Oct. 30: The Count of Monte Cristo

Minutes: 45

Pages: 70

Summary: He manages to cut himself free and makes his way for an island, from which he gains passage on a smuggler ship. He befriends the crew and bides his time for his chance to visit the island of Monte Cristo, the location of the treasure. When the ship lands there, he feigns injury and tells them to return in a week. He finds the treasure due to his incredible ingenuity and it is even grander than he had imagined; he fills his pockets and after being picked up by the smugglers and reaching a port, purchases one ship and crew for a friend (Jacapo), on the condition that he sail to Marseilles and get news of Louis Dantes (his father) and Mercedes and return to Monte Cristo, and a yacht for himself with a secret compartment which he fills with treasure after returning to the island. When Jacapo meets him there, he informs Dantes that Louis Dantes is dead and Mercedes has disappeared. Dantes barely contains his emotion and sails for Marseilles.

Reflection: His imprisonment is portrayed as death by Dumas, whereas his escape is portrayed as a rebirth or resurrection. And the topic of hope is touched when Dantes contemplates the treasure's reality and how the hope for it was keeping him going.