- Slay Faria
- Jail escape
- In Paris
- Punishment of Fernando
- Punishment of Villefort
- Against Danglars
- Help Morrel
- Edmundo Dantès quotes
- References
Edmundo Dantès was a 19-year-old French sailor who was about to become captain of the ship “El Faraón” and marry the beautiful woman he loved. It appears in the novel by Alexander Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo.
After being accused of being a Bonapartist, Edmund is unjustly sent to the horrible dungeons of the Castle of If, the fortified prison located on the island of If. Edmundo Dantès spends 14 years in prison, where he suffers enormous difficulties and incredible suffering, his goodness disappears, and revenge on those who imprisoned him becomes his reason for living.
Dantès hears a fellow prisoner dig a tunnel, and so he too begins to dig. When the two men are finally reunited, the other prisoner turns out to be a monk, teaching Dantes many languages, science, history, and other subjects.
Slay Faria
The Abbe Faria or "Abbé Faria" becomes a father and mentor for Edmund, he transforms the young and innocent Dantés into a seductive, magnificent, brilliant, erudite and wise man.
In fact, the Abbe Faria saved Edmund from committing suicide and made him understand that the circumstances in which he lived, however tragic, were not a mistake of life. When Abbé Faria is about to die, he reveals to Dantès the hiding place of a buried treasure on the Island of Monte Cristo, consisting of incalculable riches in gold coins, diamonds and other precious jewels.
Jail escape
After Faria's death, Edmundo escapes from jail. It should be emphasized that in the 14 years that Dantés spent in prison, he loses the ability to feel any emotion other than a great hatred for those who have hurt him, and gratitude towards those who have tried to help him.
He moves through the world as an outsider, disconnected from any human community and interested only in carrying out his revenge.
When Dantès travels to the island of Monte Cristo, he finds the enormous treasure of Faria. He considers his fortune a gift from God, given to him for the sole purpose of rewarding those who have tried to help him and, more importantly, punishing those who have hurt him.
In Paris
Dantès discovers that his father has died in his absence and that his fiancee Mercedes has married his enemy Fernando Mondego, who betrayed him. He learns that his enemies Danglars and Mondego have grown rich and powerful, and they live happily in Paris.
Ten years later, Dantès reappears in Rome, as the Count of Monte Cristo. Dantès befriends Albert de Morcerf, son of his enemy Fernando Mondego and his ex-girlfriend Mercedes. Albert introduces Dantès into Parisian society, nobody recognizes the mysterious count, although his ex-girlfriend Mercedes does manage to recognize him.
Dantès has gathered information over the past decade, devising an elaborate strategy of revenge against those who wronged him.
Punishment of Fernando
Fernando Mondego, now known as the Count of Morcerf, is the first to be punished. Dantès exposes the darkest secret of Morcerf, who made his fortune by betraying his former protector, the Greek vizier Ali Pacha, also selling his wife and daughter as slaves.
Ali Pacha's daughter Haydee has lived with Dantès for seven years since he bought her freedom. Haydee testifies against Count Morcerf in front of the Senate, irreversibly ruining his good name.
Embarrassed by Morcerf's betrayal, Albert and his wife Mercedes flee, leaving their fortune behind. Morcerf eventually commits suicide.
Punishment of Villefort
The punishment of Villefort, the other enemy who unjustly imprisoned Edmundo Dantès, comes slowly and in several stages. Dantès takes advantage of Madame de Villefort's murderous instincts, and subtly teaches her how to use poison. While Madame de Villefort wreaks havoc, killing every member of her household, Dantés plants the seeds for another public display.
In court, Villefort is revealed to be guilty of attempted infanticide, as he tried to bury his illegitimate son while he was still alive. Knowing that he will soon have to face serious criminal charges and affected by the death of his relatives, Villefort goes crazy.
Against Danglars
In his revenge against his enemy Danglars, Dantès simply plays on his enemy's greed. He opens several bogus credit accounts in his name, which cost him large amounts of money. He also manipulates Danglars' unfaithful and dishonest wife, and helps his daughter, Eugénie, flee.
Finally, when Danglars is almost on the verge of fleeing without paying any of his creditors, Dantès hires the Italian bandit Luigi Vampa to kidnap him and take away what little money he has left. Dantès takes revenge on Danglars not with his life, but leaves him penniless.
Help Morrel
Meanwhile, as these acts of revenge unfold, Dantès also attempts to complete an act of kindness. Edmundo wishes to help the brave and honorable Maximiliano Morrel, to save his girlfriend, Valentine Villefort, from his murderous matron. Dantés gives Valentine a pill that makes her look dead and then takes her to the island of Monte Cristo.
For a month, Dantès makes Maximiliano believe that Valentine is dead, causing him great pain. Dantès reveals to Maximiliano that Valentine is finally alive.
Having known the depths of despair, Maximilian is now able to experience the heights of ecstasy. Edmundo Dantés also ultimately finds happiness, when he falls madly in love with sweet Haydee.
Edmundo Dantès quotes
- «There will always be lips that say one thing while the heart thinks another»
- "I have substituted myself for providence to reward the good ones… May the avenging God now give me his place to punish the wicked!"
- «The most curious thing in life is the spectacle of death»
- "The wicked do not die like that, because God seems to protect them to make them instruments of his revenge"
- «(…) I never take care of my neighbor, I never try to protect the society that does not protect me, and I will say even more, that it does not generally take care of me except to harm me, and withdrawing my esteem, and keeping the neutrality in front of it, it is still society and my neighbor who owe me thanks »
- «Every evil has two remedies; time and silence »
- «My kingdom is big like the world, because I am not Italian, nor French, nor Indian, nor American, nor Spanish; I am cosmopolitan »
- «It is not the tree that abandons the flower; but the flower that abandons the tree »
References
- B&W. (2012). The Count of Monte Cristo. 1-14-2017, from Spark Notes Website: sparknotes.com.
- Reiss, T. (2012). Alexandre Dumas: The Real Count of Monte Cristo. 1-14-2017, from The History Reader Website: thehistoryreader.com.
- Alexander, D. (2016). Edmond Dantès, the Count of Monte Cristo. 1-14-2017, from Shmoop Website: shmoop.com.