When an individual has been betrayed, the first thing that would usually come to mind would be anger. That person would think of any way to get back at whoever betrayed them. Sometimes people do things without thinking about consequences in the future. With revenge, people react quickly without thinking about the aftereffects, but at the same time the person who betrayed them might be getting what they deserved, depending on the situation. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas demonstrates how revenge can affect one’s life. The author shows how an individual can use revenge for one’s own good, but at the same time it comes with consequences. Edmond Dantès seemed to have the perfect life. He was about to become the captain of a ship, being at an early age, he was engaged to a beautiful young woman, Mercédès, and he was well liked by almost everyone who knew him. His perfect life, however, changed up suddenly and unfortunately because jealousy among some of Dantès’s so-called
Sanchez 2 friends. Danglars, the treasurer of Dantès’s ship, envied Dantès’s early career success; Fernand Mondego was in love with Dantès’s fiancée and so covets his amorous success; his neighbor Caderousse was simply envious that Dantès was so much luckier in life than he was. In the beginning of the novel, Edmond seemed like a compassionate person with a great heart. Then after being betrayed by several people, he was full of vengeance and anger. His seeking of revenge took over him. The author demonstrates that if someone has betrayed you, revenge is the way to go, but in those cases, an individual must be cautious with the actions they take. After staying in jail for fourteen years, Edmond had escaped but disappeared or ten years. Throughout the story, the reader soon discovers that during that time Edmond had been plotting his dangerous revenge against the characters. Ten years to strategize and carefully revise his plan. When Edmond escapes from jail, he manages to board a ship with a crew that soon grow to like him. He patiently waits for an opportunity to land on the Island of Monte Cristo, which is where is told the treasure would be found. The chance finally presents itself and he makes it to the island. When Edmond found the treasure, he considered the event both “joyous and terrible.” He convinces himself that God supports his vengeances and through Him he was able to find the treasure that would help him succeed with his plan. The author is suggesting that when a person seeks revenge they will get help spiritually. Dumas portrays that on the road to seek revenge, the individual wont be “alone” and even when their plan fails, there is still hope. “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. Chron 15:2” Meaning, if you ask God for help, he will be right there. Alexander Dumas suggested that Edomnd asked help from God and he got it, which helped him succeed in his plan. Edmond ‘s determination to carry on with the plan increases because he believed that God was with him. He was bale to overlook the “terrible” aspect of his plan and to see it as more of the “joyous” aspect. His determination made him succeed even more because he didn’t have anything holding him back. The author implies that God can also be motivation and encourages readers to do as they wish with vengeances. The author not only encourages readers to believe that revenge is something that will help themselves, he demonstrates that any individual must be ready for the aftereffects. Throughout the novel, Edmond, known as Monte Cristo later, begins to feel regret towards what he caused, and he didn’t expect things to turn out as they did. The reader notices how Monte Cristo strategized by having his plot turn out to be the characters destroying each other little by little, rather than Monte Cristo doing it all himself. In the beginning, being a part of the audience