Post 3: Build Up

In the second section of the book, the story is beginning to build up. However, Dumas adds a bit of a twist. Instead of continuing the story as normal, he shifts locations to Rome and introduces three new characters: Albert, Franz, and the Count of Monte Cristo. These three characters can be categorized as important because they exist later into the story and seem to play a major role regarding Edmond's revenge. The first character, Albert, is the son of the Count de Morcef, who is the original Ferdinand, just as an alias. He is a close friend of Franz, who is the second new character introduced at this point in the story. Franz, as the author explains, is the suitor of Valentine de Villefort. She, obviously, is the daughter of Monsieur de Villefort, a co-conspirator to Edmond Dantés' incarceration and a target of his revenge plot. During their time at Rome, Albert and Franz are attempting to enjoy themselves when one day, Albert is kidnapped by the Bandit, a infamous and notorious criminal who recently appeared in the news of the town. He is held ransom, and not having anyone else to go to, he humbly, but urgently asked for the help of the Count of Monte Cristo, their neighbor at their hotel. Incidentally, the Count helps Franz out, and happens to be an acquaintance of the Bandit, and ordered him to release Albert. This created a bond that would hold between the three people for the rest of the story.
Regarding the rest of the section, it seems to be a large portion of what would be classified as rising action. Although the story has already been set up, I feel as though the Count of Monte Cristo is gaining a familiarity with the certain situation in paris at the time. Considering the fact that he was gone for a little over seventeen years, perhaps he is trying to understand his victims before he properly exacts revenge. On that note, the book is written in such a way to make the reader assume that the Count of Monte Cristo is indeed Edmond Dantés, with numerous reasons to back it up. However, Dumas continues the story without revealing this crucial connection. This is contrasting to a French writer such as Victor Hugo, who reveals that Monsieur Madeline was indeed Jean Val Jean in his famous book, Les Miserables. The only one that could recognize him was his former fiance, Mercedes. It was extremely touching that she still loved him after all that time and was dying to be loyal to him, but still displayed loyalty to her husband, to whom she was obligated for life.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Balzac/swiss-cut-off-bank-accoun_n_792542_69783769.html

This article states the last few steps to legal exacting of revenge. They entail planning your revenge and then exacting it by carrying out the most effective plans. This has an apparent application to the story because the Count of Monte Cristo is seeking revenge on all of those that falsely accused him of being a bonapartist and imprisoning him. If Edmond Dantes were to read this post from Wikileaks, he would most likely agree entirely with it. Without a doubt, he would concur with the notion of knowing your target and then doing a plan.

The video on the other hand, shows a different prediction to the plan. Basically, it could go totally wrong and end up putting Edmond in a more difficult situation than before. However, it is more probable that he comes out on top, as he is the protagonist.