f Dantès does, for she has nothing to live for without him. In a moment of true happiness, Dantès shuts his past out and confesses his love to her. He now appreciates Haydée's love and sacrifice and sails off into the sunset with her. Similarly, in the end, Maximilien sails off into the sunset with his bliss. A full month before, he was depressed and suicidal. He suffers and knows ultimate despair thus when the Count gives him Valentine, he is truly able to appreciate his bliss. Maximilien knows how good it is to live. The Count reveals this to him in a letter. "Maximilien, you must need have wished to die, to know how good it is to live" (Dumas 1077). This powerful message explains all in one of the Count's profound grief, his motives, and his love of life. People have to know how much there is to lose in order to sincerely appreciate bliss.
             Revenge does not return bliss. It is the byproduct of injustice, anger, and poor decision-making. Revenge never returns happiness and Dumas stresses this point. It brings guilt and remorse as it did to Dantès. When he exacts his divine justice upon Villefort, he appears triumphant as the Edmond Dantès unjustly incarcerated. Villefort becomes mad, pointing to his dead wife and son, shouting, "There! Look! Are you fully avenged?" (Dumas 1024). He has lost all his family and no
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