Essay on The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo is a book written by Alexandre Dumas. Main characters are Edmond Dantes, Mercedes, Baron Danglars, Fernand Mondego, Caderousse, Villefort, Monsieur Morrel, Abbe Faria. Themes portrayed in the novel are revenge, society, and justice, power, and powerlessness. The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite work of literature because it ingeniously brings out the selfish and greedy nature of human beings. The work of literature means a lot to me because it reveals that individuals who use treachery and wickedness in their pursuit of riches will never enjoy those riches with peace. The work of literature means a lot to me because it teaches me that individuals who are virtuous and good to their fellow human beings find happiness and satisfaction in the long run. The work of literature means a lot to me because it teaches that those who do bad deeds to their fellow human beings will also be victims of bad deeds. The Count of Monte Cristo means a lot to me because it encourages individuals to partake in good deeds.

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The selfish and greedy nature of human beings is aptly brought out in The Count of Monte Cristo. Baron Danglars and Fernand Mondego are two selfish and greedy characters who only think about their interests. According to the aforementioned individuals, their interests are of more importance than the interests of other individuals. Danglars wishes he was Dantes because everything seems to be going on well for the latter. Danglars is stuck at his position as a treasurer of Monsieur Morrels ship whereas Dantes is about to be the captain of the ship. Danglars and Fernand Mondego selfishness is what makes them plot against Dantes and frame him for treason. Danglars cares only about his needs and personal fortune. Danglars attempts to sell his daughter for marriage in exchange of three million Francs. How can one attempt to sell his daughter for money? How self- centered can one be to the extent that he decides to sell his daughter for money? The above-mentioned exemplifications reveal that Danglars exhibited a high level of selfishness. Mondego betrays his former master, a Greek man and runs away with his wealth. How can one betray a person who lifted you from a life of poverty to a life of decency? Selfishness is the only answer for such behavior Mondego. The betrayal that Mondego displays so that he may enrich himself is an exemplification of his selfish nature. Baron Danglars and Fernand Mondego are very greedy characters. The aforementioned individuals are obsessed with riches; they view riches as a tool that would make them powerful. Even though Danglars is a wealthy banker, he cannot stop accumulating riches using dubious means. Danglars wants to be the richest Parisian so that people may praise and adore him. Danglars wants to accumulate wealth so that he may be glorified and accorded respect by human beings. Danglarss greed makes him an easy prey for fraudsters. Danglar is so much obsessed with riches to the extent that he can easily be manipulated by an individual who claims he can make him richer. Disguised as the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantes moves to Paris where he impresses Danglars with his wealth. Dantes successfully persuades Danglars to give him a loan of six million Francs. After that, Dantes orchestrates the destruction of a large portion of Dantess fortune by manipulating the bond market. As a result, Danglars loses all his wealth because of his greed.

Use of treachery and wickedness in pursuit of riches will never bring true happiness and satisfaction, according to The Count of Monte Cristo. Danglars and Fernand Mondego use treachery and wickedness in their pursuit of riches but the riches do not bring them happiness, and they do not get satisfied. By Fernand Mondego betraying his former Greek boss so that he could get riches, he thought that he would find happiness from the riches. Mondego betrays Ali Pasha to the Turks and sells Alis wife and daughter into slavery. Mondego does not find happiness, neither does he find satisfaction. Mondego was of the opinion that with his newly found riches, he would marry Mercedes, a very beautiful woman after which the two will live happily after that; this does not happen. Happiness seems elusive to Mondego even though he is rich. Mondego lives with a wife who is even though beautiful, kind and passive, does not love him. Mondego is brought to trial for his crimes and consequentially comes to a downfall. Danglars strives to get riches and accumulate them with the thought that this would bring happiness in his life, this does not happen. Danglars uses illegal and unorthodox means in his pursuit of riches. Danglars becomes a wealthy banker but he does not become truly happy, and neither does he find satisfaction. Lack of satisfaction makes him continue pursuing more riches. Dantes on the other side does not use treachery and wickedness in pursuit of riches. As a matter of fact, Dantes is not obsessed with riches, and the pursuit of riches is not a priority to him. Riches find Dantes while in prison when he meets an Italian priest by the name Abbe Faria, who reveals to him about a treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. Based on the manner in which riches find Dantes, it is not far-fetched to say that people who are not obsessed with riches, find riches with ease when compared with individuals who are obsessed with finding riches and wealth. The riches that Dantes finds bring him true happiness and he lives a satisfied life, after that with his wife, Haydee. Therefore, it can be deduced that it is only through honest means of wealth acquisition that a person can find true happiness and satisfaction.

