Thomas McNulty

Ms. Moser
Period 5, ELA 10H
5 December 2016
Socratic Seminar Answers
2-

The characters who best exemplify the idea of true love, in my opinion, are Valentine and

Maximilian. It is said by Maximilian, With Valentine, count, my happiness was infinite,

unheard-of; a happiness too great, too complete, too divine for this world (Dumas 450). This
Ishows how much Maximilian falls for Valentine, and loves her with all of his heart, as it is seen
throughout the book.
3-

In my opinion, the count was not completely justified in his acts of revenge against his

foes. His wrongdoings are exemplified when he states to Danglar, Your life will be spared. Your
two accomplices werent so lucky: one of them is insane and the other is dead! (Dumas 522).
He may have had a terrible fate happen to him; however, what his revenge had upon his enemies
was far worse than what had happened to him. Permanent rather than temporary punishment.
4-

In my opinion, Benedetto is the cruelest character in the novel. This is shown when he

talks about torturing his own mother. Lets torture her, then shell tell us where the money is!
(Dumas 197). This shows how cruel a character would have to be to wish something so terrible
on someone, not only some random person, but their own mother.
5-

In my opinion, one of the most, in not the most, prominent theme of the novel is God and

Religion. This is exemplified by when the count says, God, who raised me up against my
enemies and made me victorious, didnt want me to have this penance at the end of my victory. I
wanted to punish myself, but God wishes to forgive me (Dumas 529). I think this is the most

prominent theme because of how many times God is mentioned, and also how each of the
characters, especially the count, thinks that God is leading and controlling all of their actions
under his will.
6-

I think the driving motives for Caderhousse, Danglars, Fernand, and Monsieur de

Villefort is money and wealth. This is shown when the situation of Caderhousse and the diamond
is being described by, ...he went over to the cupboard, took out the bank notes and the gold,
rushed out the door and disappeared into the darkness (Dumas 194). This is a prime example of
how money drives all of these peoples motives, as it later corrupted Caderhousse. Also, the other
men each have had their corruption with money manipulating them at the expense of others,
especially Dantes.
7-

In my opinion, at the end of the novel, Edmond Dantes learns how to love again, through

his mistress Haydee. This is shown when he says, Perhaps your love will make me forget what I
must forget. One word from you, Haydee, has enlightened me more than twenty years of my
slow wisdom. Youre all I have left in the world; through you I attach myself to life again;
through you I can suffer; through you I can be happy (Dumas 529). This is a sign that the count
mostly lives through Haydee now, as he has fallen in love with her. He lives and does most
things through her company.
10-

In my opinion, at the end of the book the happiest characters seem to be Maximilian and

Valentine. A good example of them expressing their happiness and content with each other at the
very end of the book is shown by, The next morning at dawn Maximilian and Valentine were
walking arm in arm along the shore (Dumas 530). This gives a slight but suggestive
presentation of how much they love each other, and how happy they are just to be together, as
they spend their time together.

11-

In my opinion revenge sometimes is and isnt justifiable. With the count, I think it is

justifiable to an extent, as he may have deserved his revenge, but he took it awfully far compared
to the damage done to him. This is shown by, No And God grant that I havent done too much
already (Dumas 487). This shows the counts own distress after he has done these terrible things
to Villefort and Fernand, as he realizes his actions affected more people than he had wanted or
expected.
14-

If I had to chose a character from the book to have dinner with, I would probably choose

Jacopo. I would choose Jacopo because we do not know too much about him, yet I find him to be
intriguing and wish to know more about his character and his personality. I also know much,
maybe even more than I wanted to, about each of the other complex characters of the book, so I
feel like I wouldnt get much out of a dinner with one of them. Jacopo also seems like a very
chilled out character, and I want to know how and why he stayed with the count, and if he knows
the counts story.