I started this blog in order to talk about "The Count of Montecristo" in mutual aid with my classmate
at the university, Anne Marie. We both will be talking about the book from our different perspectives
and styles, you can find her blog here: coffeefueledrant.blogspot.com.
at the university, Anne Marie. We both will be talking about the book from our different perspectives
and styles, you can find her blog here: coffeefueledrant.blogspot.com.
Let us begin...
A classic written by Alejandro Dumas, this book seems to achieve, in its apparent simplicity,
magnificent ways of catching one's attention and surprising the reader; or at least that is what
I have experienced until now in my reading.
magnificent ways of catching one's attention and surprising the reader; or at least that is what
I have experienced until now in my reading.
Set in Marseille, France, during the period while Napoleon was overthrown but close to reattempt
to take the throne, the first chapters tell us about Edmond Dantes, shown as an excellent, humble,
and even naive young sailor of only 21 who's life seems to be getting better every day.
to take the throne, the first chapters tell us about Edmond Dantes, shown as an excellent, humble,
and even naive young sailor of only 21 who's life seems to be getting better every day.
He has just come back from a voyage on "The Pharaon" that trades goods for Edmond's boss,
M. Morrel, during which the former captain of the ship has died from an illness, and which of he,
being the first mate, took command on the way home also carrying out the captain's last will of
delivering a letter on The Island of Elba.
M. Morrel, during which the former captain of the ship has died from an illness, and which of he,
being the first mate, took command on the way home also carrying out the captain's last will of
delivering a letter on The Island of Elba.
Edmond was not aware, and never really asked about the content of the letter that the captain
asked him to deliver to the island, but this action still raised suspicion not on his crew but in Danglars,
the supercargo, who was not in good terms with Dantes whom he had already had a fight with a long
time ago.
asked him to deliver to the island, but this action still raised suspicion not on his crew but in Danglars,
the supercargo, who was not in good terms with Dantes whom he had already had a fight with a long
time ago.
Adding to this suspícion and the ill will Danglars already had towards Edmond, M. Morrel names
Dantes as captain of "The Pharaon", giving him now a reason to envy the young sailor and to begin
to think of ways of bringing him down.
Dantes as captain of "The Pharaon", giving him now a reason to envy the young sailor and to begin
to think of ways of bringing him down.
But Dantes not only was to become captain, but he also had a mistress called Mercedes, to whom he,
with his new title, went and propose. Mercedes accepted, of course, to their happiness but again to the
ill feeling of her cousin Fernand, who had always loved her and wanted her for him.
with his new title, went and propose. Mercedes accepted, of course, to their happiness but again to the
ill feeling of her cousin Fernand, who had always loved her and wanted her for him.
Being the sailor as naive as he is in his goodwill towards everyone, he fails to see both Danglars and
Fernand discontent with him, which leads him to be blind on a scheme plotted by the first and carried
on by the second. This plan consisted of denouncing Edmond to the Crown for being a Bonapartist
(a terrible crime in those days, being the Bourbons the dynasty on the Throne), taking as proof a letter
which he received in the Island of Elba to be delivered to Paris to a man called Noirtier whom he knew
nothing about either, for he was only carrying a dead man's last wish.
Fernand discontent with him, which leads him to be blind on a scheme plotted by the first and carried
on by the second. This plan consisted of denouncing Edmond to the Crown for being a Bonapartist
(a terrible crime in those days, being the Bourbons the dynasty on the Throne), taking as proof a letter
which he received in the Island of Elba to be delivered to Paris to a man called Noirtier whom he knew
nothing about either, for he was only carrying a dead man's last wish.
This scheme ends up with Dante's incarceration on the day he was having his betrothal feast, accused
of treason and taken to the Chateau D'If, where he meets a man known there as "Abbe Fariah" believed
to be crazy, talking about a treasure he swore he could use to pay for his freedom.
of treason and taken to the Chateau D'If, where he meets a man known there as "Abbe Fariah" believed
to be crazy, talking about a treasure he swore he could use to pay for his freedom.
At the prison, although, after spending time together, Edmond finds out that the Abbe was not actually
insane but that he was very resourceful and knew about many things that helped him trace a plan of
scaping the place; something that his newfound comrade would help to put into action. This knowledge
and resourcefulness from the Abbe, and how he helped Edmond find out about the scheme he was a
victim of makes him believe in the treasure the man told him about, and they then agree to go look for
it after escaping the prison and also Dantes taking classes with him about everything the old man could
teach him.
insane but that he was very resourceful and knew about many things that helped him trace a plan of
scaping the place; something that his newfound comrade would help to put into action. This knowledge
and resourcefulness from the Abbe, and how he helped Edmond find out about the scheme he was a
victim of makes him believe in the treasure the man told him about, and they then agree to go look for
it after escaping the prison and also Dantes taking classes with him about everything the old man could
teach him.
This escape, though, ends up ruined because of the Abbe falling sick and dying of his illness, which
leads Dantes to lose hope on it. But at the very end of the chapter, taking advantage of this situation,
he disguises himself in the dead man's sheets, believing he was going to be buried and that he would
be able to make his way out from underground. Although, Chateau d'If did not have any cemetery; they
were accustomed to throw the bodies of the dead to the sea, and that is what they end up doing with the
disguised Edmond.
leads Dantes to lose hope on it. But at the very end of the chapter, taking advantage of this situation,
he disguises himself in the dead man's sheets, believing he was going to be buried and that he would
be able to make his way out from underground. Although, Chateau d'If did not have any cemetery; they
were accustomed to throw the bodies of the dead to the sea, and that is what they end up doing with the
disguised Edmond.
Since the beginning of the story, where Edmond Dantes is shown as a good, upright young man to this
chapter, we can see him changing dramatically during his stay in the Chateau D'If, where the cell itself
makes him grow bitter and resentful and his relation with Abbe Fariah who teaches him not only about
sciences and general knowledge but about how he ended up in prison not even knowing why.
chapter, we can see him changing dramatically during his stay in the Chateau D'If, where the cell itself
makes him grow bitter and resentful and his relation with Abbe Fariah who teaches him not only about
sciences and general knowledge but about how he ended up in prison not even knowing why.
At this point, he is determined to go find this treasure he was told about and to take vengeance upon
those who wronged him. He is no longer nor young nor naive, and adding to his wish for payback,
he has gathered much knowledge that now could help him in his new objective, given that he finds
this treasure and is able to return "home".
those who wronged him. He is no longer nor young nor naive, and adding to his wish for payback,
he has gathered much knowledge that now could help him in his new objective, given that he finds
this treasure and is able to return "home".
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