THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 95-97

Sarah
Sep 29
2 min read

Let's talk family relationships. These were some touchy chapters, but we all know people like the Danglars don't we. People who had children because it was the social thing to do. Personal gain. Even the chapter starts off remarking about "appearances." Have you known any of those families to be a "family?" It doesn't take long for the cracks and crevices to start showing through the foundation. Eugenie knows she is a pawn, and she confronts her father head on. It's not family meeting time, it's business meeting time. Right down to the chosen room with the smiling portraits and away from the bank business so her father will actually look at her while she speaks. Then the bartering begins. Eugenie doesn't want to marry. She doesn't care about her parents' money situation. She only cares about herself. That's what she's been taught to do right? When her father lays out how it will affect her then she chooses to be carry on with the plan.

We then move to the scene where Prince Cavalcanti asks the count to sponsor him since his father is not in town. He wants him to be the one to lead him to the altar. The count refuses. He is king of making people put their trust in him, to make them think he is their friend, yet have no real ties to them - except for 2 people - Haydee and Morrel. You could somewhat argue for Mercedes as well, but those old ties are broken.

Then we have the signing of the marriage contract. The count announces that it is his fault that Villefort cannot attend. A paper has been found in Caderousse's pocket (remember the man who attempted to break into the count's house and ended up murdered) addressed to Danglars. Cavalcanti (the murderer) is out of there. Danglars is pale as a ghost because a guilty conscience has a way of doing that to you! Where's Eugenie? She's gone. She's cut her hair to look like a man, passing herself off as her voice teacher's brother. She's convinced she can make it on her own. We circle back to our opening theme of family relationships with the ending line "Monsieur Danglars had a daughter no longer." I think he lost her long before that!