The Count of Monte
Cristo –Alexandre Dumas (1944)
The first novel that I
read…
I was in standard fifth, that I stumbled upon novels in
school. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas was the first
novel that I had read. Reading is my favourite hobby. I used to read lots and
lots of books while schooling, especially short stories like Aesop’s Fables,
Arabian Tales, Panchatrantra and many more. Once, during the reading period in school,
I happened to pick this novel of Alexandre Dumas, not knowing that it is a
novel!
I happened to read it at home. While reading, I found it
interesting and learnt the plot, but was confused as they were not stories but
it was a long story. At first, I thought it was a book with different stories;
but I was wrong. I slowly started indulging myself into the book and it
completely engulfed me.I spent time with the book in the noon hours, after the
school, after completing my homework everyday. Being curious, I asked my school
librarian about the book and she told me that it was a novel. She also told me
what a novel is.
The plot in, The
Count of Monte Cristo is quite simple, inspired by a real – life event of
wrongful imprisonment. It is a classic novel by Dumas. The story is of a young
man named, Edmund Dantès (the protagonist) who loses everything one day. Edmund
is a kind character and was to be appointed as the captain of a ship. He has a
fiancée named Mercédès - a beautiful, kind woman. Due to his kind nature,
Edmund is liked by everyone except Danglers, Fernand Mondego, Caderousse and
Gerald De Villefort. These four people envy him and therefore they falsely
accuse Edmund of certain crime and frame a charge against him. Poor Edmund is
arrested on his wedding day when it wasn’t his fault at all! He is sentenced
lifelong imprisonment. In the prison, he meets another political prisoner, the
elderly Abbé Faria who saves his life when he tries to commit suicide. He later
helps Edmund in many ways…he gives him hope, future and possibility of new
beginning if he escapes prison with a fortune in treasure. Abbé Faria dies at
later stage and Edmund however successfully escapes prison and leads a new life
as a mysterious Count on the Island of Monte Cristo to avenge on men who
conspired against him. As one reads the novel, sees the pain of Edmund but is
relieved when he tries to escape the prison and start a new life!
This novel is all about suffering, pain, despair, wrongful
imprisonment, death and retribution.
Novels speak about life. It is an imaginary reconstruction
of life and can be directly or indirectly related to our lives. They may be of
different types but somehow they affect us. Novels can teach us the lessons of
life. This novel by Dumas truly shows us how to overcome difficulties in life
and not lose hope at any point.
I felt content after reading the novel. It was the first
novel that I read and enjoyed! From then on I preferred reading more novels.
Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Robinson Crusoe, Nancy Drew, Journey to the Centre of
the Earth, Alice’s Adventures, A Tale of Two Cities, Harry Potter series
etc.etc…. occupied my list of reading!
- Bakita A. Naik
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