The Count of Monte Cristo
Essay by review • October 28, 2010 • Essay • 1,134 Words (5 Pages) • 2,193 Views
The Count of Monte Cristo is a very powerful book.
So powerful in fact, that was controversial when it was first
released. The Catholic church in France condemned it
because of its powerful message it presented the reader.
This theme was one of revenge and vengeance. Monte
Cristo had two goals- to reward those who were kind to
him and his aging father, and to punish those responsible for
his imprisonment and suffering. For the latter, he plans slow
and painful punishment. To have spent fourteen years barely
subsisting in a dungeon demands cruel and prolonged
castigation. Setting: The Count of Monte Cristo is set within
the nineteenth century of France in large and populous cities.
This was a time of great disruption. There was confusion all
over the land in regards to who led France, King Louis or
Napoleon. The citizens of France became divided by the
two ruling parties. Royalists and the Bonapartist cut at each
others throats in order to declare that their ruler was
supreme. This situation has a profound effect on the events
of the story. Dantes' enemies used the rivalry between the
two parties in order to convince the Royalists that Edmond
is a Bonapartist, therefore it is the basis for his arrest and
inevitable captivity in the Chateau D'If.. Basic Plot: The
Count of Monte Cristo is a story about a sailor, Edmond
Dantes, who was betrayed during the prime of his life and
career by the jealousy of his friends. His shipmate, Danglars,
coveted his designation as the captain of the mighty Pharon.
Ferdinand Mondego wished to wed Mercedes, who was
affianced to Edmond. Danglars and Ferdinand wrote a letter
accusing Edmond of carrying a letter from Elba to the
Bonapartist committee in Paris. Caderousse, a neighbor,
learned of the plot but kept silent. On his wedding day
Edmond was arrested and taken before a deputy named
Villefort, a political apostate, who, to protect himself, had
Edmond secretly imprisoned in the deepest dungeons of the
Chateau D'If. There Dantes' incarceration was secured by
the plotting of his enemies outside the prison, particularly
towards Villefort, who wished to cover up his own father's
connections with the Bonapartists. Dantes suffered for
fourteen grueling years. While in prison, he was determined
to escape and began digging a tunnel in hopes that it would
lead to freedom. During this exercise, he met an elderly
inmate named Abbe Faria whose attempt to dig his way to
his salvation had led him only to Edmond's cell. The two
meet daily and an incredible relationship flourished. The old
man taught Edmond history, mathematics, and languages. In
Edmond's fourteenth year, Faria became mortally ill. The
wise elder told Edmond where to find a massive buried
fortune. When Faria finally did die, his body was placed in a
burial sac. Edmond seized the opportunity of escaping and
replaced Faria's corpse with himself. Jailers threw the sack
into the sea which allowed Dantes to escape. He is rescued
by a passing ship which gives him a position on the boat.
After paying homage for the noble act, Dantes recovered the
buried treasure and became extremely wealthy. He returned
as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo and dazzled all of
Paris with his extreme wealth and social graces and also he
ingeniously managed to be introduced to the cream of
French society, among who he goes unrecognized. But,
Monte Cristo, in contrariety, recognized all of his enemies,
which now are all powerful and influential men. Therefore,
he was slowly plotting the ruin of the four men who had
caused him to be sent to the Chateau D'If. Ferdinand had
married Mercedes and was now the Count de Morcef.
Monte Cristo released information to the press that proved
that Morcef is a traitor, and Morcef is ruined socially. Then
Monte Cristo destroyed Morcef's relationship with his
family, whom he adored. When they leave him, he was so
distraught that he committed suicide. To revenge himself on
Caderousse, Monte Cristo easily trapped Caderousse
because of his voracious greed. Monte Cristo awakened this
greed with the gift of a diamond. Later, urged by his wife,
Caderousse committed robbery and murder. Now escaped
from prison, Caderousse unsuccessfully attempted to rob
Monte
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