#cristo account

[nintendochoi]

Chapt 34

“My dear fellow!” cried he, springing up, “is it really you? Why, I did not expect to see you before tomorrow.”

“My dear Albert,” replied Franz, “I am glad of this opportunity to tell you, once and forever, that you entertain a most erroneous notion “concerning Italian women. I should have thought the continual failures you have met with in all your own love affairs might have taught you better by this time.”

“Upon my soul, these women would puzzle the very Devil to read them aright. ”

(More of non-tumblr friend's count of monte cristo memes)

[eleancrvances]

“The Count of Monte Cristo″ musical / English concept album is... Not Good, but there are some lyrics from that make me go feral:

and everyday shuffles by like the day before / on its way to the blackest of skies / and everyday a little death comes and paces the floor / and a little bit more of me dies

how can you stand there, a whisper from me?/ yet somehow, be so far away? / in eyes once familiar, a stranger i see / with so many words left to say

i will carry hell to your doorstep, i will make you pay / you will reap the hate you've sown on my judgment day / sleepless nights and days of damnation / soon and evermore

such pretty lies masquerading as duty and honor / everything dies, even little girl story book plans and dreams

history’s a story told by the people who survive // let me sign and then initial / it’s the truth if it’s officially the story

i am a ghost / just a mirage / who chases traces of you

give me the world / finally as it is / not black and white / compromise, as it is / not wrong or right / pretty lies, as it is / albert and me / little girl, foolish boy / willing to live like a man who is willing to die / to justify his pretty lie

i know those eyes, following me / dark and familiar, and deep as the sea / i know that face, strange though it seems / younger and kinder, it haunts all my dreams

an accident occured / edmond dantès is dead / dead and gone

the man i used to be / cannot be outrun / albert still lives / whatever else i've done / forever in his eyes, she'll see / the man that I used to be

[octubreazul]

Go Haidee!!

[mourningmaybells]

I love when the nameless 3rd person omniscient narrator talks like a person recounting a tale with phrases “let me tell you” or “we will now see” or “we already know”

like the narration is going “you don’t know me, but I know about what Villefort did to Dantes last week or what embarrassing thing Myshkin did at the party, I am mostly detached and I wasn’t there, but I was and it makes me feel like this. You didn’t hear it from me”

[90s valley girl voice] like omg girl give me the deets!

[kunaiman]

Okay, so I posted the first chapter of the Cristo Account, it should be out tomorrow at 3:30 PM EST as expected.

[princessofbookaholics]

currently reading ✨

[wanna-bewitch-you]

“‘How attentively he looked at you.’

‘At me?’

‘Yes.’—Albert reflected. ‘Ah,’ replied he, sighing, ‘that is not very surprising; I have been more than a year absent from Paris, and my clothes are of a most antiquated cut; the count takes me for a provincial.’”

[vickyvicarious]

You know, Villefort is really introduced as a very intentional contrast to Edmond, isn't he?

They are both relatively young, stepping into the role of a superior (the former captain who died, and the crown prosecutor who is away)

They are both about to be married, and in fact both are celebrating their betrothals when Dantes is arrested

They are both facing some disapproval from their fiancee's family

They both have a relationship with their father that dictates a lot of their actions

But of course, despite all these similarities their personalities and the specific circumstances of each are almost opposite:

Edmond's acting captainship was driven largely by duty, which is what gets him involved in the letter business to begin with. While his time spent captaining the ship went well, the actions outside of the typical duties he took (stopping at Elba, getting the letter) were for other people's request without much thought of how it looked for him. He was more focused on this being his duty as an honorable person. On the other hand, during his interview with Dantes, Villefort was looking for ways to please others initially (his fiancée asked for mercy and he wanted to get on her good side) but it was still self-serving motivation in the end (he wanted her pleased for what it got him, not just to make her happy). He also abandoned that plan, and the idea of justice altogether, as soon as he realized the letter Dantes carried could injure him. His motivations were selfish throughout.

Edmond is engaged to a poor woman with almost no family who he loves deeply and sincerely. Villefort is engaged to a rich woman with an important family who he loves 'sensibly' for what he will get out of the marriage in the long run. He doesn't hate her but he isn't in love with her romantically, really. When Villefort realizes the coincidental timing of this arrest pulling them each away, his reaction is brief sympathy quickly superseded by him planning out how to make this a witty story impressive to his guests on his return. He doesn't tell Edmond the similarity between their situations.

Fernand dislikes Dantes because he wants to marry Mercedes instead; a deeply personal motive. Edmond dismisses any suspicions suggested about the man and chooses to see him as a friend, trusting Mercedes. Villefort faces some reluctantance from his fiancee's mother, but it's due to his father's political reputation and how that might look, more than anything. Villefort plays along really well and deliberately, greatly emphasizing his political zeal in order to better ascend higher in society. When he talks about his harshness as a judge he is doing so in front of a group of people with a mind to their opinions, giving a speech calculated to impress.

Edmond loves his father very much and the two are very close. He acts to protect his father's pride, and works to bring in money to support him. At his wedding, his father was a major presence, the most excited person there other than the bride and groom themselves. Villefort has denounced his father publicly, given himself a new name to completely separate them in the world's eyes. He wasn't at the betrothal feast except as a name talked badly of, and Villefort only acts to protect him (by burning the letter and arresting Dantes) because the bad publicity/shame would rebound onto himself.

