Justice In The Count Of Monte Cristo

The American Heritage Dictionary defines justice as the upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law. Personal or vigilante justice is one person taking the law into his or her hands. He or she would not follow laws or societal justice. In the case of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, a man is thrown into prison. He is framed for betraying the government. However, this man is innocent. As soon as he escapes from his 14 years in prison, he gives himself a mission: to exact revenge upon the people who threw him away. Such is the story of a man turning to personal justice. Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo demonstrates why there is a clear line
To begin with, the Count’s definition of justice is that the price the perpetrator pays should be equal to the price the victim pays. At the end of the day, both parties should have suffered equally. If this is not the case, then the retribution is not fulfilled. This is the only form of justice that the Count sees fit. However, he goes one step further: the culprit’s punishment should end in death. Yet, the Count wanted such a death done in a certain way. He claims that “decapitation is too simple” (Dumas 137). In fact, Count insists that France is behind in knowing about executions and torture (Dumas 137-8). While he gives credit to the mazzolato, he despises the guillotine (Dumas 137-8). While the guillotine offers a quick and simple death by decapitation, the mazzolato was a more gory death. At first, the victim is hit upon the head with a mallet (Allen). To ensure that the person was not simply unconscious, their throat was slit (Allen). To the Count, even this is not a preferred method of execution. Obviously, this is a very radical standpoint in personal