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gay pt. 2

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bro thinks he's sherlock holmes

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stubborn light

hope that banishes despair

the determination that touches the wraith's heart

light so strong it shines through your flesh

and bla bla

"stubborn light" is more of from dantes' pov

the light referencing guda's determination/stubborness or the glimmer of hope for dantes

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HAPPY BDAY MAKO AND THANK YOU FOR THE BDAY FOOD ( Wait and hope...grr I'll take my revenge)

its my birthday huhaheheheuheheh [takes your hand] let us go read my 60+ crazy edguda works sorry for the promo i need edguda to have followers forever

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Mako_Neexu/pseuds/Mako_Neexu

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its my birthday huhaheheheuheheh [takes your hand] let us go read my 60+ crazy edguda works sorry for the promo i need edguda to have followers forever

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Mako_Neexu/pseuds/Mako_Neexu

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I think something that does often get overlooked when both characterising the count and just discussing the story in general is that the count lies. all the time. and a big appeal is that as the reader you have to figure out for yourself what's true and what isn't, or just enjoy that ambiguity without ever figuring it out. for example:

vs

pretty obvious that he lied to albert's breakfast club about his intentions to keep haydée enslaved by keeping her clueless. he even lied about her language skills:

So once the reader realises this, it should be natural to ask yourself- what else was a lie, specifically during breakfast for example. does he really take his opium-hashish pills for his sleeping disorder? does he really eat so little? if it's not true that he intends to keep haydée enslaved and clueless, what about ali? does ali understand french too? is he free to leave too? did he REALLY bribe the pope to pardon peppino?

it's this constant ambiguity that makes it so compelling and interpretations that either take everything he says at face value or try to twist and turn everything so he emerges the beacon of morality who only tricked everyone into thinking he has flaws both do the story a disservice. he is such a weird and complicated character and it's fun to read the book with many different interpretations about him in mind and see how it changes (or doesn't change) the story

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I love how in almost every adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo" the Abbe's last words are something like "Remember, do not let vengance consume you. Promise me you won't seek revenge. Justice is served by God" or smth like this, while in the book, the literal source material, he just goes "Find the treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Get the money" and then dies.

This book is so unhinged, I can't even. It's pure chaos. Don't let anyone ever convince you that it's sophisticated classic literature. Dumas loved drama, schemes, adventures and dumb ironic humor.

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Most viscerally upsetting part of monte cristo by far the part where he’s in the boat being conveyed to If and finally the dread is too much and he can’t stop himself from asking where they’re taking him… and when they tell him the prison he thinks my god if I only had been less trusting if I’d been suspicious earlier I could have escaped. I could have been over the side into the water but I had faith in my own innocence and by now it’s too late… Reminds me of that oral history of Rikers I read recently and one of the interviews with public defenders she said that the worst cases are always the ones where the person still has faith in the system because then the first part of her job is convincing them that they cannot expect justice from our justice system. It’s been a fascinating read because while in many ways it’s so far removed from modern concerns and sensibilities but in many ways it is exactly the same

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Caderousse Season

I'm going to speak into the ether and talk about my favourite Monte Cristo passages. Firstly, the chapters The Burglary and The Hand of God

---

This scene takes place after Caderousse is discovered by the priest M.l'Abbe, one of the count's personas. Caderousse is climbing out the count's windows, thinking he just escaped with a pep talk from a priest about needing to repent his sins (lmao). Then the count brought the taper to the window, so that it might be seen in the Champs Elysees that a man was getting out of the window while another held a light. "What are you doing, M.l'Abbe? Suppose a watchman should pass?" And he blew out the light.

There's just something about this scene that was so vivid in my mind. Caderousse climbing out the count's window, just after his attempt to burglar him. While count holds a torch over his enemy like a neon sign. Signalling Benedetto that his accomplice has betrayed him.

The count Bugs Bunny-ed him lol.

(Caderousse season)

After Benedetto stabs Caderousse. Count comes rushing in like an angel of providence. Count takes his wig off for the big reveal: "Yes, Caderousse, you have seen me, you knew me once." (Caderousse says) "Who are you?..." After playing a little guessing game, we get this: The count had watched the approach of death. He knew this was the last struggle, - he approached the dying man, and leaning over him with a calm and melancholy look, he whispered: "I am - I am -"

And his almost closed lips uttered a name so low that the count himself appeared afraid to hear it. Caderousse goes straight into prayer to repent his sins, because he quite literally thinks this is Jesus. The count doesn't correct him (if the shoe fits, I guess?). 😂 When Caderousse breathes his last breath, the count just says:

'One!'

When you've waited 900 pages for this to finally happen, for the first domino to fall. I was unwell. The fact that he is counting them like a kid with a magnifying glass and a jar of ants T_T He is unwell too. Let's talk about the count not being able to say his own name for a bit. Because this is a big theme throughout the book. Even in the face of sweet sweet vengeance, one that he waited years for, the count is met with one problem he didn't account for - facing himself.

Argh, glorious.

