Noirtier's Role of Honor- The Count of Monte Cristo

1. “‘You have insulted a man, monsieur,’ said the President, ‘and that man refuses to go a step farther without honourable reparation’” (Dumas 394).
a. Noirtier was not going to let the General disrespect him. The only “correct” way of solving this situation was to kill the General for his disgraceful words towards Noirtier.

2. “Valentine clasped her hands as though in prayer; Noirtier looked at Villefort with an almost sublime expression of contempt and pride” (395).
a. Noirtier felt contempt for the General’s dishonor towards him, yet a sense of pride for killing the General.

3. “‘You?’ cried Franz, his hair standing on end. ‘You, Monsieur Noirtier? It was you who killed my father?’ […] ‘Yes,’ replied Noirtier, with a majestic look at the young man” (398).
a. Noirtier answered Franz with pride and dignity. He felt no shame admitting that he was the man who killed General de Quesnel.

4. Noirtier wants to maintain his honor by not agreeing to Valentine’s wedding with Franz.
a. By telling Franz the real events of the night his father was murdered, Noirtier continues holding up his honor, but Villefort’s is shot down. It would be impossible for Franz to marry into a family who caused him suffering by killing his father.
b. Why should Franz continue to be respectful towards the son of his father’s murderer, who is also the father of his bride to be? It would only be instinct to run away from such a tangle.
c. “Franz declined the honour yesterday morning” (401).