Dantès' Role as God -The Count of Monte Cristo

1. “He told himself it was the hatred of men and not the vengeance of God that had thrust him into this dark abyss” (Dumas 79).
a. Dantès is not blaming God for his suffering. He believes it is the hatred, more like envy, of man that has caused Dantès such pain.

2. “It is thus that God rewards virtue, monsieur” (157).
a. This takes place when the Abbé unexpectedly visits Caderousse who admits his wrongdoings and the malicious scheme that was planned to destroy Dantès.
b. For Monsieur Morrel, Sindbad the Sailor brings the captain out of debt with a great amount of money.

3. “I have played the part of Providence in recompensing the good, may the god of vengeance now permit me to punish the wicked” (187).
a. After the kind deeds of the Abbé and Sindbad the Sailor are completed, the Count of Monte Cristo becomes a nasty man with a taste for unyielding revenge.
b. Now that he finished helping those who were in need, Dantès punishes Villefort, Morcerf, and Danglars on behalf of God’s will.

4. In the process of carrying out his vengeance, the Count takes his revenge to the next level.
a. For example, he slowly begins killing off the Villefort family, people that had done no harm to Edmond Dantès.
b. The Count had the power to choose when and where a person was to die. He knew what deadly deed was happening in the Villefort household, yet did not bother to care if other people besides Villefort were being hurt as well.
c. He also allowed Albert Morcerf to live by Mercédès’ request. If the Count had not been passionately in love with Mercédès, he most likely would not have let Albert live.
i. “The lion was tamed, the avenger was overcome! ‘What do you ask of me?’ he said, “Your son’s life? Well, then, he shall live!’” (472).

5. Dantès saved Valentine the night she was to die. He gave her a liquid to fight the poison. Dantès acted as God saving an innocent soul.
a. “He disappeared after casting one more look on Valentine, who was sleeping with the confidence and innocence of an angel at the feet of the Lord” (510).