The Count of Monte Cristo Explained
A movie filled with jealousy, hatred, and revenge
I’m going to explain all the details of the movie, The Count of Monte Cristo that came out in 2002, starring Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, and Richard Harris who played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies.
This movie is rich with outstanding cinematography, melodic scores, historical plots from the 1800s, filled with jealousy and revenge. A lot goes into a movie like this, especially when it’s based on an adventure novel written again in the 1800s.
At the beginning of the movie, Edmond Dantes was asked by Napoleon Bonaparte to deliver a letter to a friend, a letter wherein the “content that is totally innocent.”
Dantes innocently accepts the favor. Hesitant at first, Napoleon manipulates Dantes by saying that “It is the price I demand for the use of my physician.” Meaning, since I let you use my physician to aid your captain, you owe me a favor.
This part of the movie matches the time when Napoleon was exiled on the island of Elba.
Edmond Dantes was told to not tell anyone. Edmond’s best friend, Fernand Mondego was jealous and suspicious due to this secret, which caused him to sneak in Edmond’s jacket during the night and read the letter himself.
This wasn’t really a problem until shortly after their return from the island of Elba, off the coast of Italy, and back to their hometown in Marseilles France. Edmond would have been just fine living his life in peace, had it not been for his jealous friend Fernand.
With their return to Marseilles, Dantes and Monsieur Danglars, were to report to their boss, Monsieur Morell. Danglars was anxious to report that Edmond was “disobeying orders.”
All Edmond was trying to do was save their sick captain and the closest place to do that was on the island of Elba, which happened to be dangerous ground with the British troops holding the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte captive. Their ship was called the Pharaon, which was used to transport goods from one place to another.
Owner Monsieur Morell called Danglars out as being somewhat of a coward. As Danglars attempts to portray a poor judge of character on Edmond. This accusation severely backfired for him as Monsieur Morell promoted Dantes as captain of the Pharaon. At least Danglars was able to secure his position as the first mate.
Danglars was not satisfied as he felt he devoted a lifetime of loyal service.
With Edmonds promotion, and in Danglars view, demotion, ill feelings towards Edmont began to stew within Danglars.
Fernand is jealous already of Edmond because of Edmond’s beautiful fiancé, Mercedes. With Edmond’s promotion, he is now able to support a wife, allowing Mercedes and Edmond to marry two years sooner than expected.
Fernand shares his ill feelings towards his best friend with Danglars. They come up with a sickening plot against Edmond. Their jealousy and hatred with their situation and towards Dantes drive them to create a shameful scheme or plot against Edmond.
The evil plot
As Fernand and Danglars converse their hateful feelings towards Dantes, Danglars comes up with a disgraceful idea to turn Edmond in for treason.
As Dantes and Mercedes are celebrating together, soldiers barge in and arrest Dantes for treason. At this point, Danglars’ idea must have provoked Fernand to tell the chief magistrate of Marseille, Monsieur Villefort of Edmonds’ treason, resulting in Edmonds’ arrest.
Edmonds’ ignorance and innocence did not help him understand the severity of his accused crime. Edmond’s lack of knowledge and understanding of politics and economics prevented him from having the necessary discernment of Napoleons’ intentions.
Not only that, but he could not even read. Had he had the skill, discernment and know-how at this level, he would have read the contents of the letter and would have had the knowledge of what to do with the letter and also what was conversed between him and Napoleon.
As Villefort was interrogating Edmont, he recognized Edmonds innocence with the letter and proceeded to let him go.
Before Edmond left, Villefort asked him whom Napoleon was sending the letter to. Edmond responded that the letter was to go to Monsieur Clarion. The tables have turned for Villefort, as this was his father.
Villefort knew the severity of what this treasonous letter would do. Villforts’ life was in jeopardy because of his father’s treasonous affairs. He was also in jeopardy of his reputation and future, filled with more power and money.
Villefort casually offered Edmond a ride home but instead sent him deep into the chambers of the Chateau D’If.
