Revenge is the main theme of the film The Count of Monte Cristo, directed by Kevin Reynolds. The protagonist Edmond Dantes has his mind set on vengeance as he has been deceived and betrayed by J.F Villefort and Fernand Mondego. Throughout the film Edmond carefully plots and plans to have vengeance on Villefort and Mondego. Although with revenge comes with a price, what has been done cannot be undone. Edmond has to live with the guilt of taking another man’s life.
Villefort sends Edmond to Château d'If after he delivers him a letter to cover any evidence that there may be about Villefort murdering his father. Edmond pleads that he is innocent, Villefort does not grant him any sympathy and sends him to prison. For thirteen years Edmond gets whipped and beaten up for being accused of a crime that he did not commit. While he is captive he meets a priest, Abbe Faria. Faria teaches Dantes to defend himself, however the final lesson he teaches Dantes is, ‘Do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence.’Faria is saying that Dantes should not commit a crime as he would have to serve a sentence, which in this case he meant that Dantes should feel guilty if he commits a crime as he is being as bad as the person who harmed and disrespected him. As soon as Edmond Dantes escapes the prison all he longing is to get revenge on Villefort for sending him to prison. Dantes disguises himself as the Count of Monte Cristo with the help of his friend Jacopo. Dantes providentially plans and plots avenge on Villefort so that he can suffer like how he did. “They should suffer like how I did,”as Dantes quotes throughout the film. After devising a few of tricks Dantes ambushes Villefort and gets him arrested. Villefort feels convicted once he has been seized and remorses incarcerating Dantes. Ultimately, Dantes is penitent for Villefort as another soul is in agony.
Regarding Fernard Mondego, Dantes is hysterical about Mondego as he has