LAVARIAS,LEA CLARISSE A.

BSN III-C

I. Introduction

The Count of Monte Cristo

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact motive Dumas had in mind when he

wrote The Count of Monte Cristo. He wrote the novel in 1844 and it was
published in 18 fragments between the years 1844-46. This was at the same
time that Dumas embarked on his project including the D'Artagnan
romances. These romances were written in conjunction with his collaborator
Auguste Maquet starting in 1837. Their objective was to reconstruct French
National history through a series of novels. The Three Musketeers is such a
novel. In any case, The Count of Monte Cristo, also written with a team of
collaborators, was written at the same period as these novels, which had a
distinct didactic purpose. It was Dumas goal to teach the French people their
historical heritage. The plots of the D'Artagnan romances are thus restricted
to actual historical events and the characters reflect actual historical
personages.

The Count of Monte Cristo is only loosely based in fact, and thus does
not fit the category of the D'Artagnan romances. History forms a mere
backdrop to the plot. Dumas thus had much more freedom to create the
imaginative plot and to develop the characters' role. Does this mean that
The Count of Monte Cristo is not didactic in nature? Most likely the novel was
created as a relief from the genre of the D'Artagnan romances; however, this
is not to say that one cannot find historical events within the novel. Historical
and social values are still contained within the work, though they are
reduced to the backdrop. The work covers the period of French History from
1814-1838.

Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo also covers French societal customs of

the period. It was completely possible that a political prisoner should be
forgotten in prison, though political prisoners normally stayed for a year.
Another feature of 19th century post-Napoleonic society that Dumas
illustrates is the humble origins of many of the most influential persons of
Parisien society. The Count de Morcerf and Villefort represent three different
means by which an individual of humble origin entered elite Parisien society.
One is financial (Danglars), Morcerf represents military and political
advancement, and Villefort's advancement is judicial. Other features of
society outlined by Dumas are the theatrical shows the elite attend (such as
the Opera), and the trend to purchase a house in Parisien suburbs, such as
the Count did in Auteuil. Though Dumas' purpose in writing the novel was not
didactic, it certainly contained many historical and societal realities.

II. Adaptation on Rizal on his Principles

Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo also covers French societal customs of

the period. It was completely possible that a political prisoner should be
forgotten in prison, though political prisoners normally stayed for a year.
Another feature of 19th century post-Napoleonic society that Dumas
illustrates is the humble origins of many of the most influential persons of
Parisien society. The Count de Morcerf and Villefort represent three different
means by which an individual of humble origin entered elite Parisien society.
One is financial (Danglars), Morcerf represents military and political
advancement, and Villefort's advancement is judicial. Other features of
society outlined by Dumas are the theatrical shows the elite attend (such as
the Opera), and the trend to purchase a house in Parisien suburbs, such as
the Count did in Auteuil. Though Dumas' purpose in writing the novel was not
didactic, it certainly contained many historical and societal realities.

Jose Rizal’s principles and with the main character of the Count of
Monte Cristo is somehow similar. They both stand for what they believe is
right. The one who wrote the novel wanted to teach the French people about
their historical heritage like what Rizal wants, he wanted the Filipinos to
know what is happening in our country in his times, and let people know
what actions to be done. Rizal and Dumas both wanted their fellow to be
aware of what is happening in their society.

III.Literature which Rizal used to read

 Jose Rizal read the Count of Monte Cristo which is about a young
ignorant sailor, Edmond Dantès, is sucked into the political games of the
time just before the Hundred Days in the year 1815 that would bring back
Napoleon. In prison, he discovers the truth and decides to take revenge on
them. When he then finally discovers the treasure, he starts to prepare for
the revenge he longed for all those years. The revenge is compelling, smart,
and admirably bad. Ironically the bad guys of 14 years before destroy their
own lives because of the same characteristics they used to put Edmond in
prison. In this book Dumas deals with very real feelings of people, addressing
the treacherous circumstances people had to live in France at the time of the
revolution, but asks a very fundamental question as to justness.

IV. Analysis

Jose Rizal used the same theme of Monte Cristo in his second novel El
Filibusterismo. In the novel, Crisostomo Ibarra (the protagonist of Rizal's first
novel, Noli Me Tangere), returns as Simoun, a rich jeweller, to avenge the
betrayal he experienced and to recover his fiancee, Maria Clara. This novel, it
is rather the imagery of man acting as a force of divine justice that enthralls
the senses. The Count if Monte Cristo focuses on man-man hatred. This
hatred is far more powerful than the man-woman love contained within the
work. The psychological portrayal of vengeance is one that fascinates yet it
is a portrayal that also repels. Monte Cristo's character does not arouse
sympathy, yet somehow his actions are justified. He is almost a mythological
hero. A supernatural aura creates an adventure tale that is hard to resist.