HRE 4O COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO – FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY
Synopsis:Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes is a naive and honest man, whose peaceful life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes are abruptly shattered when his best friend Fernand, who wants Mercedes for himself, deceives him. Set up to be unlawfully sentenced to the infamous island prison of Chateau D'If, Edmond is trapped in a nightmare that lasts for thirteen years. Over time everything he ever believed about right and wrong is abandoned and replaced by all-consuming thoughts of vengeance against those who betrayed him. With the help of an equally innocent fellow inmate, Dantes plots and succeeds in his mission to escape from prison, whereupon he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo. With cunning ruthlessness, he cleverly insinuates himself into the French nobility and systematically destroys the men who manipulated and enslaved him
Characters
Edmond Dantes/Count of Monte Cristo: Dantes, the naïve sailor from Marseilles, is imprisoned as a political criminal in the Chateau D'If. Those he trusted imprison him. He remains in prison for fourteen years. He no longer is the same man once he breaks free, the lion of vengeance has grown in his soul. Revenge is reason for living now. Dantes assumes the role the Count of Monte Cristo to avenge the wrongs committed against the hopeful nineteen year old sailor he once was. The knowledge and fortune that Abbe Faria imparted to him allows him to accomplish this goal. He truly believes that he has the right to act as divine justice by punishing the sins of his enemies. They must suffer slowly.
Abbe Faria: This is the Abbe who saves Dantes from suicide. The old Abbe had tried to tunnel his way to freedom, however, a miscalculation brought him to Dantes' cell. The Abbe is also a political prisoner. The Abbe has made his own tools and has also written a treatise while incarcerated. The Abbe spends the next few years educating Dantes in the sciences, literature, and languages. He also helps Dantes figure out who was responsible for his imprisonment. Thus, he instils vengeance in his young protégé. He sees Dantes as a son, thus before he dies, the Abbe tells Dantes of a treasure that is buried on the Isle of Monte Cristo. When the Abbe dies, Dantes replaces his body in the Abbe's body bag in order to escape.
Mercedes/Countess de Mondego: Mercedes is a poor Catalan, yet she is noble and beautiful. She is the fiancée of Dantes who is wronged by the man whom she thought of as a brother, Fernand Mondego. When Dantes is imprisoned she cares for Dantes' father until his death. She is comforted by Mondego, but she loses hope of ever regaining Dantes. She thus marries Fernand. They become the Count and Countess de Mondego. She alone recognizes Dantes when he returns as Monte Cristo, however, she keeps silent until her son challenges Monte Cristo to a duel for having destroyed his father's honour. She then visits Monte Cristo to plead for her son's life. He accepts, yet tells her of her husband's treachery.
Fernand Mondego/Count de Mondego: Fernand was the man who betrayed Dantes because he was in love with Mercedes. His father’s death brought him a fortune, and he becomes the Count de Mondego. He duels with Edmond in the end.
Albert de Mondego: The Count's son is befriended and saved from bandits by the Count of Monte Cristo in Italy. He thus introduces his saviour into Parisian society. He is shamed however, when Monte Cristo reveals the treachery of his father. At first he challenges the Count to a duel, however, his mother relates to him the truth, after which he apologizes to the Count.
Danglars: Danglars is the mastermind behind the letter, which incriminates Dantes. He becomes captain of the Pharaon once Dantes is imprisoned. He becomes a banker with an incredible fortune and a Baron. Monte Cristo destroys Danglars by destroying his fortune.
Monsieur de Villefort: Monsieur de Villefort is the public prosecutor of Marseilles who was responsible for Dantes' incarceration. Much to Villefort's chagrin, Villefort's father was a known Bonapartist, thus his policy for Bonapartist conspirators was harsh. He sought to protect his own name. He succeeds in becoming the public prosecutor in Paris. His first marriage is one that is politically advantageous.
M. Morrel: Before Monte Cristo begins his revenge, he rewards M. Morrel and his family, for they were his true friends. M. Morrel was the ship owner of the Pharaon. He had invested efforts in saving Dantes from prison but to no avail. He had also paid for Dantes' father's burial. Monte Cristo anonymously saves him from such a plight.
Luigi Vampa: Luigi Vampa is the leader of a gang of Italian bandits who are friends with Monte Cristo. Luigi Vampa thus helps Monte Cristo win Albert de Mondego’s favour by "capturing" Albert and later "releasing" him at the Count's wishes. Vampa's gang also destroys Danglars.
Jacopo: Jacopo is the smuggler who saves Dantes from the sea right after he is thrown into the waves in the Abbe Faria's body bag. Dantes smuggles with Jacopo for a few months before recovering the Monte Cristo treasure. Jacopo later becomes the Monte Cristo's lieutenant and friend.
Questions: Complete with cover page and proof carefully, presentation and spelling will count. [5 marks]
1. When Dantes chooses to deliver Napoleon’s letter what could he have done differently? (Use the STOP method to examine his actions) [6 marks]
2. Why does Fernand Mondego betray Dantes? What part of his decision is immoral (object, intent, circumstances) [3 marks]
3. When Dantes escapes from the Chateau D’If he is still in many ways a prisoner. Explain how this could be said to be true. [3 marks]
4. We discover towards the end of the movie why Mercedes had married Mondego. Use the STOP method of Case analysis to examine the decision Mercedes faced when told of Dantes death and consider what other alternatives where open to her. What decision would you have made in her position? Justify your answer. [6 marks]
5. When in the movie is Dantes truly set free? Explain and justify your answer. [2 marks]
6. Dantes initially believes that “God will grant him Justice”. He then believes that only a complete and extreme revenge will satisfy him. What do you think he believes at the end of the movie? Is he going to be able to get on with his life? [3 marks]