The Count of Monte Cristo is a story of luck, adventure and
triumph. He is a near perfect young man
who is the captain of a ship and a successful trader. He is soon to be married
to a beautiful young girl Mercedes whom he offers all the worlds love. The jealousy of three of Dante’s friends leads
to a plot against him. The ship’s treasurer Danglars is jealous of Dante’s
young success, Fernand Mondego wants his fiancé, and his neighbor Caderousse is
enraged by Dante’s luck. Each sucked in by their own weakness.
The three plot to arrest him for treason for carrying a
message to Napoleon Bonaparte sympathizers as a promise to the deceased
previous captain. At that time in
history, Napoleon sympathizers in Paris were enemies of the state. Even though
Dante had no political leanings he was still arrested for his alleged crimes on
his wedding day and thrown into prison. He was not guilty of anything but
fulfilling a promise.
The deputy public prosecutor Villefort understood that Dante
was set up through his friends and planned on setting him free. Villefort also
sees the innocence of Dante and takes pity on him. Through Dante’s honesty, he
mentions the man whom the letter was to be delivered. It ends up being Villenfort’s father. Instead of
setting him free, the deputy prosecutor changes his mind and sends him to jail
for the rest of his life for fear that such information would be revealed.
While in prison, he meets a priest by the name of Abbé Faria
who was imprisoned for his political beliefs. Faria teaches Dante about life,
philosophy, history, science and all the wonders of the world. More importantly,
he tells Dante where he stashed some treasure. During the preparation for escape,
Faria dies and Dante makes a dashing exit and finds the gold on the Island of
Monte Cristo.
With his newfound gold and success, he attempts to reclaim
his honor. He realizes that Caderousse is poor while Fernand and Danglers are
rich. He rewards Carderousse for information with a diamond and saves his old
boss, who tried to help him, from financial ruin. Putting on a disguise, he
dons himself the Count of Monte Cristo and travels to Paris where he saves the
son of Fernand and Mercedes from bandits. This offered him the opportunity to
enter high society.
No one in the Parisian society recognized the old Dante as
they now knew him as the Count of Monte Cristo. He put in play a series of
revenges that used his enemy’s weaknesses against them. One went insane, one penniless
and the other committed suicide. Yet Dante’s is not a cruel man and decides to
help those who helped him in the past. He also tried to help the son of the
ship owner who attempted to set him free.
The story is intriguing in that it carries within it all of
the various human needs, emotions and follies. As human beings, we can be
jealous, petty, argumentative, and even brutal. Yet situations do not stay the
same forever. There are times when things change and those who persecuted us
allow us to rise on new fortunes. If
there is a lesson in the book, it is not to be cruel, act wisely, and be
patient for life works on its own accord. Above all…have good intentions.
