This afternoon I finished re-reading one of my favorite books of all time, The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. The hero of this novel is Edmond Dantes a young, intelligent, brave sailor who is on the verge of becoming a ship captain and marrying his soul mate at the start of the book. Two men jealous of Dantes's professional and personal happiness conspire with the aid of an ambitious and morally bankrupt prosecuting attorney to send Dantes to prison where he spends the next 19 years. While falsely imprisoned Dantes meets and becomes confidants with an old priest who shares with him the secret of an enormous hidden treasure. After the priest's death Dantes makes a daring prison break and claims the treasure that is buried on the Isle of Monte Cristo. Dantes then styles himself as the Count of Monte Cristo and uses all his skills and treasure to affect revenge upon those who destroyed his simple joyous life.
Dantes is a master of revenge; he attacks his tormentors in a way that most effectually destroys them. The man who values money is bankrupted, the man who values his pride is driven insane, and the man who coveted Dantes's fiance is abandoned by his family. Dantes constantly justifies his actions as God's will. He claims that God would not have allowed him to escape from prison and gain a fortune if He did not wish Dantes to actively take revenge on his enemies. However, at the end of the book seeing how his revenge schemes hurt the innocent as well as the devious he changes his mind. He realizes that it is not man's providence to extract revenge from the wicked but only the right of God to punish the evil doers of the world. When the Count comes to this realization, he becomes content self actualized man who can enjoy the gifts and joys of life.
I'd like to briefly comment on what I think are two of the most important themes of this novel. First, and probably most obviously, the Count of Monte Cristo is referred to as the quintessential novel of revenge because this theme is most prevalent throughout its plot. Dantes undoubtably suffers as a result of the lies, jealousy, greed and ambition of others. From what I see of modern society most people would agree he has the right to revenge himself on his enemies. I have also been hurt by liars who were greedy and ambitious and people who have been jealous of what I have achieved or coveted what I have owned; and I have often wished for revenge against them. However, I think in the long run, the best course for me, is to forgive those who have hurt me. Would revenge heal my hurts? I may get a temporary joy seeing my former tormenters brought down, but in the end I think the answer to that question is a resounding no. I personally only feel real sustainable happiness and joy in this world comes from sharing in the happiness of the people around us in general and those who we care for specifically.
While revenge is often the most commented theme of the "Count of Monte Cristo" for me the most important and thought provoking theme is that of providence or the justification of one's actions by claiming that you act according to God's will. I would like to make a few points here about my personal religious philosophies and how intersect with the world around us. In my life I have heard countless people from those as high as Presidents (of both parties) to those as low as drug addicted thieves, justify their actions by referring to them as "God's Will." I struggle nearly every day with thought of my own religious philosophy. I was raised as a Catholic and learned through religious teaching that God was Love and that He is happiest when we act with love and respect to our fellow man. However, while this was the message I was hearing in Church it became very evident to me at a young age that this was not how the Catholic Church and many Christian religious leaders lived their lives. They survived and flourish by creating false enemies and directing their parishioner's hatred upon the enemies. Church are often administered by selfish and patriarchal leaders. I find very little "love" in the actions of most organized Christian religions.
Yet today many people say and do vicious and hateful things and use the justification that they are following "God's Will." It is "God's Will" that fags and junkies are killed by AIDS. It is "God's Will" that the poor are meant to suffer and starve all over this planet. It is "God's Will" that our country drops bombs on innocent people in the war on terror. These hypocrisies have led me to reject organized religion. I cannot in good conscious call myself a Christian and I have no faith in the Catholic church in which I was raised.
Yet I do consider myself a spiritual person. I spend a good portion of my day in mediation and prayer. I try my best to live my life by a set of principles which honor my fellow man, my planet, peace and love. Finally, I believe that human beings were created have been guided on our path but a spirt greater than ourselves, and it is that spirt who I worship through my morality. Yes I believe in God and I believe in living according to a set of principles that I think this spirit or God would endorse because it is a God that endorses the positive, rather than the negative and destructive forces of life.
When we chose to act in a negative or destructive manor and use "God's Will" as our justification I do not believe we are honoring God's principles. As long as organized religions foster hatred for other as their basis and justify this hatred as "God's Will" I can never accept them in my heart. I often look at friends and acquaintances of mine who have strong religious beliefs and envy them the piece and tranquility they obtain through their religion. However, I believe that God's greatest gifts to us is our or intellects and the ability to use our intellect through our free will. Blindly accepting dicta and dogma of organized religions and spewing hate is in direct contradiction to this gift. To quote the great philosopher and Catholic "I think, therefore I am."
Therefore, like Edmound Dantes at the end of the novel, I reject the idea that God wants me to be and instrument of punishment. I will attempt to live a life that is free of negative emotions and actions that do not lead to happiness.
The Count of Monte Cristo may be over 1200 pages but it is a worthy read, and re-read, that I highly recommend.
