In Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas explores the concept of when from a life of innocence and purity transforms to one of hatred and vengeance. This transformation is demonstrated through the main character Edmond Dantes, who assumes multiple identities of Sinbad the Sailor, Lord Wilmore, and the Count of Monte Cristo. Bryan Aubrey and Emily McDermott’s personal critique of The Count of Monte Cristo explores the different allusions and characterizations of each individual character. In Bryan Aubrey’s critique, he portrays Monte Cristo as a determined, invincible, highly intelligent, and endearing man. Aubrey also makes the comparison of Monte Cristo to English Romantic poet Lord Byron who “is usually guilty of some sin or transgression…show more content… She relates characters like Maximilien and Valentine to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This is evident when McDermott states that “Maximilien and Valentine's love story is destined to end happily” (McDermott 20). At first, I did not agree with this statement because after she had poisoned, “Valentine was no longer breathing… her wrist was already a little stiff and there was a bluish tinge around the edges of her fingernails (Dumas 428). At first I thought this was real, but after realizing she faked her death, I strongly agreed with this statement because despite the obstacles in their relationship, they overcame family opposition and even death. Although in Romeo and Juliet, they both die, Maximilien and Valentine truly do live happily ever after. This is evident when after Valentine faked her death “Maximilien and Valentine were walking arm in arm along the shore” (Dumas 530). This supports the concept that although this book is a tragedy and one of revenge, McDermott knows and believes they live happily ever after. To conclude, Bryan Aubrey and Emily McDermott’s personal critique of The Count of Monte Cristo explores the different allusions and characterizations of each individual character.
McDermott illustrates the allusions to those of Shakespeare’s various plays like Romeo and Juliet, and Aubrey explores the characterization of the Count
