the tendency of making Fernand the main villain in The Count of Monte-Cristo adaptations speaks to the (mostly American) willingness to see bad things as something that individuals bring to life. meanwhile, in the book, Fernand has the least presence compared to Danglars (the evil of capitalism) and especially to Villefort (the evil of state corruption and the penal system). even Cadrousse, the silent bystander, gets more attention in text than Fernand as a person. Dumas' book is not about a personal tragedy, it's about the ease with which a random person can fall victim to the machine of the state. that's why the book is always relevant.
It also really speaks to the notion that “a failed romance is the greatest tragedy of all,” which ignores all of the suffering you mentioned in your post. I think this is extra poignant because it is not Fernand that ends Dantés revenge era; it is the death of Villefort’s son.
So in the end, we know which was more important to Edmond.


















