Page of TCoMC notes 9•9

Christina DeSario
9•9•09
Mr. George- AP English Language 11
Dantes as God

When Edmond Dantes with God, he is like the Noah’s Ark story. He, at first, is sweet and happy. Then, people around him do evil things, and he decides to get back at them while also saving those he was close to like the Morrels. “‘Father!’ cried the girl out of breath and overcome with joy. ‘You are saved! You are saved!’” (185). Here, under the alias Sinbad, Edmond saved Monsieur Morrel from suicide by paying Julie’s Dowry and rebuilding the Pharaon. He did godly things by saving a family that was always loyal to him and even his father.
Like God, people respected Dantes and were on his side. “‘Ground arms!’ shouted the chief with a commanding sweep of one hand, whilst with the other he respectfully took off his hat” (223-224). Even a bandit who kidnapped people and put ransom on them later says, “‘Why didn’t some of you tell me of this?’ inquired the brigand chief, turning toward his men, who all retreated before his look. ‘Why have you allowed me to fail thus in my word toward a gentleman like the Count who has all our lives in his hands? By heavens! if I thought that one of you knew that the gentleman was a friend of His Excellency’s, I would blow his brains out with my own hand!” (224). The Count has friends all over, making everything he does easier.
When Dantes saves Valentine, he believes she looks like she “was sleeping with the confidence and innocence of an angel at the feet of the Lord” (510). He had just given her a concoction that would make her sleep and have her family believe she was dead. She trusted Dantes, making him the Lord that was protecting the sleeping angel.
When Edmon and Fernand meet again as themselves, Fernand is terrified. He acts like a sinner facing God on Judgment Day. “With a moan that can be compared to no human sound, he dragged himself to the yard, staggering like a drunken man, and fell into his valet’s arms” (486). Edmond is God by the fear and respect he stirs in people, and protection he can offer.