The novel The Count of Monte Cristo written by Alexandre Dumas has many aspects of symbolism that enhance the story of Edmond Dantes’ quest for revenge. Not only are the objects and people symbolic but perhaps the most significant and symbolic aspects of the book are the occurrences throughout the story. First, the sea has significant underlying meaning throughout the plot beginning when Edmond Dantes escapes prison and is cast into the sea. Second, the way in which the Count of Monte Cristo achieves revenge is reflected by the way, which each villain made the Count suffer.
Finally and possibly the most sobering of all examples of symbolism in this book is that of Dantes’ giving Mercedes the last piece of his past self; the money he had saved for their marriage. When Mercedes accepted his offer and took it, it was as if she was taking the last part of him with her and he was no longer the man she had once loved. “‘”Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, there was a tremendous splash and he plunged down like an arrow into the icy sea. The sea is the cemetery of the Chateau D’If… Then he kicked vigorously and rose to the surface of the sea. (79-80) The sea may have been the cemetery of Edmond Dantes yet it was the birthplace of a new and changed man who would come to be known as the Count of Monte Cristo. Gone was the naive, innocent, young sailor when he was thrust into a sure death. The man who emerged-washed of old habits and past opinionswas overcome not with just salt water and brine but also with a renewed sense of vengeance in his heart.
Even after the event of this metaphorical rebirth, the sea continues to factor during the remainder of the Count of Monte Cristo’s lonely life. The sea ontinually beckons to Dantes as it is the only place he truly feels at home. As he realizes he’s losing purpose in his life the sea is his escape as a wanderer with no country to call home. The Count describes his admiration for the sea when he tries to convince Albert to travel with him. “We’ll go where the air is pure, where all sounds are soothing, where, no matter how proud one may be, one feels humble and finds himself small-in short, we’ll go to the sea. I love the sea as one loves a mistress and I long for her when I haven’t seen her for some time. ” (346) The sea was a reminder of everything good in his life.
Throughout the novel the sea remained the one aspect of the Count’s life that was unchanging when everything else in his plan for vengeance was unpredictable. In the Count of Monte Cristo’s quest for revenge, one will notice how masterly premeditated his plan was. Not only was his method of redemption meticulously planned but the ways in which he punished his enemies were deeply symbolic of the ways in which he had been wronged. First when Villefort condemned Edmond Dantes to a life of imprisonment Dantes almost went crazy living a hell and not knowing the reason why.
Later, Villefort watched helplessly as his family was poisoned not knowing the reason why. Eventually, with the advent of his wife and son dying he like the Count-went mad, “Monte Cristo recoiled in terror, ‘Oh! he exclaimed ‘He’s gone mad! ” (486) Next, because of Danglars’ betrayal, Edmond Dantes starved in prison and lost his status in the business world. Before his arrest Dantes was about to be promoted to captain of the Pharaon. Once in the Chateau D’If, Dantes lost his status and he began to starve just as his father did. “The next day he could no longer see and could scarcely hear…
Dantes expected death within a short time. A numbness, which was not without a certain-feeling of well-being, took possession of him. The pangs in his stomach ceased. When he closed his eyes he saw bright flashes of light. ” (43) When the Count of Monte Cristo had the Italian bandits capture Danglars, Danglars was forced to pay an astronomical amount of money to buy any food. “By the fourth day he was no longer a man but a living corpse. He had picked up the last crumb of his former meals and had begun to devour the matting which covered the floor.
He begged Peppino to give him something to eat; he offered him a thousand francs for a crust of bread. ” When Danglars had exhausted all his financial resources The Count of Monte Cristo revealed his true identity not only leaving him shocked but also penniless. By the end, Danglars had been starved and ruined just as Edmond Dantes had been. Lastly, and extremely symbolic was Dantes revenge on Fernand Mondego who stole his fiancee and with her his will to live. After Dantes had gone through the stages of grief in prison he wanted to be relieved from his pain “The thought that death brings relief from suffering led him to the idea of suicide. (42) Although he almost succeeded, his failure at suicide led him to revenge on Mondego. The Count of Monte Cristo ruined Fernand Mondego’s reputation causing Mercedes and his son Albert to become estranged to him. Just as Dantes, Mondego watched his world come crashing down which led to his commission of suicide.
“Just as the carriage was passing beneath the arch of the gate a shot rang out and dark smoke floated out of one of the bedroom windows, which had been shattered by the force of the explosion. (395) This was possibly Edmond’s worst punishment to see the love of his life ripped away from him with no hope of ever seeing her again. He had lost his will to live when he had lost Mercedes. Mercedes represented so much in Edmond Dantes’ bright future; a happy marriage, joyful family and promising life. Yet, for the Count of Monte Cristo, Mercedes symbolized what might have been and she was a painful reminder of his past life and suffering throughout the years. “… Twenty-four years ago I returned to my country happy and proud.
I had a fiancee, a saintly young girl whom I worshipped, and I had three thousand francs, which I slowly amassed by constant hard work. That money was for her… That money was meant to contribute to the happiness of the woman I loved; you will understand why, instead of offering her the millions I could now give her, I give her back only the pittance which has lain forgotten since the day I was separated from her. ” (387-388) The dowry Edmond had saved for meant so much more than all the millions because it was meant for her coming from not a merciless Count but a young sailor who loved her.
Believe me when I say that the woman who was the only one to recognize you was also the only one to understand you… I live between two graves. One is that of Edmond Dantes, who died so long ago and whom I loved; I wouldn’t part with that memory for anything in the world. ” (495) As Mercedes left that day in Marseilles she symbolized the last piece of Edmond Dantes leaving forever. Mercedes was gone and with her the memory of Edmond Dantes would be forgotten. In conclusion, The Count of Monte Cristo is an excellently written novel with many examples of symbolism throughout.
The sea provides a means of Edmond Dantes being metaphorically reborn and emerging as the Count of Monte Cristo. The ways in which the Count of Monte Cristo achieved revenge reflected the same way he had suffered. Finally, as Mercedes left him taking the dowry he had saved for their future with her, she took the last piece of his former life with her and as she left a part of him was gone forever. The strong symbolism in this story enhance the meaning leaving the reader with a sense of finality love for Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo.
