Extended Essays 2021

“Providence” (Dumas, 1844, p.664). This can be directly related to the God of the Old Testament who takes up different names for different actions like Yahweh-Rapha and Elohim. In naming Dantès as such, Dumas alludes to Italian poet Dante Alighieri – author of Inferno, the text of which follows Dante’s journey through hell, and thus is symbolic of man’s descent into sin and punishment through a process of divine retribution. This explicit allusion highlights Dantès’ descent into vengeance and desire for justice. The results of being betrayed, cause Dantès to be imprisoned in the infamous Château d’If. Years into his sentence, Dantès professes “ignorance of the crime” of which he was charged (184). After discovering this, his friend the Abbè Faria, provides him with the truth, instilling “a new passion” (194), of “vengeance” (194) into Dantès’ heart. Dumas uses imagery and describes Dantès to have a “whole new appearance” (p.194), creating the vindictive guise of The Count of Monte Cristo , which acts as “the avenging angel” (473). This guise circumvents the restrictions of the id. After Dantès’ escape from prison, he discovers the treasure of Monte Cristo which Dantès believes was bestowed upon him by God “for a practical purpose” (1061). Once he comes into this fortune, he rewards those loyal to him. In doing so, he creates the persona of the Abbé Busoni, an Italian priest who acts like Yahweh- Rapha, which is the name used by Abraham to address God in The Old Testament, when God provides the ram to be sacrificed in place of his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:14). As the Abbé, Dantès rewards Caderousse with a diamond valued at “fifty thousand francs” (320) for being his “only friend” (320). In exchange for the diamond, Dantès as Busoni requests M. Morrel’s “red silk purse” (321), which is necessary for Dantès’ plans and symbolizes the connection between good deed and reward. As the novel progresses, this guise shifts slightly becoming a way for Dantès to gain the trust of those whom Monte Cristo wants to manipulate. The name serves this purpose because of the religious authority that it connotates. Sinbad the Sailor is Dantès' third persona

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