“’Know thyself’ is a good saying, but not in all situations. In many it is better to say ‘know others’”, said Menander. This quote suggests that it is important to know other people more than one knows himself. This statement is true because other people impact your life. Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo supports this idea with the use of literary elements such as conflict and theme.

The conflict in The Count of Monte Cristo is man vs. man. Edmond Dantes unknowingly has a conflict with Fernand and Danglars. Dantes thinks the two are his friends, but Fernand and Danglars work together to get him imprisoned. If Dantes knew Fernand and Danglars better, he would have realized how they feel about him and know that his imprisonment was set up. “Enemies? No, I’m not important enough to have made any.” Dantes thinks that because he just a sailor, no one has any reason to hate him. Instead of looking at himself, he should look at those around him to see that he does have enemies.

In the novel, the major theme is vengeance. Edmond Dantes is betrayed by Fernand, Danglars, and Villefort. After years in prison, he escapes and becomes the Count of Monte Cristo to take out his vengeance. By knowing the lives of his enemies, the Count carries out the perfect act of vengeance by individually punishing them. “…but for slow, profound, infinite suffering I’d try to avenge myself by inflicting similar suffering.” The Count believes that causing the person who wronged you to undergo a similar punishment if the best form of revenge. He does this to each of his enemies by knowing what would hurt them the most, and making sure it happens.

The Count of Monte Cristo expresses the idea that one should know the people around him more than he knows himself. If Dantes had known who his enemies were, he may have anticipated his imprisonment. By learning everything about them after he escaped prison, the Count was able to carry out his revenge.