After being imprisoned for several years and with no hope of escape or a pardon, Dante's sees suicide as his only way out.
“By dint of constantly dwelling on the idea that tranquility was death, and if punishment were the end in view other tortures than death must be invented, Dante's began to reflect on suicide, Unhappy he, who, on the brink of misfortune, broods over ideas like these! Before him is dead sea that stretches in azure calm before the eye, but he who unwarily ventures within its embrace finds himself struggling with a monster that would drag him down to perdition.”
Villifort was the judge that had sent Dante's to prison. It was not for his part in any plot or crime, but to protect Villifort's father from a plot and assassination that he had taken part.
“He (Villifort) had frequently called for capital punishment on criminals, and owning to his irresistible eloquence they had been commended, and yet the slightest shadow of remorse had never clouded Villiforts' brow, because they were guilty; at least he believed so; but here was an innocent man whose happiness he destroyed: in this case he was not the judge, but the executioner.”
Caderousse was a neighbor of the Dante’s and was present, at least in body (Caderousse had drank most of the bottle of wine Danglars had purchased) when Danglars and Fernand thought of ways to betray Edmond Dantes.
“Caderousse was restless and uneasy and had shut himself up with two bottles of black current brandy in hopes of drowning reflection. But he did not succeed, and became too intoxicated to fetch any more drink, and yet not so intoxicated as to forget what had happened. With elbows on the table he sat between the two empty bottles, while specters danced in the light of the un-snuffed candle-specters such as Hoffmann screws over his punch-drenched pages, like black fantastic dust.”
“The commissary of police as he traversed the anti-chamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantes right and the other on his left. A door that communicated with the Palasis de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might even have the boldest shudder.”
The Count of Monte Cristo
“’I know not why you meddle said Fernand, seizing Danglars arm; “But this I know, you have some motive of personal hatred against Dantes, for he who himself hates is never mistaken in the sentiments of others.’”
“The young sailor (Dantes) jumped into the skiff, and sat down into the stern sheets, with the order that he be put ashore at La Canebiere. The oarsmen bent to their work, and the little boat glided away as rapidly as possible in the midst of the thousand vessels which choke up the narrow way which leads between the two rows of ships from the mouth of the harbor to the Quai d’ Orleans.”
The Count of Monte Cristo
‘“I had nearly five thousand volumes in my library at Rome, but after reading them over many times I found out that with one hundred and fifty well-chosen books a man processes, if not a complete summary of all human knowledge, at least all that a man need really know.”’
Abbe Faria, The Count of Monte Cristo
““Why, you see Edmond,’ replied the owner, who appeared more comforted at every moment, “we are all mortal, and the old must make way for the young.”’
The Count of Monte Cristo
I finally have completed Alexander Dumas’s The Count of Monte Christo a story of several French elitists family’s and the revenge the Count of Monte Christo takes upon three characters because of an old grudge.
The Count of Monte Christo is, as far as I can recollect, the second novel by Alexander Dumas I have read; the first being The Three Musketeers. The Count of Monte Christo was the only novel that I have read with over one hundred chapters; however the plot never once lost my interest. I was amazed at the many twists and turns the story took and depths of the Counts personality that the author expressed.
Great novel. I look forward to reading something else from Alexander Dumas. Any suggestions?
