The Count of Monte Cristo in Read a book from each country

Sep 23, 2021 Isha rated it it was amazing

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The Count of Monte Cristo is many tales entwined in one, all held together by a single thread – Edmond Dantes. The book is inspired by the true story of Francois Picaud, who is imprisoned after his friends denounced him as an English spy shortly after his engagement. Edmond Dantes’ tale follows a similar thread of narration – driven by jealously, hatred, greed, ambition; Dantes’ is denunciated by those whom he considered his friends as Bonapartist, and arrested on the eve of his engagement to th The Count of Monte Cristo is many tales entwined in one, all held together by a single thread – Edmond Dantes. The book is inspired by the true story of Francois Picaud, who is imprisoned after his friends denounced him as an English spy shortly after his engagement. Edmond Dantes’ tale follows a similar thread of narration – driven by jealously, hatred, greed, ambition; Dantes’ is denunciated by those whom he considered his friends as Bonapartist, and arrested on the eve of his engagement to the love of his life, Mercedes.

Edmond Dantes is imprisoned in the Chateau d’ If dungeon, without trial or judgment, and reduced to a mere number. Like Picaud, he learns about the immense treasure lying on the deserted island, undertakes a daring attempt to escape, and finds the treasure. Therein begins the tale of vengeance. The vengeance consumes him and almost turns him to be like his tormentors. But as expressed by one of the characters in the novel, “Hatred is blind and anger deaf: the one who pours himself a cup of vengeance is likely to drink a bitter draught.” The vengeance sought by Edmond Dantes is not a quick reparation by a blade of the guillotine, but unspeakable torture and endless torment of his rivals.

The Count of Monte Cristo is so much more than a mere adventure story or revenge story. First and foremost, it is a treatise on human nature, more so, on the ugliness of it. A scene early in the book explains the Count’s horrific view of fellow beings – two prisoners about to be hanged, both resigned to their fate but when one is miraculously pardoned, the other one becomes mad and inconsolable. Not because of his fate, but because “another man was to die like him.” “What is man’s first cry when he learns that his neighbour is saved? A curse. All honour to man, the masterpiece of nature, the lord of creation!”

Not just a discourse on human nature; it is also a scathing critique of the justice system. A man is thrown into the dungeon, and his youth and happiness are taken away by an indifferent system. Without a trial, judge and jury, he suffers a misfortune for fourteen long years and would have died in it, if not for an escape.

The book hosts a range of emotions; almost all human emotions can be found within the 1200 pages of the novel – love, jealously, betrayal, anger, hatred, desolation, vengeance. And that’s what makes the book retains its timeless appeal to a generation of readers. However, the reading of Monte Cristo today differs significantly from the time when the book was written.

The views professed by the book on slavery, on the role of women, the place of women in society, the standard of femininity, are antiquated. The divide between the women characters – Valentine – docile, meek, submissive is the paragon of virtue, and thus desirable, and Eugene – determined, independent, daring, is loathed, except for her dowry. Despite sounding anachronistic to today’s readers, these views were commonly held by readers of the 19th century.

A cast of characters is most interesting – the reader would come across the mightiest and the lowliest of the human beings that comprised the society of the times. In contrast to the noblest of the aristocrats, scoundrels and crooks show the most human kindness, “It’s strange that one should find such proof of affection and acts of devotion among men of that kind.”

The Count of Monte Cristo holds something for every reader – if one is seeking adventures within the pages, one is bound to find plenty of them. If one is seeking to gain a bit of perspective on the 19th -century French aristocracy, there is no dearth of it. If one is looking at what drives human actions, one will find many.

But ultimately, the book is about the power of redemption and forgiveness. The most corrupt and villainous of people can be forgiven if they seek true penance. And patience and hope. The very last words the reader hears from the Count are “all human wisdom is contained in these two words” ‘wait’ and ‘hope’!”

Note on translation: I used the Penguin Classics which uses the translation of Robin Buss. All quotes are from the same edition. ...more

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