Enero, Vina Krizsha BSA – 2 TTH 7:20 – 9:00 A.M.

July 5, 2021

Labiaga, Audina

Tagalog Paola Mae

Video Essay (Group Assignment)

Movie Title: The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the classic movies that illustrate the vulnerable side
of the law. Because it tackles societal issues, it has several essences that speak a lot on its
relevance to the story and its characters. The primary core of the movie is vengeance and justice.
It depicts a person's natural reaction if he is convicted wrongfully. The secondary essence is hope
and forgiveness. In the end, the main character attained justice and was able to forgive himself
and others. The story closes by serving its audience with a peaceful and satisfying ending.

The group believes that the central theme of the story is the Resurgence of the main
character. Another concept of the story is the Limitations of Human Justice. Blinded by
revenge, Edmond Dante decided to seek justice by putting the law in his bare hands. Social
justice dismayed him since its loopholes allow his enemies to escape from their crimes.
However, the story quickly highlights that human beings can waive down and allow God to
reward and punish- when and how God sees fit. The third concept is Absolute and Relative
Satisfaction. A quote from the main character states that "There is neither happiness nor misery
in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more." The conflict
of the story arises because of envy. Edmond Dantes's friends are jealous that made them
conspired against him. The movie accentuated that our happiness is a state of mind. Unless we
focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we will live a happy and contented life.

The Count of Monte Cristo is a story of unrelenting, implacable vengeance and,

ultimately, salvation. Edmond Dantès is the epitome of a fallen man. He was taken advantage of
by envious rivals and a corrupt government, and who can't relate to that? It is definitely
something to which we can all relate. We are always in awe of Edmond–his riches, grace, and
righteousness, especially on the way he thinks. So, while we can relate to his struggles, we still
regard him as a larger-than-life figure. This is what makes the story engaging, along with the
literary style and how several narratives of different families come and go to keep things
interesting and to touch on various societal issues, many of which are still relevant today. These
are the qualities that will keep us going back to the story and explain why it has lasted for so
long. Indeed, this transcends time and generations, which is why modern audiences are as
intrigued as those who first read it in earlier years.

The movie symbolizes vengeance for those who have been wronged, forgiveness for
those who wish to forget, power for those who wish to rise to the top, impotence for the
commoners and underprivileged, happiness for those who achieve their goals, and sorrow for
those who have lost someone. However, redemption is the overriding point, as the protagonist
gradually breaks free from the shadow of the original injustice that has dominated his entire life.
The Count of Monte Cristo is ultimately about our struggle as ordinary people.

Depicted in the movie, Edmond Dantes started his plot of revenge after he recovered the
buried treasure in Monte Cristo and became extremely wealthy. He returned as the mysterious
Count of Monte Cristo and dazzled all of Paris with his extreme wealth and social graces and
also he ingeniously managed to be introduced to the cream of French society, among whom he
goes unrecognized. This wealth he had is the epitome of Dantes’ revenge towards the four men
who had caused him to be sent to Chateau D’If. All of his vengeful plots were made possible
because of his wealth.