Silent Thunder
"Silent thunder...", ofcourse its an oxymoron, but the story of Edmond Dantes in "The coount of Monte Cristo"(CMC) is like the aforementioned oxymoron. Stating this in alliteration, its a story of ingenious revenge, a beautiful retaliation,a just retribution and sufficient repremendation, ofcourse accompanied by remorse, repentance and regrets. Edmond honestly and just like a silent thunder avenges his foes.......
Reading the stories of Alexandre Dumas is so relishing and captivating that once you start reading it, you are totally engrossed with it and nothing but the story preoccupies your mind. I sometimes wonder , if we were epicures and his story a dish, we would have been able to acknowledge his culinary skills in concocting such coherent and smooth stories, that the reader is left licking his fingers(metaphorically !) at the end and that his gastronomic appetite is quenched by devouring Dumas's story.
Now let me revert back to CMC. The protagonist Edmond is deceived by his own friends, in whom he had complete faith. His own friends befraud him at the peak of his bethrothal, he is denounced as a Bonapartist in the reign of King Louis XIV. His friends(rather deceivers) were a fellow Sailor Danglars,(I forgot to mention, Edmond was a Sailor), a tailor and neighbor Caderousse and a catalan fisherman Fernand( who also single sidedly loved the catalane Mercedes, Edmond's bethrothed). And yeah, one of the cause of his suffering is also the procureur du roi, M. de Villefort, who actively denounces poor Edmond.
Edmond spends 14 years in a dungeon, but to his good luck, he comes in contact with an old abbe, who was in the adjoining cell of the dungeon. Although the abbe Faria was a very learned person, with mundane knowledge and a great affinity for Science, he was considered mad by everyone but Edmond. Faria while in the dungeon, educates Edmond , makes him wordly wise, creates him perfect in science and also tells him of a hidden treasure at the Island of Monte Cristo. After the death of the abbe in the dungeon, Edmond escapes and goes to the Island,becomes quite affluent, buys the island and assumes the title of its Count and then envisages remarkable plans for avenging loss of his love and that of his father. (poor edmond's father dies of old age, waiting for his son's return). He goes to eastern countries and learns about their culture, their languages etc. Becomes a respected man in the society. Makes acquaintances with the most famous personalities and with the nobility. And succesfully takes his revenge. (how??? Well the story of revenge is quite big one. So I refrain from writing it here, even I cannot afford so much time. If I get time, I'll surely write it)
Anyway I can cite what happens finally to the characters:
Fernand commits suicide.
Mercedes (who marries fernand) and her son Albert relinquish their aristocratic life.
Caderousse is assassinated.
Edmond being noble hearted makes everyone happy and one day departs away secretly....with a message to one of his friend's son, i.e. "Wait and Hope".
"Silent thunder...", ofcourse its an oxymoron, but the story of Edmond Dantes in "The coount of Monte Cristo"(CMC) is like the aforementioned oxymoron. Stating this in alliteration, its a story of ingenious revenge, a beautiful retaliation,a just retribution and sufficient repremendation, ofcourse accompanied by remorse, repentance and regrets. Edmond honestly and just like a silent thunder avenges his foes.......
Reading the stories of Alexandre Dumas is so relishing and captivating that once you start reading it, you are totally engrossed with it and nothing but the story preoccupies your mind. I sometimes wonder , if we were epicures and his story a dish, we would have been able to acknowledge his culinary skills in concocting such coherent and smooth stories, that the reader is left licking his fingers(metaphorically !) at the end and that his gastronomic appetite is quenched by devouring Dumas's story.
Now let me revert back to CMC. The protagonist Edmond is deceived by his own friends, in whom he had complete faith. His own friends befraud him at the peak of his bethrothal, he is denounced as a Bonapartist in the reign of King Louis XIV. His friends(rather deceivers) were a fellow Sailor Danglars,(I forgot to mention, Edmond was a Sailor), a tailor and neighbor Caderousse and a catalan fisherman Fernand( who also single sidedly loved the catalane Mercedes, Edmond's bethrothed). And yeah, one of the cause of his suffering is also the procureur du roi, M. de Villefort, who actively denounces poor Edmond.
Edmond spends 14 years in a dungeon, but to his good luck, he comes in contact with an old abbe, who was in the adjoining cell of the dungeon. Although the abbe Faria was a very learned person, with mundane knowledge and a great affinity for Science, he was considered mad by everyone but Edmond. Faria while in the dungeon, educates Edmond , makes him wordly wise, creates him perfect in science and also tells him of a hidden treasure at the Island of Monte Cristo. After the death of the abbe in the dungeon, Edmond escapes and goes to the Island,becomes quite affluent, buys the island and assumes the title of its Count and then envisages remarkable plans for avenging loss of his love and that of his father. (poor edmond's father dies of old age, waiting for his son's return). He goes to eastern countries and learns about their culture, their languages etc. Becomes a respected man in the society. Makes acquaintances with the most famous personalities and with the nobility. And succesfully takes his revenge. (how??? Well the story of revenge is quite big one. So I refrain from writing it here, even I cannot afford so much time. If I get time, I'll surely write it)
Anyway I can cite what happens finally to the characters:
Fernand commits suicide.
Mercedes (who marries fernand) and her son Albert relinquish their aristocratic life.
Caderousse is assassinated.
Edmond being noble hearted makes everyone happy and one day departs away secretly....with a message to one of his friend's son, i.e. "Wait and Hope".
posted by Devesh at 3:49 AM
2 Comments:
If I remember correctly, it went something like this: all the world's wisdom is contained in these three words: wait and hope.
a phenomenal story, as you have rightly said. I read it at the age of 10, and I've gone back to it many, many times.
:)
@RR
Yes you are right..Also Edomond's last words while departing were the same..And I have found all works of Dumas to be phenomenal :)
Post a Comment
<< Home