Monday, January 3, 2011

Analysis

  The book The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas has numerous aspects that can be observed using PACTT.
     First of all, the plot of this book was astounding.  It was intricate and interesting.  Each part led to the next.  The betrayals and rewards added such a huge amount to this book.
     Second, throughout the book, the atmosphere was interesting and mysterious.  The author created plot and character that worked together to form both a tense, sad and joyous atmosphere.  The variations allowed for greater depth of understanding of the book as a whole.
     Third, Alexandre Dumas created such vivid and well developed characters.  You see first hand how certain events impact certain characters.  The characters also have a very human aspect to them.  There is a thirst for revenge and a call to reward those who are worthy.  The love issues throughout the book also form the characters into who the author intended them to become.
    Fourth, this book contains a few different themes.  The big idea behind this book is the consequences of your actions.  I you betray someone, you will receive what you're due.  Edmond Dantes becomes someone resembling a judge of higher authority.  He dishes out the consequences that certain people deserve.
     Another theme revolves around the whole idea of love.  Characters are losing love, regaining love, and forming new love.  This whole concept seems to keep the book in motion.
     Finally, the author's technique compliments the already well formed characters and plot.  The heated dialogue that lead to the demise of others and local colour of France brought a new level of depth to the story.
      In conclusion, all of these elements were brought together in perfect balanced by the author to form an extremely well crafted and well developed piece of literature.

Reward and Joy

May 16th, 1835

     During my revenge, I was at work in another area of my life.  This area is much brighter than the other. I have executed a plan to save Morrel's son Maximilian's fiance, Valentine Villefort, from certain death that would've ben brought upon her by the hand of her evil and murderous minded step-mother.
     I made Maximilian believe that Valentine had died.  Secretly, I knew that she did not die.  I gave her a pill that made her only appear to be dead.
     The news tore down Maximilian's spirits and he searched for a chance for death to overcome himself so he may be with Valentine again.
     When I saw his deep sorrow, I brought Maximilian to the island of Monte Cristo where he discovers that  Valentine is truly alive.  He is overcome by a joy like no other.
     Seeing their joy, I came to realize my own personal joy and love for Haydee who still lived with me.
     We sailed away with each other and I felt what love and true joy was like once more.

     "All human wisdom is contained in these two words, - Wait and Hope."

  
  

The Fall of Danglars

November 21st, 1834

     The day I have awaited has finally come.  Danglars has felt the pain of betrayal and hopelessness.
     I used a simple plan to bring an end to Danglars' happiness.  I used his thirst for money against him.  Through various scams and frauds, I managed to destroy his fortune.  I also destroyed his family by splitting him and his daughter apart and making his wife cost him even more money.
     As Danglars made one final attempt to escape, I had him captured by an Italian bandit named Luigi.
     During Danglars, imprisonment, he is forced to pay absurd amounts of money for food and water.  His money is basically completely depleted.
     I decided not to kill Danglars.  I simply left him without a penny to his name on the street.
     The men who wronged me have received their much deserved repayment.  I find nothing but satisfaction in witnessing their demise.

The Fall of Villefort

August 20th, 1834

     Again I have brought down the hammer of judgment against another man who has wronged me.  Villefort.  It took a longer duration of time before I brought this wretched man to an end.  I decided to take advantage of his wife's twisted mind.  She had thoughts and hopes of murder.  I fostered and grew these thoughts and hopes into actions.  Before long, I had secretly taught her about the use of poison and she slowly murdered each person who lived in the house except Villefort.  As a final blow to Villefort, I exposed his dark and treacherous acts of his past.  He had buried his illegitimate child while it was still living.  There was no hope for Villefort.  After his wife's killing spree, he was led to believe that everyone that mattered to him was killed.  As a result of his charges and despair, Villefort lost all sanity.  Two men down, only Danglars remains to taste my wrath.

The Fall of Count de Morcerf

May 15th, 1834

     I have successfully executed my revenge against one of the men who was behind my downfall.  The Count de Morcerf.  I let out information that I had discovered along my travels that he did not want to be known by anyone.  The Count  de Morcerf turned on another man he was associated with named Ali Pacha.  He sold Ali's wife and daughter in to slavery.  I saved Ali's daughter Haydee years ago from the dark clutches of slavery.  She has lived with me ever since.  Her testimony against the Count de Morcerf sealed his fate.  As a result of this trial, Mercedes and Albert ran away from Fernand and Fernand's precious name was completely disgraced.  As a result he took his life.  One man down, two more to go.

The Revenge Begins

April 28th, 1834

     Things are now falling into place.  I recently was in Rome under the name of the Count of Monte Cristo.  I am making my way into the lives of the others that have wronged me.
     In Rome, I met a man named Albert de Morcerf.  He is the son of Mercedes and Fernand who now goes by the name of the Count de Morcerf.  I managed to protect Albert from bandits so he took me to his family.  Fernand didn't notice me but I could tell that Mercedes did.  Since no one recognizes me, I am in the perfect position to plot and execute my revenge against Danglars, Count de Morcerf and Villefort.

