Post 4: Continued Rising Action

This portion of the novel continued just as I had predicted. Similar to the previous section, the third portion of the novel includes more of a build up than a climax, and offers more intrigue to entice the reader and keep them wanting to read on. There are several minor conflicts that pop up in the story, all part of Edmond Dantes' master plan to seek revenge on his former friends. Such conflicts and tensions primarily exist between several other characters, but the last conflict of the section applies greatly to the Count of Monte Cristo. Overall, however, these plots seem to set the story up such that the enemies of the Count become more and more vulnerable to an immanent attack. However, at this point in the story, it is still unclear as to how exactly revenge will be exacted.

One of the first conflicts that arrise in this section of the novel is very severe, and exists between Maximilian, or Monsieur Morrel's son, Valentine, the daughter of Monsieur de Villefort, and indirectly involves the old friend of the Count, Franz. Monsieur de Villefort and his wife have decided that they want to marry Valentine off, as she is approaching the appropriate age for marriage. However, unbeknownst to them, Valentine had already embarked on a love venture with Maximilian, keeping it a secret. While her parents want her to marry Franz, she is torn between her loyalty to her father and mother and the love she has for Maximilian. Maximilian solemnly dictates, "Listen to me ... breathed in France" (386 - 387). In this lengthy monologue he pours out his love and affection for Valentine, hoping to sway her opinion and to elope with him. In the event that she doesn't, he says that he will wait until his "fate was sealed" (387). Then he would proceed to fire a pistol set at his own head. Valentine, taken aback by this statement, cries in tears to make Maximilian promise not to kill himself. Such a situation puts extreme strain on their relationship and on the relationship that Valentine has with several other people. Luckily, Monsieur Noiter, de Villefort's father, saves Valentine from the arranged marriage by revealing his history to Franz. He showed Franz a letter he had written years ago which demonstrates that he had actually killed Franz's father during the time when Noiter was the president of a secret organization. Upon hearing this, Franz calls off the marriage, and Valentine is overjoyed. Although this ultimately ended the conflict, it still puts strain on the true target of the Count, Monsieur de Villefort, as now has to find a new suitor for his daughter.

Another major conflict that arose during the section was the conflict between Albert and the Count of Monte Cristo. Previously, the two were good friends, as the Count saved Albert's life when he was kidnapped by Luigi the Bandit in Rome and held for ransom. However, recently, Albert feels insulted by the Count, feeling as though his beloved mother is doing things and making him do things to prevent his wrath from coming down on them. The feeling of inferiority sets down on Albert, and disliking it, he insults the Count during a play and the two challenge each other to a duel. However, once this duel actually begins to occur, the Count makes the statement, "I will not fire upon you". After all, the Count's rage was not toward his friend, but toward his father, who did him wrong nearly twenty years prior.

These two conflicts do end up resolving, but they leave a scar upon the characters involved. These scars, I predict, will come back to affect more characters in the end of the story. Still, there remain a few questions that are essential to the plot of the story. What will Maximilian and Valentine do about their love? How will the conflict in the de Villefort household be resolved? Ultimately, how exactly will Edmond Dantes exact his revenge on the people he called friends that turned their backs on him?

The attached brainstorming chart attempts to ease the trouble of trying to understand all of the complicated relationships in this section of the story by connecting characters and showing how they are connected (what kind of relationship they share).