THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 83-85

Sarah
Sep 29
3 min read

Wow! Within these 3 chapters I feel as if I have entered into some serious "meat" to chew on. Don't you love when a situation, or as in this case a book, makes you really evaluate what you believe? The exchange between Caderousse and Monsieur l'Abbe (the count) is so thought provoking. The theme? God's justice.

Our intro to the count's thoughts on vengeance begins with the statement he makes about it. "Oh God, your vengeance may sometimes be slow on coming, but I think that then it is all the more complete." The count has been waiting for this moment to happen, for wrongs done to him paid for. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:19 that vengeance is God's alone. The count allowed himself to set up situations that would result in the destruction of the men that caused him so much harm. I find myself asking if he was a vessel used by God or the instigator behind it all. Until now we didn't know exactly where his thoughts fell about God. We caught some troubling glimpses while he was in prison, but time has passed, and he has had unbelievable opportunities. Were they all just a road blessed by God to set up the final blows to Caderousse, Danglars, and Fernand? It's interesting the verses surrounding the Romans 12:19 passage where we are instructed to "repay no one evil for evil," to "live peaceably with all men," to not "avenge yourself," and lastly "to not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! What has his entire motive been? It's been to lay the path but not strike the final blow. Oh, he left the door open for God to save Caderousse. Remember he told him that if he reached home safely he would believe God had forgiven him. I find myself reminiscing about some of the immature bargains I used to strike with God in my late teenage /early 20s years when I read his statement. And yet! Yet! I am cheering for him. We all love things to be righted before our earthly eyes- for people to get what's coming right?! (I am internally struggling here!) The count points out all the mercy God has shown in Caderousse's life. Abundant "warnings" (I prefer the word opportunities) that Caderousse has had and rejected. Still, Caderousse denies the justice of God. He knows people that are walking around in wealth and the height of society that have done grievous crimes right? Fernand and Danglars aren't being punished for their sins. The count cuts him off and strongly utters one word, "Patience." In other words, their time is coming. But Caderousse's resolve to reject God based on the idea of Fernand and Danglars walking around proves to be the very reason he does an about face in the end. When the count whispers in his ear who he really is that reason is null and void. Caderousse immediately realizes that it is only God who could have brought Dantes through to where he is now. I am just morally struggling with the fact that the count is making it his life's mission to see it through when we know it is all to be left to God. And so Caderousse dies and we are minutes away from Villefort's reunion with his old pal.

From there we jump to the friendship of Albert and Beauchamp. Do you not long for a friend so true? I am not going to give this part the time it deserves because of how long this post already is, but the three week period was not set in place to see what would turn up. No the three weeks were for Beauchamp to travel and find out for himself the validity or falseness of the accusations made against Albert's father. As you know, they were true. The heartbreak of a son by his father is deeply moving. Can you imagine? The supposed foundation of honor, truthfulness, loyalty, etc etc that this young man stood on is shattered. Trust is no more. I have a son. I look at him and I know his innocent beliefs, hopes, and trust. I can imagine how his life would be totally upended and it gives my insides a tightening clench. But Beauchamp agrees to keep it silent. Another newspaper prints the story. There is no more hiding. And honorable Albert where are his thoughts? They are for his precious mother.

So much more I could have said about these chapters, but I'll leave it there.