The Count of Monte Cristo

Our political beliefs are often a driving force behind how we look at one another, make choices, and generally live our lives. In The Count of Monte Cristo, author Alexandre Dumas incorporates the conflict between the followers of Bonapartism and the followers of monarchy, or Royalists, of his time. Through establishing the villainous characters as Royalists and the protagonists as Bonapartists, Dumas clearly shows he is a supporter of Napoleon and also to show the corruption in politics in France during his era.

Royalists believe Bonapartism to be treason against the king and believe themselves to be more devoted and enthusiastic toward their form of government. Royalists agree with monarchy, the form of rule in which a nation is ruled by a royal family and has distinct classes separated by wealth. They look at Bonapartism as an abomination. When the prosecutor Villefort, a Royalist, finds that Dantйs is carrying a letter from Napoleon to Villefort's Bonapartist father he immediately sentences Dantйs to life in prison. Villefort knows that if anyone finds out about his Bonapartist father his career will be ruined and by turning in a "Bonapartist traitor" (Dantйs) he will be commended by the king and the rich Royalist family he is about to marry into. Danglars and Fernand's betraying letter also leads to Dantйs' demise. They accuse him of associating with Napoleon and helping Napoleon plan a rebellion. These acts are used by Dumas to show the corruption and fraudulence that the Royalists are capable of.

The Bonapartists in the book are the protagonists. Dantйs cannot be considered a complete Bonapartist because he is very indifferent in the matter of Napoleon returning to power. Monsieur Morrel, Dantйs' father, and Villefort's father, Nortier, on the other hand are Bonapartists. Bonapartism is the belief in Napoleon Bonaparte's form of government, in which the people are equal, but under military control. Those who are Bonapartists in The Count of Monte Cristo are persecuted and become unsuccessful. Dantйs is imprisoned for "plotting" with Napoleon, M. Morrel's shipping company becomes on the verge on bankruptcy, Dantйs' father dies of starvation, and all the members on Napoleon's rebellion are persecuted for challenging the throne. Dumas must be attempting to sway the reader into believing that the good, hard-working people were Bonapartists,