“The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas Research Paper

Introduction

There is no use denying the fact that literature helps to reflect the main aspects of society peculiar to a certain epoch for people to be able to look at them and analyze. Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo could also be taken as the reflection of peoples characters, beliefs, and feelings. In the given artwork the author tries to embody all diseases and peculiarities of society and people who lived at that period of time (Francois para. 1). Being a common person, Dantes passes through a great number of unusual hardships that helps a reader to understand the atmosphere of the epoch. The main characters of the novel The Count of Monte Cristo help to portray the peculiarities and importance of moral and wealth in French society of that period of time.

The French society of the first half of the 19th century could be characterized by great atomism and confusion (Barron 3). Having passed through the period of revolution and Napoleonic Wars, connected with the radical changes in the structure of society and shifts in the mentality of people, society entered the new era characterized by the lowering of the role of France and the atmosphere of suspiciousness and intrigues. The French Revolution had a great impact on all spheres of social life in the country and introduced a great number of changes (Markham para. 8). Being not sure of the future of the country, people tried to survive in various ways. Speaking about the noble privileged class, it is possible to say that situation was also complicated as such values as nobility and honesty were replaced by greed or gain and guile.

Analysis

The given atmosphere is reflected in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo. The beginning of the story presents a reader Dantes as “a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven’s wing” (Dumas 1). He has good perspectives because of his skills and experience. Dantes has a fiancee and the possibility to become the captain of the Pharaon, which could guarantee him a happy life. However, the signs of threat could be seen even at the beginning of the story as Dantes is asked to visit the Island of Elba and take a message. In terms of the given epoch, this visit could be appreciated as a very dangerous trip that could have a great impact on the whole life of a person.

Thus, choosing a young man as the main character of the novel, Dumas tries to show the way in which the life of a young person might change and the possibility of an individual to resist society. The French society remembered Napoleons example, who managed to achieve great success, plunging France into war and failed. That is why, people became sure that a person is not able to resist fate and everyone should follow the traditional pattern, performing activities prescribed to him/her.

However, revolving around the life of one person, Dumas novel denies this convention, showing a reader that life is not predetermined and it is up to a person to choose the way in which to live it. That is why speaking about Dantes Dumas states that “his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger” (Dumas 1). From the first lines of the novel, a reader understands that Dantes is different from the rest of the people who surround him and is even opposed to them.

However, even being an outstanding and honest young man, Dantes is not able to fight against the system and its spoiled morals. The fact is that intrigues and slander were the integral parts of the state machine and, as a result, had a great impact on the way of living and mentality of the French people. They knew that if some person created a problem or introduced some challenges, the slender and intrigues could help to get rid of him and enjoy the results of these actions.

Being part of this society, Dumas makes a good point while describing it. The whole story starts from the jealousy and envy as the group of people, who take Dantes as a very inconvenient person, wants to get rid of him. Caderousse, Mondego, and Dnaglars create the false denunciation, blaming Dantes in antiroyalist activity and his relations with Napoleon: “you are strongly suspected of regretting the abdication of Napoleon” (Dumas 19). This very intrigue serves as the turning point of the whole story as it leads to Dantes imprisonment and the appearance of the Count of Monte Cristo. Thus, Dumas shows readers the epoch with all its diseases, with the lie and betrayal.

Another important aspect of the novel is Dantes imprisonment and the role it played in his life. The fact is that in France of that period of time prison was a point of no return which had a great impact on the life of a person. An imprisoned man became dead for society. There were several reasons for it. First of all, punishments were severe and the terms and conditions of the restraint were so horrible that a person had no chance to return to daily toil and became the part of society again (Margaw 258). Additionally, the representatives of high life did not allow people of this sort to communicate with them.

That is why Dantes imprisonment obtained a symbolic meaning. First of all, he died for people who knew him and who betrayed him. However, he died even for himself. Dantes “had taken an oath to die” (Dumas 49) and refused to eat, wanting to escape this horrible place and feel the relief of the death. However, an accident and meeting with abbe Faria helped the main character to obtain a new life goal and reborn.

Thus, the author shows that Dantes obtained the main tool for his revenge due to the accident. This fact underlines the indeterminism and unfairness of life in France. Money has always been appreciated by people and provided a great number of various possibilities. However, at that period of time, they served as the guaranty of absolute power. Society was spoiled by the desire to obtain money in various ways. Intrigues and betrayal helped people to do it, destroying rivals and creating the basis for the enrichment. It is possible to say that money and greed were the main diseases of French society, which deprived people and destroyed spirituality.

At the same time, Dantes uses the money for some other purposes. At first gaze, it seems that the treasure could help him to restore justice and punish people who betrayed him. A reader can see the changes that happen to the main character and his life. He obtains power and a great influence on peoples minds. The fact that the Count of Monte Cristo is a very rich person helps him to renew contacts with the old enemies and provide support to people who believed in him. That is why, the words of the prisons instructor “If he had been rich, he would not have been here” (Dumas 47) could be taken as the great evidence of the overwhelming impact money had on society.

However, the theme of money is also connected with the theme of love. The marriage of convenience was a common practice at that period of time. Belonging to noble families with certain spheres of interests, people tried to find a partner that could help to obtain some benefits and spread the influence of a certain family. Money also played a great role in this process. Young men from the poor family did not have the chance to marry a girl who belonged to some other class as it was the age of the mercantile relations.

