The Count of Monte Cristo: A Reaction Paper

My sister asked me to write this for her assignment..

This story had intrigued me ever since I found out that this was one of the favorite novels of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. I was excited to see how this story was being put on screen, and how the actors would portray the characters. I had not read the book because I wasn’t born a bookworm like my sister. I would rather watch than read stuff. But I somehow knew that the theme and plot were classical, that it revolved around what rich and poor people can or cannot do when it comes to influence and power, and the revenge of Edmond Dantes.

            As I watched the movie, the plots of Dr. Rizal’s books, the El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere flashed back to my mind. I noticed similarities in them: Ibarra’s abduction and imprisonment and the undying love for Maria Clara in Noli Me Tangere, and his disguise as Simoun and revenge in El Filibusterismo. Rizal must have a good time reading Alexander Dumas’ obra maestro. Like Rizal, I had a wonderful time-- watching the movie-- as well. And after the movie ended, I was able to give a justification why it was made into a movie. It was indeed a kind of classical story that’s not to be missed in a lifetime.

            I would say that the actors and actresses did not disappoint me. They did portray the characters well. There were three parts of the movie wherein I had a kind of intense emotions: firstly, sympathy when Dantes was put to prison because of sabotage. It reminded me of how I hated people who do everything to get something, selfishly. Secondly, I felt hope and conviction to be inspired and to pursue a goal when the priest helped and taught him everything he could and thirdly, hope and fright when Edmond fought his bestfriend-turned-worst enemy by sword. I was so scared because it was Ferdinand’s forte yet felt hope that this time he could beat Ferdinand because the priest had taught him well. It was the final test whether he indeed had learned well. It is worth to note as well that the actor who took Dantes’ son’s role was quite striking. I find him handsome yet a bit like gay. Or perhaps I just think guys who are very fair looked more “gay” than those who are tan.

            I would say that the theme of revenge in a passionate way is good only for cases like Dantes wherein he got to really have it. But for most of us, it probably is not good to think about having it one day because that would only make us bitter and pathetic. Good for him he had the priest to help him. But how about those countless innocent people who experienced the same ordeal and never got to have their revenge because they had nobody, no “priest” to help them? On the other hand though, it would give the readers/watchers of the story to have hope and not to turn down true love in order to have something to anchor upon in times when you know you are going to do something negative.

The Nature of Man

The nature of man. Sigh. This was one of the most complicated topics of conversations and debates, which often end up in fights and disagreements. Similar to which came first, the egg or the chicken. Which would you believe in, evolution or creation. Another sigh.

Yet, learning comes in unexpected means and in unexpected places. So was my realization of the nature of man, relatively. I learned it while watching the movie transformers, when Ironhide asked Optimus Prime this: “Why are we fighting to save the humans? They are violent and a primitive specie. Optimus replied, “Were we so different? They are a young species. They have much to learn. But I see goodness in them.” It was in this conversation that I grasped what a human being is compared to other species, and his nature.

For me, human are products of evolution. I believe in that. Our ancestors used their intellect so much which resulted in the civilizations we have had, from the simple Neolithic Mesopotamia to the very complex Industrial Age. Together with the technology which it brought was the complexity of man’s laws and mores and morality. I also believe in that part. It is our nature to find answers to everything, and then blame it on a supreme being when we could no longer explain it. Thus began our religions. The more I believe in this. Yet there are things that are other-worldly. Another dimensions, they say. Well, there certainly are beings like that. I’m inclined to believe in that.

Relative to the other members of the animal kingdom, we are a young species indeed. Our technology’ progress has advanced well and is now fast-paced. And so are our lives. I agree to the notion that we have a knack for things that are harmful to us: power and longer life. In our pursuit to attain longer lives, we are actually making the future of our own specie short-lived by polluting our home. We certainly use power to control our environment. Its either we use it for good or evil. We put ourselves higher than the other animals, that we are different from them. That we alone think. Is that so?

This is indeed a complicated topic that I don’t even know where I’m leading to and much more how to end this writing. Smile. No, a grin. Perhaps I will end this with what I answer to my students every time they ask me about man’s existence. If we think we are different from other species just because we are sentient, don’t forget that we started changing our environment only a mere 10,000 years ago. Compare it to the four Billion years of our mother earth’s existence. And, let us not forget, beyond that 10,000 years, it was not humans who roamed and dominated this earth.