Faria In The Count Of Monte Cristo

Edmond Dantes, at the end of his journey, is not found in the situation he previously intended for himself. Instead, after failing to achieve his initial goals, he is found in a new relationship with Haydee. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas shows, through Dantes’ journey, that a person’s efforts do not always deal the intended outcomes, and often cause unintended consequences. Dantes is faced with a tragedy that ruins the prosperous life he had with his love, Mercedes. During his time in prison, he is taught much about life by a priest named Abbe Faria. He also leaves him a vast fortune located on the island of Monte Cristo (from which he assumes the name of his alter ego, the Count of Monte Cristo). Unintentionally, Faria sparked the desire in Dantes for vengeance. Dantes believes that if justice is exacted on those who wronged him, than he can return to the life he had with Mercedes. Faria told him he regrets what he has taught Dantes, and when Dantes questions it, he replies, “Because it has instilled a new passion in
When he returned to exact vengeance upon his wrongdoers, he believed that if he did so he could return to the life he once had. Part of this life was being together with his true love, Mercedes. However, as he reunites with Mercedes, he finds that he no longer loves her. He claims that she has changed, when it is actually he who sees her differently. He says, “Mercedes is dead, madame...I know no one now of that name” (Count of Monte Cristo, p. 1182) Instead, Dantes learns to love again with the girl he watched grow into a woman, Haydee, whose freedom he purchased years ago. Dumas is showing the reader that Dantes could not return to the past, no matter what his intentions may have been. Not all desires are able to be met, thus Dantes must accept that he must face the future if he wishes to find happiness once