Final answer:
Dumas's quote means that deep experiences of despair are necessary to truly appreciate the joys of life, as intense contrasts between negative and positive emotions enhance the understanding and value of existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alexandre Dumas, through his lines, "Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live," suggests that experiencing the depths of despair is essential to fully appreciate the joys of life. The extreme contrast between despair and bliss underlines the value of life and the breadth of human emotions.
Those who have endured the darkest moments can recognize and savor the beauty of living more profoundly than those who have never faced such adversity. The excerpts provided from various texts echo similar themes, highlighting the intensity of life experiences, the struggle for survival, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Whether it is the will to live despite suffering, the quest for a purposeful existence, or the fight for freedom, these narratives emphasize how significant and precious life becomes after confronting its fragile and finite nature.