Dantes and Free Will
Reflections on the Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) in the Count of Monte Cristo examines the notions of free will, God, destiny, and justice. Edmond Dantès, the protagonist in the story, was imprisoned at Château d’If for a crime he did not commit. Falsely accused of treason as a conspirator for Napoleon Bonaparte. Three men, Danglars, Fernand, and Caderousse plotted against him out of personal vendetta. The notion of free will which the novel probes is seen in the different characters of the story. For instance, Edmond Dantès, the main figure, could have chosen to die after being thrown into the water, but he made the choice to fight for his life and to reach the island of Monte Cristo.
Dantès could easily commit suicide with enough materials while he remain at Château d’If but he decided to use the time he remained there to learn from Abbè Bussoni, wherein he gained enough intellect, worldliness, and resources to navigate the world on his own with the money endowed to him by the Abbè. The concept of free will is examined by Dumas because most aspects of the novel discusses the choices each of the characters make; to decide between doing the right thing or to do the noble thing. Aspects of the character seen in the novel discuss their own mortality or their own fate. The main question each of the characters seem to ask themselves, “is this the right choice I am making for myself?” Each of the characters are motivated by their own destiny; destiny shaped by the choices they want to make on their own. Moreover, another theme in the story is the concept of human nature, every individual is given enough free will to do either the good or the bad and the choices they decide to make are reflective of their own character. Decisions shape one’s character. Furthermore, another aspect Dumas covers in his novel is the concept of God.
The question to ask from the novel is, “does God punish us for doing what we think is best for oneself?’ or “does God provide us the likelihood of repentance?” In the parts of the novel, wherein Dantès reveals his true self to Caderousse and Fernand, Dumas appears to provide the readers the notion of God. First, with Caderousse, after being stabbed and still able to live, Dantès told him this is his chance to repent for all that he had done in the past. Meanwhile, after Dantès revealed himself to Fernand committed suicide and his decision to do that shows the revolving theme of punishment inflicted by God to oneself. Fernand’s suicide also reflects aspects of the concept of justice in the novel; “would killing oneself make up for what I have done in the past?” It is the question of guilt, righteousness, free will the characters commit to.
