Before reading Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, we should consider the
author's (Alexandre Dumas) travels around the Mediterranean where he
discovered some inspirational ideas in 1842. At that time, he displayed an
interest in Montecristo near Elba Island where Napoleon had been exiled. He
had already used Montecristo as a topical subject upon which to write a novel.
In the second year, Dumas became acquainted with a true story which had
happened in 1838. The story was about a shoemaker's tragedy in Paris. The
shoemaker was betrayed by his jealous friend and put in jail for seven years on
the eve of the shoemaker's intended marriage. He was taken care of by a priest
after being discharged from prison. Then he managed to secure a large secret
treasure after the priest died. Consequently, he returned to Paris and
disguised himself in several identities in order to exact revenge, but at
last, he was also slain. The story evolved into Le Comte de Monte-Cristo,
which was published in the Journal des d?bats. It is more intricate after
Dumas transformed the shoemaker's case into literary gold.
The setting was during the French Restoration, the period following after
the collapse of Napoleon's regime. The plot is based on Edmond Dantes being
falsely accused of political crime and how he plotted his revenge. In the
beginning, Morrel declared that Dantes took on the captain of the ship Le
Pharaon. His friend, Danglars was longing for power and reputation, so he was
jealous of Dantes. Also, Dantes was going to get married to his fiancee,
Mercedes. But her cousin, Fernand loved her very much as well. Fernand and
Danglars plotted to betray Dantes by writing an anonymous letter to Villefort,
a procurator. At Dantes' wedding reception, several military policemen
arrested him. Villefort burned the letter which Dantes had received from a
general in Elba addressed to his father. Because he feared that his secret
would be unveiled, he burned the letter in the face of Dantes. Immediately,
Dantes was put in jail for fourteen years. In the prison, Abbe Faria taught
him many skills. When Faria was dying, he told Dantes about the secret
Montecristo. Then, Dantes escaped from prison and began to plan his revenge.
He took on many identities: Zatarra, Chief Clerk of Thomson and French,
Count of Monte Cristo, Lord Wilmore, Sinbad the Sailor, Abbe Busoni and
M. Zaccone. At last, he succeeded in getting his revenge; Fernand's treason
was discovered and he committed suicide, Villefort went insane, and
Danglars lost all of his standing and reputation, was kidnapped by robbers,
and his hair turned white because of his fear, as occurred in the case
of Marie Antoinette.
I was deeply attracted by twisting plot, well-knit action and revenge motif
and unexpected developments, but the most important purpose in the
novel was to cast a light on the ugliness and virtue to be found in human
nature. Dantes wanted revenge and also to become a savior, a contradictory
character, but close to real life. Dumas also mercilessly judged the
high-class society through the fictional characters, depicting detestable
egoism, and the callous reality of society. Danglars, Fernand and
Villefort separately represented a corrupt group of capitalists, evil
military and politic usurpers within an unjust judiciary system at that time.
Because of jealousy and covering up the facts, a group of people could
sacrifice an innocent person, so that readers of the novel would not
sympathize with them. Jealousy and selfishness born of enmity reflect the
ugliness of human nature. Although Dantes loved his father so much, he could
not continue his filial piety because of his imprisonment, and his father
finally starved to death during his undeserved incarceration. When
he escaped, this was a great blow to him and deepened his enmity. However, he
also helped Morrel so that he could avert bankruptcy and suicide.Morrel had
declared that Dantes would become captain and helped his father in his
absence. So, he and his family became friends and Dantes helped Morrel's
son find happiness. Dantes fell in love with his servant, Haydee. Therefore,
he realized that love, toleration and hope could make him happy.
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