The Count of Monte Cristo -The First Impression

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is already hailed as a classic by many critics and literary historians. I chose to read this novel as it holds an important place in the literary community and promises a dramatic tale of vengeance. Set in the Napoleonic era, The Count of Monte Cristo focuses on the corruption of the upper class and the lengths of which man will go to further themselves in any aspect of life. The main character, likable Edmond Dantes, is young sailor with a successful, happy life ahead of him. With a fiancé and a job as Captain of a cargo ship lined up for him he couldn’t be happier. However, the night before his wedding he is arrested for an act of treason he did not commit. He is sent to the Chateau d’If, a high security dungeon on the coast of France to serve his sentence and plan his scheme for revenge.

The way in which this novel is composed allows for the reader to be wrapped up within the story line. The reader is positioned in an observatory view, watching everything unfold as if they were experiencing it along side of the characters. Simultaneously, the reader is pulled into the mind of the main character, who is continuously plotting and planning his next move. What I like most about this novel so far is that it has a very basic format for storytelling. While the story itself is meant to be complex with its theme of deception and revenge, it is told in a simple, step by step format that allows for the reader to appreciate the creative plot. The reader is able to connect the dots and formulate their own theories as to what will happen next with the limited information provided to them.

Overall, I am very intrigued by this novel and looking forward to seeing how the plot unfolds. I suspect that the mode in which Dumas absorbs the reader into the story line without barring them from crucial points with complex sentence structure and verbose language will make for an easy yet entertaining read.