The Count of Montecristo free essay sample

The Count of Monte Cristo: One love, a betrayal, one revenge Alexandre Dumas, one of the most widely read French authors in the world, wrote during the late 19th century a prominent romantic historical novel; love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption convert the story of The Count Of Monte- Cristo in one of the most renowned classics of all time. It is considered an extraordinary novel because of its shocking characters, theme, and drive to vengeance. Alexandre Dumas was born on July 1802 in Villers Cotterets in Picardy, France. He was the only true quadroon, the only grandchild of a Negro (Lazen 1506). He was born as the illegitimate son of the famous novelist Thomas Dumas. Dumas was raised by his seamstress mother, Catherine Labay, until the elder Dumas legally recognized his paternity and assumed responsibility for his son’s care in 1831. He was the only man with wooly hair, and deficient calves, and black pigment in the creases of the joints of his fingers, whoever gained a considerable place in the literature of the world (Parini 1506). We will write a custom essay sample on The Count of Montecristo or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He secured his own fame in 1852 with the production of La dame aux camellias, a drama based on his novel by the same name. This work, which faithfully portrayed the life of a Parisian, introduced realism to the modern French stage. Dumas subsequently made important contributions to the theater in his self-proclaimed role as a social reformer: using the stage as a tribunal for such contemporary social problems as adultery and divorce, he pioneered the development of the model social drama (Lancaster 345). Dumas is praised by almost all the novels he wrote, but there are three in special by which he pass into history as the French writer most admired of all time: * The Three Musketeers (France, July 1844) The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later, â€Å"The Man in Iron Mask† (France, 1847). * The Count of Monte Cristo (France 1845) The Count of Monte Cristo vicariously had a grater success than any book which Dumas published. It, like most of Dumas’ major novels, was first serialized in the daily newspaper. (King 1139) Satisfies of everyone who has ever dreamed of winning the lottery or who has idly plotted revenge against their enemies, knowing full well they will never act on their darkest desires (Aubrey 2). According to the critic, genuine drama pleases the audience by presenting unusual events or situations in a compelling manner while maintaining a clear distinction between actor and spectator. Dumas is said to flout these precepts by taking commonplace corruption as his subject and displaying it unrefined upon the stage, inviting the audience to associate themselves with his characters (Fitzgerald) . Dumas is an excellent dramatist; at least, he possesses some of the highest qualities of drama, and had he sobriety, patience, and taste (Parini 1508). Critics believe that we owe more innocent amusement to Alexandre Dumas than to almost any other writer oh his generation. Many men of his generation has moved us more deeply, more beneficially; but few have amused us in so primitive way, or so much, or so long, or with so little harm (Oliphant 111). Plot summary When Edmond Dantes sailed into Marseilles harbor that day in 1815, he was surrounded by enemies. His shipmate, Danglars, coveted his appointment as captain of the Pharaoh. Ferdinand Mondego wished to wed Mercedes, who was betrothed to Edmond. Danglars and Ferdinand wrote a note accusing Edmond of carrying a letter from Elba to the Bonapartist committee in Paris. On his wedding day Edmond was arrested and taken before a deputy named Villefort, a political turncoat, who to protect himself, had Edmond secretly imprisoned in the dungeons of the Chateau D’If. There Dantes’ incarceration was secured by the plotting if his enemies outside the prison notably Villefort, who wished to cover up his own father’s connections with Bonapartists. Years passed. Then one night Edmond heard the sound of digging from an adjoining cell. Days later a section of the flooring fell in and Edmond saw an old man in the narrow tunnel below. He was the Abbe Faria, whose attempt to dig his was to freedom had led him only to Edmond’s cell. Thereafter the two met daily, and the old man taught Edmond history, mathematics, and languages. In Edmond’s fourteen years of imprisonment Faria, mortally ill, told Edmond where to fin a tremendous fortune should he escape after the old man’s death. When death did come, the abbe’s body was placed in a sack, and Edmond conceived the idea of changing places with the dead man, whom he dragged through the tunnel into his own bed. Jailer threw the sack into the sea. Edmond ripped the cloth and swam through the darkness to an islet in the bay. At daybreak he was picked up by a gang of smugglers with whom he worked until a stroke of luck brought him to island of Monte Cristo, where Faria’s fortune awaited him. He landed on the island with the crew of the ship, and, feigning injury in a fall, persuaded the crew to leave him behind until they could return for him. He returned to the mainland and there he learned that his father had died and Mercedes, despairing of Edmond’s return, had married Ferdinand. He also knew that Villefort had gained fortune and station in life. Danglars was a rich banker. Ferdinand had won wealth