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Sins of the Father

It's time for another episode of me shouting into the void about The Count of Monte Cristo. Firstly, let's bring up a fun foreshadowing quote from the chapter The Trial:

Albert has just received a letter stating that his father did in fact betray Ali. (Still unaware that his father also betrayed his friend Monte Cristo) Albert reacts very strongly to this news.

Upon seeing his young friend in despair, Monte Cristo says:

"Poor young man!" said Monte Cristo, in a low voice, "it is very true that the sin of the father shall fall on the children to the third and fourth generation."

After a couple of scenes where Albert gets more information. He also finds out who is behind revealing his father as a betrayer. Let's see who is behind door number 1?

"No other than your friend Monte Cristo." (said Danglars)

Bring in chapter 89: The Insult

Albert goes to find Monte Cristo at the opera. He makes a point to call MC out on being elusive. 😂 Always taking 'refuge' in his house - bathing, eating and sleeping. (God forbid a wrongly-accused-man has hobbies, Albert... gees.) Albert's strong emotional reaction is a great contrast to the stoic MC.

"Ah, I shall know how to make you leave your refuge!" replied Albert, clasping in his convulsed grasp the glove, which Monte Cristo did not lose sight of.

I love how Dumas gently nudges our POV to Monte Cristo's without having his character break the act once.

There's no 'telling' of his emotion or intention right now, just a simple glance and we know the hamster wheel is spinning. Because one thing with Monte Cristo, every tiny movement is calculated.

... Albert understood the allusion in a moment, and was about to throw his glove at the count, when Morrel seized his hand... held him back.

And then we have this golden passage:

But Monte Cristo, without rising, and leaning forward in his chair, merely extended his hand, and, taking the damp, crushed glove from the clenched hand of the young man, - "Sir," said he, in solemn tone, "I consider your glove thrown, and will return it to you around a bullet. Now leave me, or I will summon my servants to throw you out at the door."

Now what the movie adaption did wrong is that Albert throws the glove directly. Thus, prompting Monte Cristo to accept the duel. But the book did it better. Albert never throws the glove. Dumas only indicates to us that Albert is holding it and might have thrown it if not stopped by his friends. Monte Cristo then plucks it out of Albert's hand and accepts the duel. 😂

Once Albert leaves with one glove, Monte Cristo goes back to his usual order of business as if nothing had happened. Dumas even writes to us:

... he certainly must have had a heart of brass and face of marble.

Morrel, the soundest of minds in this moment, asks him what on earth Monte Cristo has gone and done:

"I? Nothing - at least not personally," said Monte Cristo.

Well of course Monte Cristo hasn't done anything, it is the sins of the fathers. Him taking the glove was only him speeding up the process.

There are a few exchanges here, as Morrel tries to speak reason into his friend. Dumas makes it known to us a few times that Monte Cristo is as calm as a cucumber. Even when Morrel takes MC's hand in his and "...he shudders to feel how cold and steady it was."

This is how we know Monte Cristo - the man doesn't break the act.

Well, not until Morrel says this:

"Ah count," said he, "his father loves him so much!" "Do not speak to me of that," said Monte Cristo, with the first movement of anger he had shown; "I will make him suffer." Morrel, amazed, let fall Monte Cristo's hand.

Bingo, bango, we've got a trigger.

And as if it never happened, Monte Cristo snaps back to the mask, commenting on the opera and his great eye for actors.

It's a quick break of his act, the first I would say. So sudden that even when I first read it, I got a shock. 😂

"I will make him suffer" is a direct reaction to hearing Fernand has love for his son. The same love MC's father felt, and it is that suffering his father felt that he wishes to bring upon Fernand.

It is this poetic opportunity of seeing that tempting glove in Albert's hand, the son of the sinful father, that brings us to Monte Cristo breaking the act for a split second.

I have more to say on this chapter but for now this is enough 😂

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For whoever wants reference to the characters in Monte Cristo. Because I needed to keep track of them myself. 🤭

I removed the alive or dead status for spoilers.

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What if I was a lonely brooding man but my features softened as I stared at you adoringly?

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ship edguda and extend your lifespan NOW to 30 more years! Thats right! Thirty more years! #NotClickbait #Real #Guaranteed

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The comments in this repost

at this point i might just hc dantes having the longest list of philias for guda out there with the exception of ntr sjdbdbdb

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Monte Cristo: chilling at the opera

Countess G: Ho is you a vampire ‼️💥 Count Ruthven looking ass 😂🗣️🔥💯

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Y'all ever get so utterly feral over your special interests that when finally given a chance to talk about them you suddenly can't put to words why you love them so?

Like, my teacher gave me a little assignment at the end of the year where you'd get a bit of extra credit if you make a mini poster about any topic of choice. Of course, I picked The Count of Monte Cristo, but once I got to the writing portion I just. Blanked. I didn't know what to put down, even though my thoughts are almost always consumed either by it or by Frankenstein. It's so frustrating because I have so much to say and yet nothing at all

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everyone in the epic fandom NEEDS to discover the count of monte cristo musical PLEASE