All in all, Edmond is very focused on personal matters. Personal honor, true emotions... even his enemies are driven by feelings of jealousy and envy and hatred. He's emotion-driven and while he works hard and has ambitions, they come second to his love, his honor, his pride. When political considerations intrude on his life it is due to the actions of others (the former captain) and even the way politics is used against him by Danglars and Fernand is motivated by their feelings for him, not their own beliefs.

Villefort is very focused on public perception. He wants a good reputation, he wants more power, he is climbing that social ladder and politics is his way to get up while distancing himself from his father. He is very calculating, and while he does have emotional moments (affection for his fiancée, sympathy for Edmond) they come in second every time to his ambition and self-interest. His life is built largely around politics and reputation, and his personal feelings of sympathy for Edmond are brief and easily overshadowed by his worries about the connection to his father's politics getting out and harming him. Not to mention his ambition when he realizes he can use this to further his career.

Where Dantes trusts those around him and says he has no enemies, Villefort worries deeply about the consequences of the letter getting out. He assumes the people around him will shun him easily if his name is dirtied by this affair. (He's probably right, but it's a very different view of people than Edmond.) He is willing to send Edmond to prison rather than trust him to never mention the letter to anyone, placing his suspicious and self-serving nature above any sense of honor.

[thetwistedbeauty]

“Morally Grey” Characters

Morally grey characters are a staple of literature and storytelling, and they can be some of the most compelling and thought-provoking figures in a narrative. These characters often blur the lines between good and evil, making readers question their motivations and actions. However, the acceptance of morally grey characters hinges on how their complexity is presented within the story. While morally grey characters can be intriguing and even empathetic, it becomes problematic when their moral ambiguity is used to excuse or downplay abusive or harmful behavior.

Complexity vs. Excuse: Morally grey characters should be portrayed with depth and nuance. Their actions and motivations should be explored in a way that allows readers to understand the complexity of their choices. However, this complexity should not serve as an excuse for abusive or harmful behavior.

Accountability: It's essential that morally grey characters are held accountable for their actions. Their choices, even if morally ambiguous, should have consequences within the story. This accountability demonstrates that the narrative acknowledges the impact of their behavior on others.

Character Development: Morally grey characters should ideally experience growth and change over the course of the story. They may grapple with their actions and seek redemption or self-improvement. This development adds depth to their character arcs and provides a path for reconciliation with the audience.

Exploring the Grey Area: Morally grey characters can serve as a vehicle for exploring ethical dilemmas and the grey areas of human nature. However, this exploration should be done with sensitivity and an awareness of the potential real-world implications.

Avoiding Glamorization: It's crucial to avoid glamorizing abusive or harmful behavior, even within the context of morally grey characters. Romanticizing or justifying such behavior can send harmful messages to readers.

Balanced Perspective: Authors should strive to present a balanced perspective on morally grey characters. This means acknowledging both their strengths and flaws, their virtues and vices. Readers should be encouraged to form their own opinions rather than having a character's behavior imposed as unquestionably acceptable.

In literature, morally grey characters can be some of the most captivating and thought-provoking figures, challenging readers to question their own moral compass. However, their complexity should never be used as a means to justify or romanticize abusive or harmful actions.

[ghost-and-a-half]

so that cristo account huh?

[nintendochoi]

So if I were reading the physical book of The Count of Monte Cristo I 100% would've been pronouncing Albert with a hard T at the end of his name.

Since I am listening to the audiobook I know better. That the T is silent. However, it also sounds very close to the dnd monster Owlbear when the audiobook narrator says his name. So I picture this sometimes

(No wonder he had no luck with the ladies in Rome)

[renegadesstuff]

THEY WILL ALWAYS RUN TOWARD THE OTHER 😭🤍

[octubreazul]

Oh god chapter 69. I can't believe they interrogate the Abbe Busoni (Edmond Dantes) and Lord Wilmore (Edmond Dantes) about the Count of Monte Cristo (Edmond Dantes). Hilarious. Fantastic. Love it.

[pedanther]

The Calendar of Monte Cristo: Chapter 1

When we were reading The Count of Monte Cristo last year, it occasionally bugged me that I couldn't find a timeline of the events - whenever I went searching for one, all I could find were timelines of the writing and publication of the novel. So this time around I'm going to make notes and maybe make my own.

c.1785-1791: Napoleon Bonaparte garrisoned at Valence. Policar Morrel serves in the same regiment. [H]

c. 1790: Danglars born. [R]

c. 1796: Edmond born. [R]

some time before 24 February 1815: Maximilien Morrel born. [R]

c. December 1814: Pharaon departs Marseille for a voyage to Naples, Trieste and Smyrna. [R]

Final voyage of Captain Leclère. Pharaon stops at Elba and Edmond entrusted with message. [R]

24 February 1815: Pharaon arrives Marseille. Edmond speaks to M. Morrel, visits father and Mercédès. [E]

E: date explicitly stated in text H: historical event R: located relative to another event

[duchesspeggy]

[kunaiman]

Just curious, are you abandoning The Cristo Account or is it just on pause? 😅

Hiatus. A mix of a lack of audience as well as my own life being… hectic to say the least. I tried making a poll about how it should go and literally no one voted on it, even with proper tagging.