Villefort purposely imprisoned an innocent victim for the sake of preserving his rank so that he may eventually gain a promotion that would gratify his pride and greed.
With Edmond’s arrest, Fernand pretends to be the hero to Mercedes by comforting her, pretending to make attempts of saving Edmond by conversing with authorities and vainly defending Edmond.
Because of these evil plots against Edmond, Fernand, Danglars, and Villefort all obtained their covetous desires. Fernand got the girl, Danglars received his glorified position as co-owner with Monsieur Morell, and Villefort, who protected his reputation and preserved his promotion.
All of them received something they wrongly desired at the expense of Edmonds life, confined in a dark and hellish prison.
The refiner’s fire that turned Edmond’s heart into vengeful hate
Edmond still has no idea what his crime was or what he did, yet he is thrown in prison regardless and stripped of everything that he holds dear.
Armand Dorleac, the warden of Chateau d’If introduces Edmond’s new life, mocking Edmond’s claim of innocence. Armand gives Edmond a brief tour of what the Chateau d’If has to offer. Edmonds quarters contain one room, no windows, one lousy meal a day, and an annual beating, to remind them how long they have been there.
Edmond begins to wear out his life in prison. The only things tangible, that keep his mind sane are hope, faith in God, and the number of rocks on the wall. Eventually, his faith in God begins to fade away, replacing it with hate and revenge.
Edmond’s fate turns for the better as soon as Abbe Faria, ‘the priest’ accidentally digs himself into Edmond’s living quarters. A blessing for both of them to secretly have human interaction.
The director did an amazing job portraying Edmond’s astounding relief as he begins to first sit on the priest’s chair for the very first time in years, how relieving it must have been.
They embark on a course to dig tiny fractions of dirt on a daily basis. In return for Edmond’s help, Abbe Faria offers to teach Edmond how to read and write. Not only this but also understanding economics, mathematics, Italian, philosophy, and politics. Things that the priest says, “Cannot be taken away,” which is in every way true.
Edmond secretly begins on an eight-year academic endeavor by being taught by the priest, everything he knows and holds dear to his heart. A win/win situation for both of them.
Over the years, Edmond begins to understand philosophy, languages, and economics. The strength of his understanding allows him to sort through his victimized fate.
Edmond convinces the priest to train him in weaponry and swordsmanship despite his vengeful heart.
Edmond and the priest had time to recall all the events that lead him to become a prisoner. With the help of the priest, Edmond realized what had happened.
The priest pointed out that Villfort burned the letter saying that it is interesting, “That a chief magistrate would burn evidence of a treasonous conspiracy and then imprison the only man who was aware of Monsieur Clarion’s connection to that conspiracy.”
This stirs up an epiphany within Edmond’s mind and he begins to realize that Villfort’s father was Monsieur Clarion. Edmond s epiphany follows this dialogue, “Villefort’s father was a colonel in Napoleon’s army. Danglars, who falsely said he saw Napoleon give me that letter. Mondego, who told Villefort I had it, and Villefort who sent me here (prison).”
All the stars aligned that night for him to see clearly the fear, jealousy, and betrayal all working against him.
Talk of escape and treasure to fuel revenge
There is little information that the priest reveals about himself. We know that he fought in Napoleon’s army. He was told to burn down a church and regrettably did.
The priest explained that later on as he devoted himself to repentance and to God, that he became a private secretary to a very rich and wealthy man, Count Enrique Spada. Over the years, eventually, this Count died.
Speculation arose that Spada had hidden his treasure with a map to that treasure. With Napoleon’s greed for money and power, he suspected that the priest knew about this fortune. Faria never confessed to knowing such things and was thrown into the Chateau d’If.
Right before Edmond escapes, the priest gets injured in the tunnel. Before he dies, he reveals the ultimate secret to Edmond. He reveals the hidden treasure that belonged to Count Enrique Spada.
Money power and revenge
Edmond Dantes escapes the thirteen years of the Chateau d’If. He befriends a group of smugglers, which became a key part of his plan to make right or take back what was rightfully his.