Caderousse and Reward

February 19th, 1824

    Just recently, I visited one of my wrongdoers, Caderousse.  I went under the name of Abbe Busoni so I will not be recognized or noticed as my former self.
     Caderousse was running an inn in Marseilles.  He wasn't doing very well though.  I posed as the executer of my own will and showed him a large diamond that could be his.  Caderousse began to tell me the whole story about the betrayal of the man he once knew.    Danglars, Fernand and Caderousse framed me so I would be imprisoned.  I also learned that my father had passed away and Mercedes had married Fernand.  Finally, he told me that my former ship owner, Morrel, is close to losing all of his money.  Various catastrophes sunk all of his ships but the Pharaon.  He is on the verge of despair.  I was filled with a renewed sense of rage and sadness.
     Caderousse admitted to feeling awful and tormented after I was put in prison.  For his kind words of regret, I gave him the entire diamond.
     Upon leaving Caderousse, I decided to save Morell from all of his debt.  I anonymously left a bag of paid debt notes in his house and a large diamond.  He is a good man and deserves to be saved from misfortune.

A Gift from God

October 8th, 1823

     Finally!  I have freed myself from the clutches of the Chateau D'if.  In an act of desperation, I placed myself in to the shroud of dear Abbe Faria.  The guards, believing they were taking out the deceased Italian, were really becoming my path to freedom.  I thought they were going to bury me.  I had planned to dig my way out but instead, I was shot out into sea.  Luckily, I was able to cut myself free and swim to a nearby island.
     On the island, I saw an incoming ship.  I managed to persuade the crew to take me aboard.  I began to bond with the men onboard, who ended up to smugglers, and sailed to the Island of Monte Cristo.
     My next discovery shook me up greatly.  I found the treasure that Abbe Faria spoke of!  It was not a myth but a real fortune!  It was surely a gift from God.  I am now equip to reward those who were good to me and to get my long anticipated revenge against those who have wronged me.

A Shining Light

October 5th, 1823

     It as been eight years since my initial imprisonment.  There are no signs of an end in sight.  During my time here though, I have met the most interesting man.  His name is Abbe Faria.  I managed to tunnel my way through to this man's cell.  He has been a like a shining light and a second father to me.  He has shown me and taught me many things.  The jailer had mentioned a mad Italian priest but this man was not mad at all.  He taught me about math, history, philosophy and language.  During this time I told him my life story and what events had led to my arrival at the Chateau D'if.  Abbe told me treacherous things that he suspected in my life.  He said that I had been framed by Danglars, Caderousse an Fernand.  Villefort failed to save me from prison because the letter I had was addressed to his father, Noirtier.  Noirtier had much different political views than his son.  Villefort had sent me to the Chateau in an attempt to protect his name from disgrace because of his fathers controversial beliefs.
     A new feeling began to form within me.  One of anger and revenge.
     Later on, Abbe told me some more news.  He knew of a great treasure being held on the island of Monte Cristo.  Abbe claims that the treasure was entrusted to him and he is now entrusting it to me to have if I escape prison.  I wonder if what he says is true?
     Unfortunately, Abbe Faria just passed away.  I am now harbouring feelings of deep sadness, anger and revenge.  I must find a way to escape this prison.

Feast to Misfortune

June 14th, 1815

     Today Mercedes and I held our Betrothal Feast to commemorate our upcoming marriage.  During the feast, something awful happened. Law Officers came in and said that I had been anonymously accused of acts of treason.  I complied with the men with the hope of this ordeal simply being a large misunderstanding or mistake.
     I was taken to the office of the public prosecutor, Villefort.  I spoke with the man and tried to reason with him.  He seemed to agree with my statements and to have come to the conclusion that I was not guilty.  Suddenly, there was an unfortunate turn of events.  I told him about the letter that my dying captain asked me to deliver.  I mentioned the name of the man whom the letter was addressed to.  A man named Noirtier. Villfort's tone became cold and cruel.  Without mercy, I was sent to the Chateau D'if, a prison famous for the imprisonment of political threats.
     I now stand in the Chateau.  I am not sure of my prison term but the chances of freedom in the near future are non-existant.  Which wretched fellow would punish an innocent man in a brutal way of such magnitude?

The Return

June 12th, 1815

     I am blessed to have returned home safely.  The sea has been my home over the last while.  Sailing on the wonderful ship, the Pharaon.  A shroud of sadness enveloped the ship on our journey though.  Our heroic captain, Captain LeClere, died at sea.  Being his first mate, he gave me orders to make an unplanned stop at a small island to receive a letter that he needs delivered.  He gave this order to me as his death wish.  Aside from the captain, the crew is a fantastic bunch of hardworking men.  There is one man that seems to be unsettled.  His name is Danglars.  For some reason, he is displaying a disliking towards me.  I am sensing a hint of envy in his words and actions.  Nonetheless, he performs his work admirably.
     I was ecstatic to return home to Marseilles to see my father and my love, Mercedes.  Upon arrival back home, I was informed that I will very likely become the next captain of the ship.  A shining light of blessing has shone down on me.  Unfortunately, all has not been well in Marseilles though.  Caderousse, my father's neighbour, pulled a ghastly stunt.  He forced my father to repay past debt with the money I had left for him to survive on.  What kind of man takes advantage of another man like that?  As a result of this, my father has been famished over the last months.  I gave to my father a pile of gold to help get him back on his feet.
     On another negative note, a man named Fernand, Mercedes' cousin, has displayed signs of affection towards my dear Mercedes.  She has remained loyal to me amidst the devious fellow.  Fernand took his leave and allowed me and Mercedes some time to speak to each other again.  During this discussion, we have decided to join in marriage.
     With the news of marriage still fresh in the air, Mercedes and I stumbled across Caderousse, Danglars and Fernand on our way towards town.  They seemed to show no joy at the discovery of our big news.  I have a feeling that they are angry and are envious.  Nothing good can ever come from those emotions.