Virtue and good deeds are repaid by God, life and nature, according to The Count of Monte Cristo. Individuals who do good deeds to their fellow human beings are compensated in equal measure. Dantes exhibits virtue, and he does good deeds to his fellow human beings. At the beginning of the novel, Dantes is a kind, selfless, hardworking, honest and loving young man. Dantes is a darling of many people in his hometown of Marseille. Dantes virtuous character endears him to an Italian priest called Abbe Faria while in prison. In prison, Faria becomes Dantes teacher; he educates him on language, science, and culture. Farias teachings enrich and enlighten Dante, and as a result, the latter becomes highly knowledgeable. When Faria realizes that he is close to death, he discloses to Dantes about a large treasure hidden on the Island of Monte Cristo and the exact location the treasure is hidden. Dantes successfully finds the enormous treasure Faria talked to him about. Never in Dantes life did he ever imagine that a day could come when he would be in possession of such treasure. Dantes later makes a purchase of the Island of Monte Cristo. Towards the end of the novel, Haydee declares his love for Dantes, and the two live happily, after that. Monsieur Morrel is an honest and kind ship owner. He does everything within his power to free Dantes from prison. Dantes repays Monsieur Morrels good deeds by buying his debt to save him from falling into imminent bankruptcy. Dantes also shows virtue when he saves Monsieur Morrels sons fiancee from her murderous stepmother. This ensures that Maximilian and his fiancee live happily forever. Suffice is to say that the novel teaches that human beings should partake in good deeds for their own good as well as for the goodness of humanity.

The work of literature means a lot to me because it teaches that those who do bad deeds to others will also be victims of bad deeds. The novel teaches that individuals who do bad deeds to their fellow human beings are punished in equal measure for their bad deeds. Danglars, Mondego, Caderousse and Villefort are characters in the novel who do bad deeds to their fellow human beings. Danglars and Mondego hatch a plot to bring about Dantes downfall by framing him for treason charges. In Dantes society, treason is abominable, and any person found culpable of engaging in it, risks life imprisonment or murder. Danglars and Mondego also use unorthodox means to acquire wealth. Danglars and Mondego are self- centered and they only think about their interests. Villefort, a deputy public prosecutor, wrongfully metes out injustice on Dantes. It comes to the attention of Villefort that he letter carried by Dantes is addressed to his father, Noirtier, a Bonapartist. Villefort knows that if he does not use his influence, his reputation as a staunch royalist will be destroyed and his ambition for running for political office will be thwarted. Villefort destroys the letter from Elba that was addressed to his father. Villefort imprisons Dantes without trial on the latters wedding day. Villeforts handling of Dantes case makes him be promoted to a prosecutor position. Villefort has an affair with Madame Danglars and covers up the affair. Caderousse is Dantes neighbor, and he engages in dishonest means to earn a living, he involves himself in petty theft. Caderousse stays quiet as Dantes is arrested, he does not intervene. Had Caderousse intervened when Dantes was being arrested, probably he could have saved Dantes from going to prison. Caderousse murders the buyer of the diamond Dantes had given him together with his wife out of greed. Danglars and Mondego pay for their wickedness by living an unhappy life and losing their wealth. The greediness, selfishness, and wickedness that Danglars and Mondego exemplify, proves to be detrimental to their well-being in the long run. Danglars reputation is destroyed and he also loses his ill gotten-wealth. Villefort is stabbed by Bertuccio while burying a child that he fathered with Madame Danglars. The child survives and grows up to be a criminal. The child known as Benedetto robs his adoptive mother and kills her in the process. Later, Benedetto is sentenced to life imprisonment. Villeforts wife commits suicide and also poisons her son. Villefort becomes mad after Dantes exposes him for taking part in infanticide. Caderousse pays for his dishonest living by living in endemic poverty. Caderousse is sentenced to the galleys and later killed for his dishonest living.

In conclusion, good triumphs over evil in The Count of Monte Cristo. Individuals who partake in good deeds, in the long run, live happy lives despite challenges, trials, and tribulations that come their way. Dantes receives a treasure for being virtuous and exhibiting good deeds. Monsieur Morrel is an honest and virtuous man whose debt is paid by Dantes, and as a result, he does not fall into bankruptcy. Individuals who partake in bad deeds are punished dearly in the long run. Danglars, Mondego, Villefort and Caderousse are characters in the novel who dearly pay for partaking in bad deeds and being full of vices. I would recommend The Count of Monte Cristo any day to an avid literature student. I would recommend the novel to a person who is unsure of a path he or she should take in life, whether a virtuous path or a path full of vices. The plot is captivating, the storyline is enchanting, and the themes are invaluable. By reading The Count of Monte Cristo, I have learned that most human beings are selfish and greedy inn nature. I have also learned that most people pursue riches and wealth to be powerful and influential. But all in all, I have learned that good triumphs over evil.