and joy in life may be lost.
Though he may seem acquitted and amiable, Gerard de Villefort can be dangerous and even murderous. Gerard has done numerous things in his life to corroborate his sinfulness, including the assayed murder of his son, Andrea, by burying him alive when he was a newborn. Gerard is also one of the three main conspirators in the Count's arrest and imprisonment; it is he who is the most measurable of the three. The Count, Edmond Dantes, was an innocent man about to be married, before Gerard’s conception between right and wrong was twisted by the name of his father in a letter. Also, Gerard forces his wife to commit suicide; even though he had had many faults of his own.
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves- one for yourself.” – Douglas Horton Betrayal, revenge and regret are common themes in literature because it is an experience shared by many individuals. Specifically these themes are found in the novels A Separate Peace and The Count of Monte Cristo. A Separate Peace, tells the story of Gene and Finny, best friends at The Devon School in the summer of 1942. Through establishing the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session, they become best friends. Another example of this theme is found in The Count of Monte Cristo. Edmond Dantès, a character from The Count of Monte Cristo, is the first mate of the
Innocence is referred to as one’s purity to the world. The loss of innocence occurs with the gain of knowledge. However, knowledge and understanding the ways of the world can only be obtained through exposure. In Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, the author reveals how exposure negatively impacts a person’s loss of innocence through newly found insight on the world. This is by the uses of word usage, contrast, and tone.
Throughout Dantes life, he dedicated every waking hour to his enemies’ demise. Only after making countless mistakes does he learn that making others suffer isn't justice, it is insanity. After fixing a relationship that he caused to crumble between Villefort’s daughter and her fiance Maximilian Morrel, he shares some of his new found knowledge learned on his quest for revenge. Dantes writes in a letter to them, “Pray now and then for a man who, like Satan, believed himself for an instant to be equal to God.” Referring to himself, Dantes warns the young couple not to make the same mistakes as he did. As readers, Dantes teaches a lesson of karma. His actions show that it is impossible to predict the future, which means it is impossible to control what outcome something might have. Thus showing that everything that happens has its
While getting inspiration for Monte Cristo, he heard a story about a man, which inspired the plot for his novel. Picaud, the man whom inspired the story, gained vengeance in a much more gruesome way than Dantes does. Picaud takes vengeance whereas Dantes is avenged. Justice is achieved because good is stronger than evil, not because of the Count’s power (Stowe 125). Perhaps this is Dumas’s opinion on vengeance. If it is well earned, then it will fall into the man’s hands rightfully (Maurois). Dumas’s inspiration for the novel also came from his personal life. His father was heavily mistreated, and as he watched helplessly for his whole childhood, it became important to him to avenge his father. Although people in his own life may not have wronged him as they did his father, he believes in revenge, and sought revenge through his literature (Maurois). Through the character of Edmond Dantes, Dumas portrayed his own desire to justify his father’s oppressors. In Maurois’s article, he speaks about this, saying, “He must have been sorely tempted to find compensation in fiction for the iniquities of the real world.” Perhaps he was afraid to vocalize his opinion publicly, so he decided on a more subtle route, which was to create a story that everyone could identify with. Writing Monte Cristo must have been closure for Dumas at the expense of his father. He sought vengeance in the form of literature
Naivety is a gift most children possess. However, it is only through being sheltered, that it can last. Lulie from Paradise Cafe is a perfect example
The protagonists, The Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, consider it their life’s ambition to sadistically control and dominate those around them through sexual intrigue. These two villains are indeed locked in psychological combat to see who can actually ‘out-do’ the other in stalking, capturing and destroying the souls of others. Taking absolute pleasure in ripping any virtue from the hearts of their prey, Merteuil and Valmont wave their accomplishments in front of each other like spoils of war. The less the chance of surrender, the more relentless is the pursuit.
“It is precisely of him that I wished to speak. Dispose of me as you please; but help me first to carry him home. I only ask that of you.” Upon examination of Les Miserables, it is clearly evident that the elements of Forgiveness, Self – Sacrifice, and Courage are only a few of the main themes Hugo wanted to develop.
Throughout Hamlet, each character’s course of revenge surrounds them with corruption, obsession, and fatality. Shakespeare shows that revenge proves to be extremely problematic. Revenge causes corruption by changing an individual’s persona and nature. Obsession to revenge brings forth difficulties such as destroyed relationships. Finally, revenge can be the foundation to the ultimate sacrifice of fatality. Hamlet goes to show that revenge is never the correct route to follow, and it is always the route with a dead