Edmond Dantés
Edmond Dantés is the main protagonist in the book The Count of Monte Cristo. He was said to be young, thin, and tall with dark eyes and dark hair. He had a calm, controlled, confident, and smiling manner. Dantés was a sailor and soon to be captain when his supposed friends framed him for a treasonous offense. He was sent to prison and stayed there for fourteen years. His mentor while in jail, named the Abbé Faria, taught Dantés many things. When Dantés escaped from prison, he vowed to get back at the ones who sent him to jail. Since the Abbé had given him a treasure map, Dantés was now extremely wealthy and took on the title The Count of Monte Cristo. He also disguised himself as a priest, the Abbé Busoni, in order to get close to one of the men who betrayed him, Caderousse. Dantés also helped his old friend and employer Monsieur Morrel get out of debt and here disguised himself as a banker from the firm Thompson and French, Sinbad the Sailor. Before Edmond goes to prison, he is innocent young sailor who is oblivious to the evil his friends are capable of. However, prison changed Edmond. When he escaped, he became a strong, revenge-driven man who is bent on getting his vengeance on the people who hurt him. He is cunning and is willing to go as far as he must to get his revenge. In the end, Edmond has driven one man who hurt him to insanity, one to ruin and poverty, and the other two are dead. Dantés does not feel guilty about what he has done.
Edmond faces many conflicts in the book. For one, he is burdened with the news that his father has almost died when he was out to sea. When he returns, he finds his father near-death and starving of hunger. He realizes that Caderousse has taken the money that he left for his father. This sickens Edmond and stays with him forever. Then, Edmond is arrested and sent to jail. Edmond debates whether he should commit suicide or not. He tells himself that he will not have to suffer. For many days he tries to kill himself but finally gives up and tries to escape. He meets the Abbé Faria in jail who is planning an escape. This gives Dantés hope, but he soon faces another internal conflict. Faria falls ill and urges Dantés to escape without him. Edmond battles with himself, debating whether he should go or stay.
The most obvious conflict Edmond faces is that of revenge. Faria helps Dantés understand who plotted against him and he vows to get back at them. Internally, he wonders whether what he is doing is right. Externally, he faces problems in exacting his revenge. He must hide his identity from the woman he loves and must stay vigilant so the four criminals do not realize who Edmond really is. Edmond also has to deal with the fact that his father has died and the woman he has always loved married the very man who betrayed him. He had to see the wrongdoers live wealthy and fabulous lives while he had to waste away in prison. This threatens to break Dantés.
In the end, Dantés does indeed get his revenge and he is able to help the people who helped him when he was struggling. He saves Maximillian and Valentine's wedding and is able to buy them a house. He himself is able to elope with the only woman who had actually stayed with him through his hard times, Haydee his servant. It is difficult to say whether Dantés felt closure because of his deeds. He struggles with the fact that one innocent man died because of his deeds but is able to push past this and not feel any remorse about the other men's lives he ruined.
Edmond faces many conflicts in the book. For one, he is burdened with the news that his father has almost died when he was out to sea. When he returns, he finds his father near-death and starving of hunger. He realizes that Caderousse has taken the money that he left for his father. This sickens Edmond and stays with him forever. Then, Edmond is arrested and sent to jail. Edmond debates whether he should commit suicide or not. He tells himself that he will not have to suffer. For many days he tries to kill himself but finally gives up and tries to escape. He meets the Abbé Faria in jail who is planning an escape. This gives Dantés hope, but he soon faces another internal conflict. Faria falls ill and urges Dantés to escape without him. Edmond battles with himself, debating whether he should go or stay.
The most obvious conflict Edmond faces is that of revenge. Faria helps Dantés understand who plotted against him and he vows to get back at them. Internally, he wonders whether what he is doing is right. Externally, he faces problems in exacting his revenge. He must hide his identity from the woman he loves and must stay vigilant so the four criminals do not realize who Edmond really is. Edmond also has to deal with the fact that his father has died and the woman he has always loved married the very man who betrayed him. He had to see the wrongdoers live wealthy and fabulous lives while he had to waste away in prison. This threatens to break Dantés.
In the end, Dantés does indeed get his revenge and he is able to help the people who helped him when he was struggling. He saves Maximillian and Valentine's wedding and is able to buy them a house. He himself is able to elope with the only woman who had actually stayed with him through his hard times, Haydee his servant. It is difficult to say whether Dantés felt closure because of his deeds. He struggles with the fact that one innocent man died because of his deeds but is able to push past this and not feel any remorse about the other men's lives he ruined.