If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?

Not long ago, I read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. The book itself was very captivating, especially the main character, Edmont Dantès. A combined story of history, love, intrigue, injustice, disappointment, and revenge.

So, the character I would like to be is Edmont Dantès.

Why?

It’s the most complex character, since he goes through different phases of feelings. First, he’s a deeply innocent being, deep in love with the woman he loves. On his wedding day, the happiest day of his life, he finds himself imprisoned by a well-planned scheme by his secret rivals, who were jealous of his happiness and success.

He spends 14 years innocently in prison, first unaware of the reason for his imprisonment. However, his old fellow prisoner opens his eyes, and Dantès slowly realizes who brought him behind the bars. This is the point at which he changes; he gives up his innocence and becomes a person filled with revenge. This feeling keeps him alive, and finally, luck turns in his favor. He escapes from prison and finds the treasure that his fellow prisoner had hidden on a remote island. From that moment on, he embarks on the journey of taking revenge on the people who once hurt him so much, even from his ex-lover, whom he once loved ardently.

Close to the end of this journey, he changes again, since his revenge comes to an end. First, thinking he doesn’t deserve to be loved, he finally gives in to a new love.

From this summary, someone can sense the intensity of the different feelings that shape this character, prompting him to change his attitude entirely and become a different person. From innocence, he becomes vengeful/evil, taking this as his purpose in life; then, after successfully completing his revenge, a kind of remorse starts nagging at him, turning into self-pity, and finally, he accepts a new love, a new start in a new life.

These are all powerful feelings I would very much like to experience, feelings that can bring about such a transformation. Furthermore, since this revenge trope is totally out of character for me.