The Count of Monte Cristo Discussion Guide

 

We have our first reading group meeting tonight and as promised, here is the discussion guide I wrote for the evening.  I will read Iago's monologue from Act 2, Scene 1 of Othello, in which he plots his revenge, and my co-moderator will read William Blake's A Poison Tree to start us off! 

The Count of Monte Cristo Discussion Guide

 

Good literature is in a larger conversation we are having with ourselves about what it means to be human. As such, there are often echoes of other work or new bits of dialogue.

        What “echoes” in The Count of Monte Cristo for you?

        What new bit of dialogue is Dumas adding to this larger conversation?
 

If you were unjustly imprisoned, what would sustain you to survive (spiritually/emotionally)? How would you not give in to despair?
 

How much do you value your security and position? What would you do if those things were threatened? (vis a vie Villefort’s betrayal of Edmond)
 

If you knew you were going to be imprisoned, what sorts of things would you commit to memory to stay sane? (Father Faria clearly has committed vast stores of knowledge to memory in order to teach Edmond as much as he does)
 

How do you think you’d react to unjust imprisonment?
 

If you were reduced to a number, how would you hold on to who you are?
 

Why do you think Fr. Faria does not try to talk Edmond out of his schemes for revenge? Is he supporting Edmond by saying nothing? Do you think Fr. Faria agrees? Why or why not? (And how does that square with his role as a learned priest?)
 

If you were to find a secret treasure like Edmond, how do you think it would change you? How does the treasure change Edmond, for better or worse?
 

Think about Edmond’s death wish in chapter 5. How does that compare with Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech? How are they similar or different?
 

Why do you think Edmond rewarded Caderousse, even though Caderousse admitted to abetting Danglars, Villefort, and Fernand in their conspiracy?
 

What is Dumas trying to say about the power of money?
 

Are the Count’s actions justified by the ends? Why or why not?
 

Is it ever okay to do a bad thing for a good end, or does the bad thing leave such a spiritual stain that there can’t be a good end?
 

Does Edmond’s quest for revenge ultimately outweigh the original wrong done him? What would be a virtuous response?

Edmond ruins Villefort and Danglars by making a calculated assessment of their characters. Does the fact that Edmond’s revenge is enacted in a passive way relieve him of the moral responsibility? Is it better or worse than if he had done something more directly to ruin them?
 

What do you think of Villefort’s fate and Edmond’s response? What about Danglars? (p 206/212). Do you like Edmond? Is he a “good” guy or a hero? Why or why not?
 

Do you think Danglars’ repentance was real? What about Edmond’s forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? What does it mean to seek redress of wrongs?

Is love of money the root of all evil?

What do you think of Edmond’s offer to sacrifice himself to save Albert for Mercedes’ sake?
 

Why do you think Mercedes married Fernand?
 

How do secrets poison a family?
 

Do you think Edmond’s repentance at the end made up for what he did? Was his revenge justified? Why or why not?
 

Did Fernand take the easy way out? What would have been the narrow path?
 

Do you think Edmond has developed any virtues or insight at the conclusion of the story? Gained new vices? Does his quest for revenge help or hinder him?

What do you think of the ending? Was there anything about this story that especially surprised you?
 

Bonus question: In the 2013 movie The Railway Man, a British army officer is tortured in a Japanese labor camp; many years later, he confronts his jailer about the torture. How does this confrontation compare to Dantes’ journey of revenge against his accusers?

 

Discuss amongst yourselves.  😉