In Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, main character Edmund Dantes becomes captain of The Pharaoh at a young age. Danglars, a fellow shipmate who tends to be petulant becomes envious and decides to plot against him. Shortly after, Dantes is falsely accused of being a bonapartist which leads to his arrest. After many years in prison, Dantes escapes then seeks revenge. Common themes shown throughout the novel consist of both revenge and faith. Concluding that time will tell, therefore you should remain hopeful as well as open minded.
At first, Dantes begins as a humble and callow young man who is content with his life. After all he is captain as well as engaged to the love of his life, a beautiful female named Mercedes. However, conflict arises simply because Fernand desires her love and attention therefore he plans to filch her. Danglars and Fernand then meet in order to plot against Dantes with a mischievous plan. They were successful. The following envious acts resulted in 14 years of prison at the Château d’lf, which had bad reputation. Year after year he began to experience many emotions. Including sadness, anger, confusion and so on. In fact, the circumstances led him to attempt suicide. “The thought that death brings release from suffering led him to the idea of suicide … ‘I’ll throw my food out the window and it will look as though I’ve eaten it’” (Dumas 42.) Dantes had lost hope. The optimistic and enthusiastic young man that he initially was disappeared. At one point, Dante’s sees the significant change he has experienced throughout the years once he looks into the mirror. “He had entered the Château d’If with the round, smiling face of a happy young man who has made a good beginning in life ad who counts on the future to unfold itself as a natural deduction from the past” the narrator states (85).
Once Dantes achieved freedom, he instantly changed. He suddenly gained the ability to easily transform into multiple personas as a result of his unjust imprisonment. Creating a strong, smart and brave individual. His urge to gain revenge was certain. During a years-long sentence, Dante’s claimed to be christian. The thought that God is almighty was able to restore hope for him at times needed. Shortly after finding the treasure Abbe Faria told him about, Dante’s hoped to receive payback.“And now…farewell to kindness, humanity and gratitude. I have substituted myself for Providence in rewarding the good; may the God of vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked.”(131)
Eventually characters realize that they don’t obtain the power to punish those who have done wrong in previous occasions. Considering his belief that only god has the ability to punish and reward those in response to their actions. “Tell the angel who will watch over your life to pray now and then for a man who, like Satan, believed himself for an instant to be equal to God, but who realized in all humility that supreme power and wisdom are in the hands of God alone.” (Dumas 73)
Towards the end of The Count of Monte Cristo, Dantès becomes overwhelmed with wealth resulting in an abundance of power. The treasure he found along with his knowledge helped him become successful in terms of achieving his efforts involved in punctilious scheme.
In Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, main character Edmund Dantes overcomes many obstacles as a result of revenge. Caderousse, Fernand and Danglars all receive some sort of punishments for their wrongdoings from the past by the Count. Common themes shown throughout the novel consist of both revenge and faith. Concluding that time will tell, therefore you should remain hopeful as well as open minded.
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