What defines a good person? This question has been debated for generations, and Aristotle's philosophy suggests that a virtuous and good person derives happiness and pleasure from their virtuous actions. However, being a good person is not just about one's actions but also the qualities they possess. In the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy Dufresne better represents what a good person should be than Edmond Dantes in The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002). To begin, the situations of Andy and Edmond should be examined. Andy was the Vice President of an American bank in Portland, Maine, and Edmond was the First Mate of his merchant ship, La Pharoan. Both were good, upstanding citizens of their societies, but their responses to their corresponding …show more content…
Andy maintained his moral compass even in the face of extreme adversity, refusing to give in to corruption or violence. Edmond's moral compass was distorted by his thirst for revenge, and he went to great lengths to achieve it, even harming innocent people. This shows that Andy's sense of morality is stronger than Edmond's and makes him a better person overall. Furthermore, Andy displayed resilience in the face of adversity. Although he had been wrongly convicted and was serving a life sentence, he refused to let his circumstances define him, instead focusing on improving himself and the lives of those around him. In contrast, Edmond's quest for revenge consumed him, and he became so focused on it that he lost sight of everything else. In conclusion, a good person is defined by a combination of qualities such as generosity, morality, and resilience. Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption represents these qualities much better than Edmond Dantes from The Count of Monte Cristo. Andy's unwavering sense of morality, selflessness, and resilience in the face of adversity are qualities that make him a truly good person. In contrast, Edmond's pursuit of revenge ultimately led him down a path of moral decay and corruption. It is clear that a good person is not defined by their circumstances or their actions alone, but rather by the qualities they exhibit in the face of