THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 112-113

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 112-113

Yes! You saw that right. Only 2 chapters covered in this post. Why? It's a natural chunk. There is so much here, I couldn't add another chapter to this one.

It's time for the count to leave Paris. His job there is done. He says goodbye to his true friends, Emmanuel and Julie, and they know they will never see him again. Maximilian accompanies him, because there is a promise to keep and work to be done with this young man still.

I'm going to rabbit trail for a moment, because letters have been an important symbol in this book, and we have another one appear with no explanation at the count's departure. Let's reflect for a moment. We have the letter that innocent Edmond Dantes carried originally about Villefort's father Noirtier. We have the letter that Danglars/Fernand/and drunk Caderousse wrote to the crown prosecutor that alerted him to the letter that Dantes carried. Now we have a letter delivered to the "old man" (Noirtier) from the count. Something he has accepted. There is significance here.

Back to our chapters. We hear Monte Cristo's farewell speech from atop a plateau to Paris. He calls Paris a Babylon. Babylon, one of the great powers from the Ancient World that is no more. What did our count do? Single handily remove 3 very powerful, evil men (and Caderousse).

This begins a journey of attempted healing for Maximilian and remembrance for the count. The real man inside the count is coming out. He shares with Maximilian about his two friends that are always with him in his heart, his father and Abbe Faria. (Notice Mercedes does not reside there ) They dock in Marseille, a place they both know, and Maximilian has a flashback to his father. While Maximilian shares his memory the count sees Mercedes sending Albert off. Maximilian heads to his father's grave. The count turns to revisit his past.

First stop is to Mercedes. She lives in Dantes' old house given to her by the count. He enters the place without knocking and we have a contrast to the entry, " like a friend, like a guest." Not a fiance or lover. They are friends but their relationship holds a barrier now. There is an air of strangers versus intimate companions. Mercedes blames herself for all that happened. She calls herself a coward for not waiting for Edmond and also in the death of her husband. She says that it was because of her that Fernand became who he was. The count disagrees and launches into a speech revealing his humanness, but God needed him. He had a job for him to do, and so his life was lived for other reasons besides the hopes and dreams of young, innocent Edmond Dantes. It all ends with how the count can help Mercedes. Would she accept his help? Her response is basically whatever comes her way must be of God so she would accept. The count disagrees saying that God gives us free will, but Mercedes can't handle that thought. She wants to think that she has acted on what has come along in her life's path, not decisions she has made. What do you think?

Whew! One more chapter to talk about in this post. The count is questioning himself. Was it all a mistake? After all, some things happened that he had not planned on such as Edouard and Valentine's deaths. It's time to revisit it all. He returns to the Chateau d'If. Can you imagine? A guard shows him his cell and Abbe Faria's. The guard shares the rumored story of the men that lived there. The count rewards the guard for his time, and the guard admits to a leftover piece he discovered. He goes to get it as the count internally cries out to Abbe Faria to take away his doubt. The guard comes back with Abbe Faria's cloth manuscript. The first words the count sees are, " You will pull the dragon's teeth and trample the lions underfoot, said the Lord." The count has his reassurance. The chapter ends with the count retelling the story of a friend (his story) to Morrel. He is going to leave Morrel in Marseille, but on October 5 a boat will be waiting to take him to the island of Monte Cristo.