and a title in the Greek war. Edmond took the name of his treasure island. As the Count of Monte Cristo de dazzled all Paris with his fabulous wealth and his social graces. Meanwhile he was slowly plotting the ruin of the four men who had caused him to be sent to the Chateau D’If. Caderousse was the first to be destroyed. Monte-Cristo had awakened his greed with the gift of a diamond. Later, urged by his wife, Caderousse had committed robbery and murder. Now, released from prison, he attempted to rob Monte-Cristo but was mortally wounded by an escaping accomplice. As the man lay dying, Monte-Cristo, revealed his true name Edmond Dantes. Analisis of the count of monte cristo A Characters Monte Cristo, the identity Dantes assumes when he emerges from prison, he is like a 19th century Superman. His miraculous escape from prison, when he manages to escape drowing even though a cannon ball is tied to his feet, sets the tone for what follows. Everything goes right for the formidable Count, who seems like a lord in charge of his own destiny and that of others. He never makes a mistake, he seems to know everything, he is always in full possession of himself (Aubrey 27). He tattooed the word ‘Revenge’ in his heart. 2 3 Abbe Faria was a kind of semi divine creatures who comes to the aid of the principal character of this novel in which he founds hope and something to live for. Through Faria, Dantes is completely regenerated into a new man with all the wisdom, knowledge, wealth, and strength of character to make it possible for him to play the role of a god in the eyes of others. He provides Dantes with the means of using all his acquired knowledge and strength to real advantage by giving him the secret of an immense hidden fortune (Marinetti 264). There is no doubt that Faria is a father figure for Dantes. The latter calls upon Faria long after his death as his â€Å"second father†¦ you who give me liberty, science, wealth† (II, 717) Alexandre Dumas uses several literary elements to develop his story. The wealth of mythic themes permeate this novel, particularly important are those of death and resurrection. These two myths inform the entire structure of the book and have a special impact in all ages characterized by social and political instability and rapid change. The first begins with the hero in a state of relative innocence, followed by a fall which resembles the catastrophe of death in the life of a man which after fourteen years of living locked up in a prison, leads to a hard-won but spectacular resurrection into a position of power far beyond any known by ordinary mortals (Marinetti 263). The first mythical theme called ‘death’ covers Dantes? mprisonment, escape, and discovery of the treasure willed to him by Father Faria. While in jail, Dantes soon comes to look upon himself as dead and to think of the world outside as that of the living. (I, 86) Monte Cristo â€Å"death† in prison leaves its mark forever on his skin, which remains pale and cold. (Marinetti 264). On the other hand, the â€Å"resurrection† of Dantes, is like a nineteenth century Super man, his miraculous, Houdini-like escape from prison, when he manages to escape drowning even though a cannon ball is tied to his feet, sets the tone for what follows. From there onwards, everything goes right for the formidable man, who seems like a lord in charge of his own destiny and that of others. (Aubrey) That kind of resurrection, brought with him a man with a thirst for revenge, able to do everything in his power to do that you people who stole his fourteen precious years of his life, pay for what they did. In addition, Dumas used symbolism throughtout the story. Symbols in this underrated novel serve to advance the plot, while enriching our understanding of the hero and his predicament. The Chateau dIf: is a dark prison of loneliness, although its also the place where Edmund learns  the ways of the world and becomes a cultivated man of power. Its presence in the novel reminds us that Edmund has imprisoned and isolated himself so that he can pursue his schemes of revenge. Its a symbol of deprivation and pain. The rocky desert Isle of Monte Cristo: serves as a more vivid and ornate symbol. Beginning as a sign of wealth and power, passing through a stage as a fantastic pleasure,  it comes to symbolize the redemption that is possible when Edmund Dantes finally gives up trying to play God. Another prominent symbol is the sea: Edmund begins his adventures as a nineteen-year-old sailor coming  home to the port of Marseilles. He wastes years in the depths of an island prison, but is re-baptized to freedom, when he is thrown into the water for dead. One nom de guerre he gives himself is Sinbad the Sailor. At the end of the story, his ordeal survived, he and his new love sail away to begin a new life. The sea represents adventure, and freedom. (Grischy) The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure tale of vengeance, of a man cling to love to survive and of a man overcoming his desire for revenge. Mysterious Edmund Dantes constructs elaborate punishments for his enemies, but finally comes to realize that he lacks the perfect knowledge and understanding to mete out punishment (Grischy). It vicariously satisfies the fantasies of everyone who has ever dreamed of winning the lottery or who has idly plotted revenge against their enemies, knowing full well they will never act on their darkest desires. (Aubrey). Vengeance for vengeance versus God will do justice.