The Count of Monte Cristo

At various points in his story, Edmond Dantès seems to function as a Christ figure. But at other points, he seems more like Satan. How is the novel’s dual representation of Edmond related to Romantic ideals and the Byronic hero?

As you answer this question, consider the following:

• What does “Monte Cristo” mean?
• Where do you see the motif of death and resurrection?
• Where do you see the motif of sacrifice?
• Where do you see imagery, figurative language, diction, or detail used to characterize Edmond as dark or demonic?
• How does the allusion to The Vampyre fit into the dual representation of Edmond?
• Where do you see Edmond acting like a deity, controlling and arranging humans’ fates?
• Is Edmond a Christ figure who turns into a Satan figure, or does he embody both at the same time?

Teaching Suggestion: Effectively answering this prompt requires students to first determine where Edmond is being characterized as Christ-like and where he is being characterized as Satan-like. Then, they can evaluate the messages conveyed through the interplay of these two characterizations and relate these messages to Romanticism and the Byronic hero. If they struggle to recall key information needed to answer the prompt, you might remind them where to find information on Romanticism, Byronic heroes, and Romanticism’s conception of Satan using the “Short Answer” and “Paired Resources” sections, above.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences may struggle to sort through the text to find evidence of the two differing characterizations of Edmond. These students may benefit from working in small groups or with a partner for the section of this prompt that requires them to locate evidence in the novel. Those with attentional or executive function differences may also benefit from using a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the two types of characterization and deduce the relationship between the two. Students who find abstract thought challenging may have difficulty understanding how to “read” the relationship between the characterizations of Edmond as Devil and Christ figure. If you suspect that you have students who will struggle with this, you might discuss with the class various hypothetical relationships and what kind of evidence would support each.