It is obvious, that describing the society of that period of time, Dumas was not able to omit this sphere of human relations. At the beginning of the story, Mercedes is known to be the Dantes fiancee. However, being not able to resist society, she also betrays Dantes and marries a wealthy man who is able to guarantee her further life. At the end of the story, she says Dantes “you have had trust in God, and God has sustained you. But as for me, I have been a coward. I have denied God and he has abandoned me” (Dumas 442). These words show that she had always loved him. however, it was not able to resist the power of money and society.

Nevertheless, to understand the given novel better, one should realize the peculiarities of moral of the epoch in which it was written. French society was influenced by the revolution and Napoleonic wars, and, that is why people were not sure in their future. Additionally, the fear of the restoration of Napoleon or some other social conflicts made people suspicious. That is why intrigues and hypocrisy became an integral aspect of peoples behavior. Having a fear of betrayal, people did not want to show their real faces. Moreover, moral rules of that period of time were not so strict and even promoted unfair actions against rivals and enemies (Magraw 56).

Speaking about the Count of Monte Cristo, a reader can see the reflection of these moral norms at the very beginning of the novel. Dantes loses everything because of the plot and intrigues of people who want to get rid of him and obtain benefits. They do not feel a twinge of remorse and Danglar says “Everything is working out as I expected. I am now captain pro tem and, if only that idiot Caderousse can keep his mouth shut, captain for good” (Dumas 147). However, the fact that shows the moral of this epoch the best is that the main character is also double-faced. Dantes uses various masks and deceives people in order to take revenge and satisfy his own needs.

The issue of revenge is also very important for the whole novel and could be analyzed in terms of the moral norms of that period of time. Despite the fact that the French society was quite pious and Church and religion played a great role in their life, revenge was one of the most important aspects of human relations. A person who punished his enemies was respected in society and his actions were justified.

That is why it is possible to say that Dantes acts according to this very pattern. The appetite for revenge becomes the thing that helps the main character to escape from the prison and return as the Count of Monte Cristo. Dantes wants to punish all his enemies and uses various tools and remedies. His desire is rather logical as his life is ruined. However, resting on the beliefs of the Christian Church such issue as revenge should not be appreciated. Trying to take revenge Dantes punishes many people who are not related to the issue and there is the realization of the given fact “How can I restore the happiness I have taken away from these poor innocent creatures? God help me!” (Dumas 423). However, it is too late.

Besides, innocent people who suffer from Dantes revenge introduce another question connected with the value of human life. France lost thousands of people during the period of wars however, society still did not realize the great importance and pricelessness of the life of every person. That is why death or imprisonment was not considered to be a great tragedy as people get used to these aspects of their social life.

Being the main positive character of the story, Dantes, however, does not have any hesitations connected with the given issue. He is sure that all his enemies should be punished. He does not kill them, however, his rude interference to their private life leads to some tragic aftermath. Fernand commits suicide while the life of some other characters is also ruined. This fact shows that Dumas created a common representative of the epoch which motto can be demonstrated by the phrase “When our turn comes our revenge will be sweeping” (Dumas 40)

Speaking about the moral, it is impossible not to mention the role of the family in the French society of that time. It was taken as one of the most important institutions because it determined the social status of a person, his/her manner of behavior, and the whole future life (Hunt 57). That is why the family was very influential and strong. Very often its interests were more important than the life of its members and people tried to follow the code accepted in the family.

In the novel, Dumas also underlines the influence of the given institution on the life of society. The fact that Dantes does not have family underlines the importance of this aspect of society for the determination of a person. Being rich, Dantes still does not have a certain place in this very society because of his loneliness. Dumas states that “Woman is sacred; the woman one loves is holy” (Dumas 299), however, he deprives his main character of the happiness to create the family with the beloved woman.

Finally, faith is the last aspect of society and moral which should be mentioned. Despite the fact that people of that period of time believed in God and accepted his power to manage their lives, they, however, were also sure in the unavoidability of doom. It was not a person to change something in his/her life as it was predetermined by God or some other forces.

However, Dumas does not agree with this very statement, and Dantes helps him to show readers that their life could be changed. Despite the fact that “the hapless Dantes was doomed” (Dumas 32). his desire to take revenge and to escape the prison helped him to overcome all obstacles and become a noble person. Presenting the Dantes life in this manner, the author wants to show readers that it is just vital to find the purpose and they will be able to change their life like Dantes.

Conclusion

With this in mind, it is possible to make a certain conclusion. Being a bright representative of his epoch, Dumas managed to create a novel that reflected the most important aspects of the society of that period of time. Analyzing the novel the Count of Monte Cristo, it is possible to give attention to various aspects of morals that determine the life of the most important characters of the work. The plot of the story and the main events also help readers to feel the atmosphere better. The whole novel is based on betrayals and intrigues, which lead to Dantes imprisonment and appearance of the Count of Monte Cristo. That is why, one can realize the fact that French society was not ideal as wealth, social status, and intrigues had a great impact on the life of common people.

Works Cited

Barron, Dallas. Effects of French Revolution on French Society. 2014. Web.

Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo. 1844. Web.

Francois, Cyrille. “Les Contes du Monte-Cristo: Alexandre Dumas and His ‘Tales for Old and Young Children’”. Marvels & Tales. 29.2 (2015): n.pag. Web.

Hunt, Lynn. Politics, Culture, and Class in the French Revolution. Los Angeles, CA: University of Carolina press. 1984. Print.

Markham, David. The Revolution, Napoleon, and Education. n.d. Web.

Magraw, Roger. France 1800-1914. A Social History. New York. Routledge. 2014. Print.