Wow that Confucius saying is awesome, I'll remember that one!

I thought that 14 years in a dungeon was the thing that killed young Edmond :))

Completely engulfed in his quest for punishment, Monte-cristo becomes a judgmental God, a saving hand (deploying humongous resources to quietly "revive or resuscitate" the Pharaon who had sunk along with Morrell's hopes the keep his company and good name afloat..saving his life, good name and pride in the process).

***** YES! I never thought I would enjoy a character arc like that but it was fascinating to watch. And also why I didn't like the 2002 movie version very much: Dantes' character doesn't have that gradual evolution, his ending is too happy, it's all so Hollywood with the "redeemed hero"!

***** Oh, the scene where Abbe Faria explains to Dantes how he was betrayed! That was the "loss of innocence" scene... One of my favorites and one of the most exciting since I could feel the storyline just springing into action! You have such great points about this book, I can only nod repeatedly in agreement. I liked the sense that he had been pulled back from the brink of absolute disaster with his revenge, by talking to Mercedes (and Maximilian's intervention), but I was not on board with his relationship with Haidee. That relationship squicked me out, but it's like Haidee was inserted to show that the Count could be loved and in return could love someone new. I wasn't too surprised at the level of violence in the book (I am still pretty raw from the abuse in Wuthering Heights!) but if I had seen this as a children's movie or if I had seen the Hollywood-ized version first, I would have been taken aback. What I was truly surprised at was the poisoning bit with Madame de Villefort - that went into some dark territory, between her mindset, the Count abetting her, and her husband's command at the end! Talk about cruel.

+Kalanadi One scene that really stands out to me is the end of the poisoning arc with Edward's death. I like to think of it as this, Edward represents Dantes, who in reality was like a child. But in the sense that he was truly innocent and was pure of heart. But when he died it's like how Dantes "died", and only the Count remains. Also I like the fact that he didn't get back with Mercedes, it shows that there are real consequences, and while his actions were somewhat justified, there won't be a happy ending.

I actually like his relationship with Haydee. They were both on a journey of revenge, and as he knew how it changed him, he did everything he could to keep her inocence. It was a connection with real emotions for that detached man and it shows how aware he was with the price that he had to pay to achieve his goal.

Goodness, thank you! ^_^ I hope you can come back and tell me how you like The Count of Monte Cristo! It was definitely thought provoking and I know I barely scratched the surface!

Kenny Cross Thanks! :-D I'm going to add The Three Musketeers to my TBR. If it's anything like Monte Cristo... I could really enjoy it.

Thanks for the recommendation 👍😁

Finbarr Farragher Awesome - I hope you really enjoy it! I believe the Penguin Classics edition that is very popular is the Robin Buss translation, and it was truly well done. Modern and contemporary enough, but without losing the feel of a classic and the "French" quality :-) And that is a *perfect* quote!

radiantchristina Yep, I really felt that shift with Dantes in the last quarter. I had to mentally split Dantes and the Count while reading that last part. I still enjoyed the plot, but that's when I had to come to terms with the fact that some revenge is fun, but not too much, and you can dislike the main character while still enjoy the book, something which rarely happens for me!

If I attempt to read it some day , I will go into it with your view of dividing Dantes and the Count into 2 people in my mind...I may look at it differently then. :)

And that is why Edmond *did not* took revenge on him! To the opposite, he gave him a diamond so he can live happily ever after! BUT, it was Caderousse inherent malice that lost him. The Count gave him more than one opportunity to live (and well) but he threw it away.

He certainly supplies Madame de Villefort with the poison, teaches her how to use it...and intends to confront M. de Villefort with a never ending family scandal which he cannot control or end...which will eventually consume and destroy him. The Count certainly intends for Madame de Villefort to do a murder spree throughout the family in her search for more wealth and power. The count may not directly be murdering people, but he understands consequences and likely tendencies (as Faria taught him) and so knows where giving a woman like that poison skills will end. This nicely illustrates what is so awesome about the revenge the Count intends to inflict upon his victims. He uses their weaknesses and the consequences of their past...to drive them along the path to ruin. In almost every case, the Count does nothing to directly harm his victims. Rather, he sets in motion a context wherein their own inner corruption, weaknesses, and flaws will result in their inevitable destruction. Villefort is incapable of exposing a family member for a crime. He therefore becomes trapped and eventually insane at the stress of trying to keep his wife's murder spree from becoming known. Danglars is driven entirely by his lust for more wealth, and he neglects all else in order to pursue it...thereby ruining himself and his family reputation. He speculates wildly, uses his children as pawns in marriage alliances, and steals funds from charities...all in a vain attempt to follow the ever higher carrot the Count holds of 'just a bit more wealth.' Fernand loves to be showered in honor, but hates to do the honorable thing. He is unwilling to face his enemy in a duel and die honorably...and so is driven to the cowards end when his life is inevitably destroyed by the publication of his dishonor. Carderrousse's own lack of care and short sightedness was used to destroy him. His complete self centered nature was used to tempt him to violent crime and provide the context of his violent death. Mercedes is to be destroyed by her loyalty to family. Her decision to choose family (Fernand) over love (Edmund) was what the Count intended to exploit. She will have to choose between watching her son, or the love of her life die. Mercedes, however, proves that she is not the woman Dantes imagined she was when he heard of her marriage to Fernand....and it is her appeal to Edmond in chapter 89 that alters the trajectory of the revenge and Edmond's life. Her ability to NOT continue in her weakness is what saves her and begins to end the spiral of violence that the Count has unleashed.

Common Touch of Fantasy Confession: I practiced the French pronunciations! :-) I hope you can find time to read it! I am on a quest to find another big book to read now, gotta keep up my average page count this year. Not sure if I should go for an epic Neal Stephenson novel or Don Quixote (eep).

Sorry for the wait, your comment got caught in the approval queue :-) I love Thug Notes - I totally missed they did Count of Monte Cristo! I love it! :-D