Kelly and I are back with the discussion of Part 3 of The Count of Monte Cristo. I can’t believe how much there is to this book! Long books give readers an opportunity to think about their reading habits and the quirks that we experience when we’re reading shooter books become more pronounced and reflection-worthy with longer books.
The Count of Monte Cristo: Goodreads Link
First Published in 1844
Content Notes for Part 2: Depictions of death of a child, murder.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Part 3 ( Chapters 39-57)
I am so excited that we are 52% through with this book at the end of Part 3! This part, constituting chapters 39-57 brings the Count of Monte Cristo to Paris. While the first few chapters are about Albert singing his praise to his friends about what happened in Rome, when the Count finally arrives, the audience is equally impressed. There were a lot of new characters in this part and though I usually do not like to have an army of characters to remember, as I read on, so much became clear – I have to say I am impressed with Dantès and the thought he puts into surrounding himself by people who have a connection to his nemesis.
I am still impressed by how things seem to happen, it looks like he’s everywhere, at the same time. I know he had a lot of time to plan things, but sometimes it just seems to happen all too easily.
I loved learning more about the people in the Count’s household and discovering how they are related to Villifort or Fernand or Danglars. I definitely need to work on a family tree and the love / marriage alliances portrayed in this part of the book to keep track of who is with who. I was blown away by how the Greek lady, Haydee, and the stewart are connected to the other characters. Did you envision Dantès have thought out everything so well, Kelly? Also him buying the house in Auteuil and the horror that had taken place made me wonder out aloud again – how does he find these places?
He must have lots of people working for him, because, as I mentioned above, he always seems to be in the right place, at the right time, nothing he does is by chance, every single thing is calculated.
The chapters where Dantès meets Danglars and Villeford after so many years are one of my favorites. These two men are so arrogant and full of themselves but Dantès has a comeback in a neutral tone, making them feel small and ignorant, turning them into people who mistrust him to people who worship him literally. I loved learning more about the worldly knowledge that the Cunt possesses, especially when he is challenging Villefort. What did you think of these encounters?
I’m curious about what will happen, because if he’s meeting these people under these circumstances, it’s because there’s more to happen. I hope they find out who this mysterious person is so all he’s doing makes more sense. Then they (us, too) will understand the reason for how things were done the way they were.
The part where Dantès threw Danglars under the bus for selling his wifes’ horses and then selling them back to the Danglars with diamonds was so well done. I laughed so hard at the household feud that was brewing between Monsieur and Madame Danglars.
It looks to me that things could’ve been done in an easier way, faster, too, that’s why I said I hope to understand why they were done this way, there must be a reason for everything he does. I didn’t like the boy of the Duchess’ friend (if I’m not confusing parts here LOL), he sounds too spoiled, someone who is used to getting everything his way.
I had not guessed at all that Albert was Mercedes’s son! I was so astonished and had an audible gasp when I learned that. All these aristocrats keep changing their last names or titles so it has been a little hard to keep track but even the moment when Dantès saw Mercedes’ portrait in Albert’s quarters did not give dummy me a hint lol. What did you think of their first encounter after decades, Kelly? Mercedes was definitely shocked to see him and trying very hard to figure out if he truly is Dantès. She cautioned her son against him and I found that ironic because if she truly knew it was Dantès, she would have trusted him with her own life.
Me neither!! Well, I’m always slow to find out things LOL. I thought about the portrait, but I don’t know if I connected the dots in that moment 😀
I think they will still have time alone to talk, they didn’t have enough, and they need to tell each other what happened in all these years, how things got to where they are. It looks like they are both surprised with everything. I don’t think the Count knew it until he saw the painting, maybe this was the only thing out of his control, at first he only knew she had married and nobody knew where she lived.
This was also a reminder for me for how much time has passed. The Count may portray himself as a man in his late thirties but he is older and Albert could have been his son. I wonder if this caused him pain, and maybe he took Albert under his wing for this very reason?
I spent a lot of time trying to calculate Albert’s age hahahahah because he seems older by the way he behaves and the way he talks, and he sounds to be in his teens.
I am quite intrigued by the role Villefort’s father is going to play in this book. I have not given much thought to him in previous parts and I really like his connection with Valentine and how much they both care about each other. Grandfather-grandchild relationships are not always portrayed in books and I am quite happy to see this play out.
I feel the same, this is not very clear for me, either. The other people received more attention.
Another mystery that I am hoping part 4 will solve for us are the father-son duo of Major Cavalcanti and Andrea C. These are the newest characters in the plot and they clearly know that they have a part to play but they have no idea, and nor do I have any clue, on why they have been selected. With money, Dantès goes to amazing extents to get people to do what he wants and his plot is only revealed slowly.
Yes, nothing is left to chance.
This also leads me into how Dantès uses his other identities to build a reputation for himself. Abbe Busoni and Sindbad the Sailor show up a couple times in this plot, recommending or sending people to the Count. How does he even find all these people? Needless to say, I am thoroughly impressed and look forward to finding out what else he has up his sleeves.
And how come no one recognizes him or suspects him, he must be wearing a great costume?? He comes, as a character, and leaves everything ready for when he comes as the Count. There must be lots of people working for him, people he might have found right after he escaped prison, there’s no other way.
We will back with the discussion for Part 4. If you plan to read The Count of Monte Cristo and add to our discussion, here are the breakdowns of the parts:
Part 1 – Chap 1-21 (link to discussion)
Part 2 – Chap 22-38 (link to discussion)
Part 3 – Chap 39-57
Part 4 – Chap 58-77
Part 5 – Chap 78-97
Part 6 – Chap 98-117
Be sure to bookmark Part 1 so that you can find the other parts when you are ready!
Cover Photo by Pika Alyani on Unsplash
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