The Count of Monte Cristo Chapters 1-8 Summary Guide

Chapter One: Who, Where, When? Edmond Dantes (First Mate/Captain), 19 years old Danglars (Purser) Captain LeClere (Captain dies of brain fever) Morrel (Ship Owner) Where: Marseilles, France When: Feb. 24, 1815;

Dantes is acting captain of the Pharaon after the captain dies Chapter 1: What, Why, How? Dantes is acting captain of the Pharaon after the captain dies Dantes is well liked, Danglars is jealous almost fight on island of Monte Cristo Captain LeClere asks Dantes to deliver a letter to Marechal on island of Elba (Napoleon is exiled there) Danglars tells Morrel Dantes lost a day of sailing by stopping at Elba (casts suspicion on Dantes) Morrel respects Dantes and makes him captain Dantes wants to see father and Mercedes plans on marrying Mercedes and taking a trip to Paris

Chapter Two: Who, Where, When? Edmond Dantes (captain), Danglars (jealous of Dantes’ fame and fortune) Old Dantes (Edmond’s father) Caderouse (26 years old, tailor, neighbor, made Old Dantes spend all of his money to pay back his son’s debt) Where: Marseilles, France Old Dante’s home When: Feb. 24, 1815 still the same day!

Dantes’ father is poor, old, sick and hungry Chapter 2: What, Why, How: Dantes’ father is poor, old, sick and hungry it’s a great honor for Dantes to be captain: higher salary and share in profits Dantes gives his father money, they have a great relationship, Caderouse (their neighbor/tailor) made Old Dantes pay Dantes’ debt Old Dantes gave Caderouse all of the money Dantes left him to live off of while away at sea Caderouse joins Danglars and Danglars is upset that Dantes is captain Dantes goes to see Mercedes Caderouse gossips with Danglars about a young man (Fernand) who has been spending a lot of time with Mercedes Danglars suggests they follow Dantes

Chapter Three: Who, Where, When? Edmond Dantes (captain), Danglars (jealous of Dantes’ fame and fortune) Caderouse (Dantes’ neighbor) Mercedes (young, beautiful, 17, Dante’s girl friend/soon to be fiancé) and Fernand (20, Mercedes’ cousin/in love with her and wants to marry her) Where: Marseilles, France (Catalans- Spanish village in France) When: Feb. 24, 1815; still same day

He runs into Danglars and Caderouse drinking wine at a tavern Chapter 3 What, Why, How: Fernand is in love with his cousin, Mercedes, and she is very fond of him, but she is in love with Dantes Fernand asks her to marry him, but Mercedes says no (loves him like a brother) she assures him that it would not be right to marry someone when their heart belongs to someone else Dantes arrives and Fernand sits in the shadows (3rd wheel), Fernand scowls at Dantes, and Fernand flees He runs into Danglars and Caderouse drinking wine at a tavern

Caderouse fuels the fire in Fernand teasing him that he looks like a rejected lover Fernand reveals that Mercedes and Dantes will be married at once Caderouse points out that Dantes will also be captain Caderouse is drunk and points out that Dantes and Mercredes are walking together and kissing (instigating the anger in Fernand and Danglars) Caderouse invites them over to the table Dantes reveals he must go to Paris for a last wish of Captain LeClere (to deliver a letter) Danglars is preparing to use a letter to ruin Dantes and converses with Fernand and Caderouse on his plot (infer they are plotting against Dantes)

Chapter Four: Who, Where, When? Edmond Dantes (captain), Danglars (jealous of Dantes’ fame and fortune) Caderouse (Dantes’ neighbor) Mercedes (young, beautiful, 17, Dante’s girl friend/soon to be fiancé) and Fernand (20, Mercedes’ cousin/in love with her and wants to marry her) 30 Guests: sailors of the Pharaon, soldier friends, M. Morrel, Old Dantes, bridal party, friends and family Where: Marseilles, France; betrothal (engagement) feast in a large room at La Reserve, When: the next day Feb. 25, 1815; 11:00 am

Chapter 4 What, Why, How? Edmond and Mercedes are having their wedding engagement feast (betrothal feast) Fine food and guests Honor that M. Morrel attends- men are happy for it’s a good sign Dantes will be their captain Dantes has everything he ever wanted; it alarms him (too good to be true…came too easily) Plans on marrying Mercedes in an hour and a half then plans on leaving for Paris the following day and back again March 1 A policeman enters No one knows what is going on and M.Morrel believes it is a mistake Officer has a warrant for Dante’s arrest Old Dantes begs the officer to let his son go

Danglars said, “I will vouch for your innocence” Dantes was taken away by a carriage back to Marseilles and heard Mercedes call out to him M. Morrel leaves and tries to find out why Dantes was arrested Mrecedes has a bad feeling and leaves crying in despair; Dantes smiles knowing he is innocent Mercedes, M.Morrel, Old Dantes all believe he is innocent M. Morrel- accused of being a Bonapartist- supporter of Napoleon Bonpartist Fernand swoops in and takes Mercedes home Danglars reminds M.Morrel to remember Dantes stopped at Elba suspiciously M.Morrel makes Danglars captain in the meantime M. Morrel goes to see his friend Villefort (deputy head of the court) Danglars revelas his plan worked- he got captain…worried that Caderousse won’t keep the plan a secret

Chapter Five: Who, Where, When? Villefort Morrel Dantes police/gendarmes Where: Villefort’s house When: Feb. 25, 1815- same day as wedding engagement party

