The Count of Monte Cristo is a novel written by Alexandre Dumas
published in 1844, it begins as follows: Edmund Dantes is the
protagonist of this story, he is a 19-year-old boy who was about to
become the captain of a boat. He was also engaged to Mercedes, a
woman he loves. Edmundo is loved by almost everyone, except for 3
characters who will be the cause of his misfortunes. Danglars, the
ship's treasurer. Fernand Mondego, who was also in love with
Mercedes and Cadereouse, who simply envies Dantes' luck. These 3
plot among themselves to accuse Dantes of treason. The fact is that
Dantes had brought a letter from Napoleon without having an idea of
politics or anything, he simply has to deliver it, and this is enough for
him to be accused of treason and arrested, the prosecutor Villefort
realizes that they want to lay a Dantes trap and intends to set him
free. However, when he reveals the recipient of Napoleon's letter,
Villefort backs down. It turns out that it was addressed to Nortier, who
is none other than Villefort's father, who fears that the letter will
become public and sends Dantes to prison for life. This is how Dantes
ends up at the Chateau d'if, where he finds all kinds of prisoners who
will never see the light again, away from everyone on an island.
During this stage in prison, Dantes meets Abbé Faria, a prisoner who
is next to his cell. This is a very intellectual character who teaches
Dantes everything, history, philosophy, economy, etc. He also leaves
her the location of a great hidden treasure on the island of Monte
Cristo. Knowing that he could use it if he escapes. When the abbot
dies, Dantes has the idea to hide next to his body to escape, and he
succeeds. He finds the treasure, this was a huge fortune and he takes
it as a reward for having judged him so unfairly, as well as to prepare
his revenge. This is how he disguises himself and changes his name
to find out things first, he realizes the details of the plot to frame him.
He also finds out that his father died and that Mercedes marry
Fernando Mondego, to the anger of Dante's Mondego and Danglars
became rich and powerful. This information is obtained from
Caderouse who now begs but had plotted against Dantes. However,
Dantes rewards him with a diamond for the information. Before
leaving, the ship's manager, who had always been good to him and
had even fought to get him out of prison, helps Morrel anonymously.
10 years pass. Dantes changes everything and now calls himself the
Count of Monte Cristo. In Rome he meets Albert de Moncef, the son
of Fernando Mondego and Mercedes, saves him from some bandits
and he introduces him to his family. No one recognizes Dantes, only
Mercedes but not quite. Dantes approaches the lives of Danglars,
Mondego and Villefort. In this way, becoming more and more intimate
with them, he gives himself space to execute his perfectly planned
revenge, Fernando Mondego, now known as the Count of Morcef, is
the first to be punished, Dantes reveals how he made his fortune by
betraying his former patron, the vice Greek Ali, whom, in addition to
betraying him, he sold his wife and daughter as slaves. Precisely
Dantes bought Ali's daughter haidëë and has been living with him for
7 years. This causes a huge stir and everyone is ashamed of Morcef
Albert's betrayal and Mercedes flees, leaving everything behind. Then
Morcef commits suicide. Villefort however becomes somewhat more
calculated because it is revealed how he tried to kill his illegitimate son
who survives, he becomes a criminal and ends up accusing Villefort of
all the crimes he committed, he goes crazy. Finally Danglars is a
greedy and Dantes plays with this. Danglars almost goes bankrupt
and has the bandit Luigi Vampa kidnap him and take every penny.
Dantes spares his life but Danglars is totally ruined. Finally, Dantes
helps Max Morrel, the son of that Morrel who had helped him a long
time ago, he saves Valentine Villefort with whom Max was in love and
makes them both manage to be a couple. Before ending, Dantes falls
in love with Haidëë and lives happily with her. And this is how the play
ends.
