The Count of Monte Cristo Themes and Ideas that cause this to still have value centuries later.

Vengeance This novel revolves around a man’s quest for vengeance…do you think he was justified in seeking vengeance? (Put yourself in his shoes…what would you have done?) What does the Bible say about vengeance? Based on what we see in this novel, why is that good advice? (Romans 12:19-21 is an excellent verse to explore…one the Count should have learned).

Thoughts to Ponder… Does Dantes get vengeance? Did it turn out how he hoped? When does Dantes finally find peace, and how much does fulfilling his vengeance play in this? Do you feel Dantes’ TEN YEARS planning his revenge was a waste of time or was it productive? Dantes’ seems to believe in Old Testament justice, the “eye for an eye” kind…yet several other characters buy into the “turn the other cheek” mentality. Can these ideas coexist? Compare Dantes’ time in the Chateau d’If with his years spent planning his revenge…do you see any similarities?

Perseverance How is Edmond the model of perseverance? (think of the entire book…) The most important lines in the book are probably the last few, especially the last 3 words…”Wait and hope”. How can we establish that these words embody the most important theme in the book? (There are multiple themes, but this one is often overlooked for the vengeance theme)

Thoughts to Ponder… Perseverance is often seen as a positive trait, which it normally is, but in the case of the Count, can it be seen as a negative? Give some examples of how perseverance (persistence is a good synonym) is not always positive, based on things you have personally seen or heard about. Is perseverance just something a person “does”, or can it be a larger idea than just our actions? (I realize this can be a tough one, but think, can perseverance apply to an idea or belief as easy as a person being persistent?)

Justice The fact that one of our characters (Villefort) is a prosecutor is an important element of what Dumas is trying to do when he speaks of justice (get used to me saying “Nothing in good writing is unintentional”). What comment about the justice system might Dumas be offering? (Is Villefort just or not? Who is better about dishing out justice, the legal system or individuals?)

Thoughts to Ponder… Are Villefort’s own personal issues a roadblock for his carrying out of true justice? Can anyone truly put aside their own emotions, ambitions , and beliefs and be completely unbiased when making a decision? What’s the difference between “an avenger…the Angel of God” as Dantes refers to himself, and a dangerous vigilante? What kind of men does the Count deal with while carrying out his “justice”? What does this say about what he is doing?

Transformation What types of transformations do we see in this novel? (Don’t just focus on literal, physical transformations…there are some MUCH more drastic ones that occur). Do the Count’s physical transformations in any way mirror his internal, moral changes? (Of particular interest with this question is his transformation into Abbe Busoni)

Thoughts to Ponder… The Count has the ability to not only change his appearance but the lives of those around him in major ways both for the bad and good. Since this is the case, make a case for him being a villainous character based on his actions. Because of all of the character shifting Dantes does, how well do we truly know him at the end of this rather extensive book (normally in books of this size, you should have no problem knowing pretty much everything about the character!)? Do you think Dantes even knows who he really is by the end of the novel?