"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Edmond Dantes.

The want for prosperity has the power to drive those who seek it to perform deliberate acts of corruption. An identifiable act of corruption that served as the means for three men to obtain individual prosperity, whilst causing another man to be condemned for life was the root for the predominant theme of corruption in The Count of Monte Cristo. Each man who partook in the action of removing Edmond Dantes from his position of …

…confines of a dark cell. Fernand Mondego sought to be prosperous with a women's love. This desire caused him to take part in a mischievous scheme by delivering an incriminating letter that caused Edmond to lose his job, father, and betrothed. The actions of these three men are identified as corrupt. Thus establishing the wants for prosperity that each of these men possessed had the power to drive them to commit deliberate acts of corruption.