A Guide on How to Mercilessly Exact One's Revenge

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of those books that I picked up at the local bookstore, simply because I try to read all of the Classics. I brought it home and began reading, I did not set the book down until I was finished, which took longer than a regular book would have, because I had to stop and think many times. The book is complex, the words are easy to understand, but the meaning, the intentions of the author need to be searched out. This book by Alexandre Dumas took me out of reality, I forgot entirely what was going on in the world around me, and I lived for a few hours watching Edmond Dantes mastermind his revenge.

Edmond is given the perfect job, he’s got the girl waiting for him, and he’s got jealous rivals. Mix all these together and Edmond ends up spending fourteen years wrongfully imprisoned. Fourteen years is a long time to plan one’s revenge, and Edmond does not leave anything unplanned. While in prison he meets an old priest, named Faria, and learns not only how he was wrongfully put into prison, but also of a huge fortune that the old priest has hidden away on the Island of Monte Cristo, but also all that he will need to know to successfully pull of his plan.

In exacting his revenge, Edmond is sometimes morbid, generous, careful, but always has his final goal in mind. His actions are unpredictable, but after learning of them I got the feeling that I should have known what he was going to do. He uses his new found wealth, from the Priest’s fortune, to get into the inner circle of those who betrayed him.

There is much more to tell, but I will let you find out for yourself, how the Count of Monte Cristo, achieves peace in his soul.

The author takes a human soul, and transforms it into a being that is bent on revenge and has almost superhuman genius to attain his ends. The way that Dantes has all of his moves planned and executes them perfectly, even when it seems that all hope is lost, reminded me of some John Grishom novels, especially “The Firm” and “The Partner.” If you like those books you will probably like the suspense of “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

This book is worth the read, if you are willing to try to understand all of the subtle plots that Dumas weaves into his book. It may seem long in the middle, but the author is preparing you for the grand finale, so do not take it lightly.