The first time I read the
Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, was my sophomore year in high school. Since it has been seven years, I thought I would read it again. I was reminded of what an incredible book it is, and I gained several new insights this time around. Dumas is truly a gifted writer.
According to my Bantam Classic copy of the book, "[Dumas'] early education was scanty, but his beautiful handwriting secured him a position in Paris in 1822 with the duc d'Orleans, where he read voraciously and began to write". Furthermore, I learned that he lived a romantic life, similar to the ones illustrated in his novels. Dumas fathered two children, both by mistresses, and then he married yet another mistress. In addition, "his lavish spending and flamboyant habits lead to the construction of his fabulous Château de Monte-Cristo, and in 1851 he fled to Belgium to escape creditors...L'action and l'amore were the two essential things in his life and in his fiction". Overall, Dumas wrote over 277 literary works, but his remarkable historical novels made him the most widely read of all French Novelists.
After finishing the book and musing about the difference between justice and vengeance, I finally realized the critical difference. Granted, it is a fine line, but there is a difference. It was such an epiphany. Justice is about objectively punishing individuals for the wrongs they have committed. That is why we have detectives, cops and judges; they are third parties who enforce the law. When a investigation or case becomes personal, the cop, detective, or judge are removed and replaced. Vengeance is selfish, and when we try to punish people ourselves, we run the risk of going to far.
[Spoiler!] Monte Cristo exacts his revenge on three main individuals, Morcerf, Danglars and Villefort. These three men stand for three main things which were stolen from Monte Cristo, Love, Money, and Power respectively. It can also be argued Monte Cristo punished Caderousse, who stood for greed. In the book, Monte Cristo feels justified in all his actions concerning Morcerf, Danglars and even Caderousse, but when Villefort's wife and son die and Villefort goes insane, Monte Cristo believes he has done too much.
"'Look, Edmond Dantès!' said Villefort, pointing to the bodies of his wife and son. 'is your vengeance complete now?' Monte Cristo paled at the horrible sight. He realized that he had gone beyond the limits of rightful vengeance and that he could no longer say, 'God if for me and with me'. He rushed over to the boy's body with a feeling of inexpressible anguish..." (485).
Monte Cristo believes he went too far when Villefort loses his wife, son, daughter, in-laws, career, social standing, and sanity. But by that point it is too late for Monte Cristo to do anything to fix it.
It is interesting to note that Morcerf and Villefort brought their punishments on themselves. It is true the only reason Monte Cristo exposed their skeletons, was because of what they did to Edmond Dantès decades earlier, which is why it still counts as revenge. But Morcerf and Villefort did commit the wrongs which were brought forward in the latter part of the book. Morcerf, or Frernand Mondego killed Ali Pasha, Mondego's benefactor, and then sold Ali Pasha's wife and daughter as slaves. Mondego was just hoping no one would find out about that, but he committed the wrong. Monte Cristo did not make him commit that wrong, Monte Cristo just made sure years later, everyone who knew Mondego found out about it.
Villefort buries his living, newborn baby to cover up an affair he was having with a married woman. That was also brought to light, thanks to the Count of Monte Cristo. An addition, Villefort's wife murders her husband's first wife's parents and Villefort's daughter. Villefort's wife tries to murder Villefort's father, but fails and instead kills his servant. But this is not Monte Cristo's fault. Villefort's wife is a murdering lunatic who is trying to make sure her own son gets an inheritance, and then when she finds out she must die, she kills her son. Monte Cristo should not blame himself for the actions of Villefort's crazy wife. If Monte Cristo was a detective, it wouldn't be so much revenge as just plain being good at his job. It's just that Monte Cristo is too involved in all of the cases, so it is hard to stay objective. To be fair, Monte Cristo is still to blame in some regards. One example is the death of Caderousse. Monte Cristo hated Caderousse, so he allowed Caderousse to get stabbed to death. No objectivity there.
