809. Villefort

Goodness in men is classified and graded in our ancient literature. Evil too is so graded. The acme is the evil genius. Villefort is not one such. But he would not hesitate to utterly ruin Dantes, if that was necessary for his own security. Dantes brought a letter from Napoleon on Elba to Villefort's father, a Bonapartist. Villefort was a Royalist and a magistrate. That letter, if known to the government, would ruin Villefort. So he clapped Dantes in prison. After his escape, Dantes was able to take the original anonymous letter which had condemned him, written by Danglars, from the prison register. He now knew for sure why and how Villefort had betrayed his own innocent self.

His mind was set on vengeance. In Paris, Dantes purchased a mansion on the outskirts that was owned by Villefort. There he learnt that long ago Villefort had buried his illegitimate child of Danglar's wife on the day of its birth. Believing it to be a treasure buried, a thief secretly dug it out and gave the baby to a hospital. That baby was now an 18 year old boy. Dantes traced him, dressed him up as a prince, and gave him a large amount of money. Danglars fell into the trap and arranged for his daughter's wedding to this fake prince. On the wedding day, Dantes made the police hunt up the ‘Prince', as he was accused of a murder. He was arrested and presented in court. The Chief Prosecutor was Villefort. He asked the boy the usual questions of his name, father's name, etc. The ‘Prince' said his father was Villefort and told the court the story of his birth. Danglars' wife, who was sitting in court, fainted, as she was his real mother. Everyone laughed and the judge dismissed that deposition as nonsense. Villefort then confessed that the boy's story was true and he rushed from the court.

At home, Villefort's  second wife had poisoned his mother-in-law, father-in-law and daughter by his first wife and also her own 8 year old son. Tragedy struck Villefort heavily. Much of it, if not all, was Dantes' making. Villefort became deranged. At that point, Dantes felt he had gone too far. Man's past evil dogs him and strikes him ruthlessly. Dantes, with his enormous wealth, infinite power, and extreme intelligence was able to control life events and wreak vengeance on his three enemies, Villefort, Danglars and Fernand. He was a wronged man. His heart cried out for vengeance. His strength gave him success. The story was written long ago when life was dark. Vengeance was a precious, powerful goal of pride then. It is no longer so. Now, the atmosphere of the earth will NOT permit unsuspecting characters like Dantes to be wronged this far. The very atmosphere of the world and earth is now less negative and more positive. To such a man like Dantes, one cannot preach forgiveness. It is unthinkable. Theoretically, a powerful good man like Dantes meeting betrayals of some kind has now a resort to the Force, which would transform him into the very opposite. A determined effort as he had taken gave him great boons. Now even the boon of heart too would be given. He would be able to overcome vengeance, which is a great spiritual realisation