His right-hand man and expert knife fighter, Jacopo assists Edmond as they obtain a small boat and head for the treasure, which provides the necessary power and resources to fuel Edmond’s desire for revenge.
Edmond Dantes takes on the name of The Count of Monte Cristo. His number one priority is to take down his enemies, starting with Fernand Mondego.
Edmond and Jacopo look into Fernands finances, making sure that he loses money at the casinos. They also made sure to own all banks that Fernand is involved with forcing or heavily bribing all “other shipping companies stay away from Mondego.”
This situation forces Fernand to converse business with Philippe Danglars again.
As soon as Edmond and Jacopo found out that Mondego had a son named Albert, they immediately made plans with their smuggler friends to stage a kidnapping in Rome.
With a little bribery, his crew agreed to stage a confrontation while the Count of Monte Cristo comes and saves the day, making him look like the hero and gain immediate trust with Albert, allowing Edmond to get a step closer to Fernand Mondego.
After “saving Alberts life, he is invited over for breakfast at the Count’s estate. As Albert is invited to breakfast, he asks what Edmonds name is. Edmond charmingly responds, “For the present, your friend, tomorrow, your host. For the short time formality stands between us, the Count of Monte Cristo.”
Tip of the hat to Albert as The Count rides off into the sunset.
Breakfast of champions
The next morning, Albert is served breakfast at the sound of a gong, followed by servants serving delicious food. That’s my goal some day is to be served in this manner.
Albert is obviously curious how Edmond knew about his kidnapping. Edmond again, responds in a clever manner that he “pays well to be informed of anything of note in any city in which he stays.”
Albert invites Edmond to meet his parents, which happened to be Alberts birthday party. During this conversation, Edmond pretends to be very busy with business and purposely mentions gold and a shipment bound for Marseilles, which is to arrive in three weeks.
This gives not only an invitation for Edmond to meet his mortal enemy face-to-face, but also to feed Fernand subtle information containing a shipment of gold.
Edmond graciously accepts Albert’s offer and decides to invite his other enemy, Villefort to the party.
The show must go on
At the party, Edmond publicly makes known that he needs Villvorts council in front of Fernand, creating what Edmond knows will happen, a suspicious conversation between Villefort and Fernand. This happens of course. They discuss the shipment that contains “Spada’s” gold and plan to steal the money the night it arrives.
Knowing that Fernand would be absent for Alberts toast, Edmond begins to take it upon himself to publicly give compliments to Albert. This makes Edmond look better not only in public but also to Mercedes. Everything is going to plan, but Mercedes knows better than to ignore her intuition about what she recognizes and discerns right in front of her.
Edmond was adamant about making sure that Danglars was the only person Fernand would be able to converse business with. Edmond already knew many steps later, that because of their interactions, Danglars would attempt to steal some of the money that Fernand was stealing.
Obviously, Edmond has his little band of smugglers transport the money to a safe place and made arrangements to arrest Danglars. Danglars thinks that Fernand set him up. We know that’s not true, as it was Edmond who made arrangements to arrest Danglars, just as it was planned.
Next enemy
The next person to focus on is Villefort. Edmond approaches him and aggressively confronts Villefort to the point of confession. It was enough evidence to get him arrested.
The tables have turned completely, as he was sentenced to life in prison deep within the walls of the Chateau d’If.
Confronts his mortal enemy
Finally, Edmond’s mortal enemy, Fernand Mondego. While Edmond at this point gets Mercedes back, Fernand loses his wife. Still anticipating the money being at his family estate in Bouchon and meeting Villefort there turns out to be a misfortune for Fernand.
Instead, he finds an empty treasure and Monte Cristo there is revealed as the true Edmond Dantes.
Fernand is left with nothing which Edmond ultimately has gained everything. Edmond survives and defeats his mortal enemy in a long and dramatic sword fight. Edmond gets Mercedes back, his son that he never knew he had, and they ride off into the sunset living happily ever after, full of treasure, power, and gratitude.