THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexander Dumas

PLOT SUMMARY

In 1815 the ship called Pharaon return to Marseilles, French, with a young man Edmond dantes as the captain. The owner ship, Monsieur Morrel, extends a warm welcome Edmond Dantes. Monsieur Danglars, the ship’s purser, see him with hatred and envy. Dantes return to Marseilles delivers 2 objects : a package to Maréchal Bertrand and a letter from Elba to an unknown man in Paris. And he wants see his old father and will his fiancée, Mercedes Herera. But when he come home, he see his father look pale. The old man tell that Caderousse, the tailor, take his money as Dantes’s debt. Dantes meets Mercedes in her huse and meets her friend, Fernand Mondego, that loves her also, but she has betrothed with Dantes. Danglars, Caderousse, and Fernand meet in tavern and make some cruel plan for Dantes.

The very next day, the betrothal feast of Dantes and Mercedes be held. But the police officer come and arrest Dantest with accusation that he never did. Gerard Villefort, the deputy crown prosecutor in Marseille, destroys the letter from Elba because it is addressed to his father who is a follower of Napoleon and he fears that it will harm his career. In order to silence Dantès, he condemns him without trial to life imprisonment. The police officer take him to Chateu d’If – the terrible prison from which no man ever escapes.

During his fourteen years imprisonment in the Chateau d'If, Dantes be friends the Father Faria "The Old Priest”, a fellow prisoner trying to tunnel his way to freedom, who teaches him an extensive education. He also explains to Dantès how Danglars, Fernand, and Villefort would each have had their own reasons for wanting Dantès in prison, out of circulation. Father Faria also tells about his treasure that buried in the Isle of Monte Cristo. Before he died, Father Faria gives his inheritance to Dantes. And father Faria died because his illness. Dantes escape from the prison using Faria’s sack.

Dantes stranded on the Isle of Tiboulen. The next morning, he see an Italian ship and he pretend to be fisherman. The sailors pull him out from water. It was 1829, and his age has 33 years old. The ship sail around and pass close to the Isle of Monte Cristo. There, Dantes pretends draw blood and said to the sailors to let him alone at that isle. And they obeyed. After that, Dantes begin hunts the treasure which buried in the farthest corner of the second cave. He look around and finally find the treasure. He feels so happy.

Returning to Marseille, Dantès plans his revenge but first helps several people who were kind to him before his imprisonment. Caderousse become the owner of a small country inn while Dantes in prison. Dantes comes there and passing off as priest. Dantes asks Ccaderousse to tell everything and gives him a diamond. Caderousse tells that all Dantes’ old become very rich now. Danglars, a banker, known as Baron Danglars. Fernand being married with Mercedes and have son, Albert de Morcef. Villefort now lives in Paris.

In 1831, Dantes known as The Count of Monte Cristo, offers his carriage to two young gentlemen Albert de Morcef and Franz d’Epinay to the Carnival in Rome. Dantes brings them to the execution of young bandit belongs Luigi Vampa’s gang. Next day, Franz and Albert go to the carnival. Albert meet a pretty girl there. They meet at the night, but he didn’t return home. Franz worries about it and tell to Count of Monte Cristo. He pay Albert with one man of Luigi Vampa. Albert’s family thankful he has safed their son.

Three months later, Albert invites his friend Maximillian Morren, and he introduce him to the Count of Monte Cristo. A few days later, Dantes meets Heloise de Villefort, second wife of Gerard Villefort, and her son Edward. Later the day, a daughter of Villefort with his first wife Renee, Valentine meets Maximillian and they fall in love each other. But she has to marry Franz d’Epinay after three months.

Someday, Dantes meet with Benedetto, the illegimate son of Villefort, he has abonded with his father in early age and grow up as criminal and murderer. Dantes give him name, Andrea Cavalcanti, gives him money, and teaches him everything. As he known in Paris, Andrea will marry with Eugenie, Danglars’ daughter. And in the same time, there is a mysterious death in Villefort’s house. His mother died after drank a poison. And Valentine accused with this which she never did. Meanwhile, Franz canceled the marriage, because he knows tha Valentine granddaughter from Naportier, followers of Napoleon, who has killed General d’Epinay, Franz’s Father.

Sometime, Caderousse come to Benedetto to asks him a money, if not, he will tells to Monte Cristo who is he actually. So Benedetto give him 200 francs each month. But that amounts not give him a good life. He come to Benedetto to asks to the count more money. In the night, Caderousse climbs to Dantes’s room to take his money that before Bendetto has send him a letter to warn him. But, when Caderousse goes out from the window, someone is stabbing him. It is Benedetto. In that moment, he tells Caderousse that he is Dantes, his old friend. And Carderousse died in his arm.

One by one, Dantes’ enemies has died. His web revenge is absolutely success. 

Maximilien Morrel, believing Valentine to be dead, contemplates suicide after her funeral. Dantès reveals his true identity and explains that he rescued Morrel's father from bankruptcy, disgrace and suicide years earlier. He persuades Maximilien to delay his suicide for a month. On the island of Monte Cristo a month later, Dantès presents Valentine to Maximilien and reveals the true sequence of events. Having found peace, Dantès leaves for an unknown destination to find comfort and a new life with Haydée, who has declared her love for him.