Chapter 5:What, How, Why? Villefort was enjoying his own betrothal party with fiancé- Madamoiselle de Saint-Meran- wealthy and influential family Villefort wants to move up in his position An anonomyous letter came to the Procureur du Roi who was absent, accusing Edmond Dantes of a Bonapartist conspiracy Secretary interrupted Villefort’s party (irony) Morrel meets Villefort outside before Villefort interrogates him Morrel defends Dantes’ character and Villefort takes this into consideration Had a good first impression of Dantes and could relate to happiness of getting married Denies being political or supporter of Napoleon…loves father, admires Morrel, and adores Mercedes…Villefort is convinced of his innocence

Chapter 5: What, How, Why? Villefort asks if Dantes has enemies or if anyone could be jealous…doesn’t thinks so Villefort cautions Dantes about knowing his surroundings Dantes doesn’t recognize the hand writing of the letter Reveals Captain LeClere’s final death wish…Villefort believes him Villefort asks to see the letter…sees it’s addressed to: Monsieur Noirtier…this causes Villefort distress because it’s his father…supporter of Napoleon…could ruin Villefort’s marriage to a royalist and ruin his career if this gets out Villefort destroys the letter in the fire…Dantes promises not to tell of the letter Sends Dantes to prison but belives Villefort has saved him …but then gets an idea to use the letter to get recognition from the king…decides to tell the king that Napoleon is planning on leaving Elba…now he must turn on Dantes to advance his reputation.

Chapter Six: Who, Where, When? Dantes police/gendarmes Where: Prison cell, boat, Chateau d’If a State Prison surrounded by water…high security, dungeon When: 4:00, March 1… 6 days after getting off the ship

Dantes was taken to a dark cell (March 1) Begins to lose hope He was taken to a dock surrounded by police No explanation for arrest…but believes in Villefort since he destroyed the letter Taken to Chateau d’If (state prison surrounded by water…high security) Tries to jump off the boat Taken to cell Tries to ask a guard to take a letter to Mercedes but guard will not Tries to attack the goaler Dantes taken to dungeon as punishment

Chapter Seven: Who, Where, When? Villefort Mercedes Morrel Danglars King Louis XVIII and Minister of Police Caderousse Where: Villefort’s home, Mercedes’ home, Paris (King’s court) When: still March 1-March 3

Chapter 7 What, Why, How? Villefort was at his home making plans to go to Paris Mercedes goes to Villefort’s home because she hadn’t heard any news of Dantes and wants answers Mercedes is upset Villefort feels guilty and sad but is rude to her and tells her that Dantes is a criminal and that’s all he knows Never before had he felt guilt and he sent many to prison (but believed they were guilty of a crime)…feels guilty now because he knows Dantes is innocent Mercedes is so depressed and Fernand is there to support her and love her but she is oblivious to his advances Morrel did not give up…he went to all his influential friends/men in town Noone could help because of the severity…Dantes is an accused Bonapartist Caderousse was restless…instead of helping Dantes, he locks himself in his house with wine (guilt)

Danglars felt no guilt or remorse He was happy Avenged his enemy and received the desired position…slept peacefully Villefort gets entry to the King in Paris He tells of the letter (he destroyed of course leaving out the name to whom the letter was addressed) Reveals the usurper left Elba on the 28th and landed om France King is mad that this report is being told now on March 3 Death of General Quesnel is important because it was an assassin not suicide…left a Bonapartist club (secret meeting)…Quesnel was a loyalist and is believed to have fallen under a Bonapartist trap Villefort is nervous Denies seeing his father…not on good terms Receives the Legion of Honor cross by the king

Napoleon’s escape brought down the government system in France once again (Hundred Days) Villefort gained nothing from the king but caused him more danger now that Napoleon escaped Villefort keeps Dantes in prison Waterloo…Napoleon defeated and Morrel gives up trying to get Dantes out because Morrel could risk his safety King Louis back on throne, and Villefort gets job promotion and marries de Saint Meran Danglars didn’t relize the severity of his action until Napoleon escaped and he blamed it on Dantes’ fate Danglars became afraid that Dantes might return and take his revenge on Danglars- Danglars asks Morrel to leave to become a Spanish merchant Fernand left Mercedes and joined the army…worried that Dantes would return and take Mercedes from him again Mercedes so sad contemplated suicide Old Dantes lost all hope…died in Mercedes’ arms and Morrel paid for his expenses…risked life to help because Dantes is accused Bonapartist

Chapter 8: Who, Where, When? Dantes #27 ( prisoner) Goaler/Guard Where: Chateau d’If (a prison surrounded by water), cell When: Dantes has been in prison for 4-5 years and #27 has been there for 4 more years than him

Chapter 8: What, Why, How? Dantes is depressed…grieving …wants to die…contemplates suicide by starvation or hanging…decides to starve Loses all hope He hears a scratching sound…not an animal…realizes it’s a prisoner trying to escape…gives Dantes hope to live!!! Knocks 3 times on the wall Three days pass before he hears the prisoner again… Breaks a water pitcher and uses the fragments to dig…places the soup container in front of the door so the goaler breaks it and he gets the handle Hits a beam while digging…calls out to God in despair #27 calls out to him…ask questions Dantes tells him everything…too trusting Prisoner #27 wants to find the sea…Dantes tells him he’s going in wrong direction Prisoner #27 conceals identity and life story…#27 is cautious and not trusting Dantes digs and helps…Dantes wants a father/son relationship Suspense is built…#27 emerges through the hole in the wall.