Count of Monte Cristo: Literary Aspect

Death is a reoccurring theme in The Count of Monte Cristo. It is not the most pleasant of themes, but it does make it a great story because death is apart of life. There is the death of the former Edmond Dantes because of imprisonment, death through natural causes, and the thought of death through committing suicide.

The first death in the book is of Dantes' first life. He was a kind-hearted young man of 19 who had a loving father and a beautiful bride-to-be. That wonderful life ended, however, when he was imprisoned by Villefort on his betrothal day. Being imprisoned for 14 years left Edmond Dantes dead and hopeless to ever return again. It is also an example of death to the innocent and birth to the vengeful.

In chapter 15, there is the first mention of death from natural causes. Faria, the abbe, dies because of another fit of epilepsy. Even though it is natural and unavoidable, it is still a heart-wrenching death that contributes to Dantes bitterness.

During his bitter imprisonment, Dantes entertains the thought of suicide many times. He always asked himself what the point of living is (be consistent with your tenses). What is the point of living if one is locked up and not able to be with the love of your life? Another example is Old Dantes. In chapter 21, it is revealed the Old Dantes did not die of old age or of other natural causes. Cauderrouse believes that he died from self-starvation.