Question of revenge
Talk HRBG - Winter 2012 Count of Monte Cristo
This group has been archived. Find out more.
Join LibraryThing to post.
1cyderry
1. The central issue in The Count of Monte Cristo is the question of revenge. In the case of this book, is Dantes' quest for vengeance morally just? Can vengeance ever stand in for justice?
2cyderry
For me this is a tough question. In certain instances I believe that revenge is justified but mainly because I believe that justice is sometimes impossible to attain. Can justice ever give Edmond back the years that he lost in prison? Can Justice ever return the joy of his love for Mercedes? Can justice ever bring him back his father?
Honestly, we know that the answer is NO to those questions, but vengeance does take the power and prestige from de Villefort that was the reason for condemning Edmond in the first place which is in a way a type of justice. (just as one example)
Honestly, we know that the answer is NO to those questions, but vengeance does take the power and prestige from de Villefort that was the reason for condemning Edmond in the first place which is in a way a type of justice. (just as one example)
3japaul22
I had a lot of trouble with this too. I think that Dantes believes that he may be putting some wheels in motion, but that God is really responsible for the vengeance that happens. Everyone brings there troubles upon themselves through their actions, it's just that Dantes helps to bring these actions out in the open. In that way, I think that Dantes feels that he is morally in the right.
However, I think that he harmed or could have easily harmed many innocent people, particularly the families of Villefort and Danglers. I also really didn't like how he even tried to control the lives of the people he cared for, like with Valentine and Maximilien. All the way at the end he says that he wanted them to feel deep sorrow so they could know real joy. While that might be a philosophically sound sentiment, I did not feel it was morally just to be the person to create that situation. It could have easily backfired on him.
In the end, I just don't think any one person should be able to control someone else's life that deeply, whether through good or bad intentions.
However, I think that he harmed or could have easily harmed many innocent people, particularly the families of Villefort and Danglers. I also really didn't like how he even tried to control the lives of the people he cared for, like with Valentine and Maximilien. All the way at the end he says that he wanted them to feel deep sorrow so they could know real joy. While that might be a philosophically sound sentiment, I did not feel it was morally just to be the person to create that situation. It could have easily backfired on him.
In the end, I just don't think any one person should be able to control someone else's life that deeply, whether through good or bad intentions.
4billiejean
I did think that some of the vengeance was too much. And, for the most part, he felt no regret. When he was faced with the duel with Albert, I could not believe that he would let it go that far. But then he didn't. He did seem to think he was carrying out God's divine plan, but I think he was just so angry at that point that he could not look at it rationally.
