CoMC Notes Dos

Scott Pero
AP English Language
September 10, 2009
CoMC Notes on Honor
Suicides

--“‘Blood washes out dishonour!’ said Morrel” (Dumas, 184). This quote sums up the reason why some characters committed suicide—in the book, and apparently during the time it is set in, suicide is an honorable way to die.

--Monsieur Morrel plans to kill himself for honor: “‘If I lived, you would be ashamed of my name” (185). Morrel decides to kill himself because he would rather die the day he could not keep his word rather than live on with the shame that he could not.

--Another who committed suicide is Monsieur de Morcerf, formerly Fernand Mondego. After he as been publicly dishonoured, and his wife and son have left him, he shoots himself: “At the very moment when the wheels of that cab passed under the arched gate, a report was heard, and dark smoke issued through the glass of the bedroom window, which had been broken by the force of the explosion” (487). It should be noted that his suicide can be looked upon in two ways: he killed himself because he had no honor left, or that he was dishonored so much that he killed himself before it got any worse, thus preserving his reputation before it was insulted further.

--Madame de Villefort also killed herself after her husband forced her to: “I do not wish to dishonour you, for in doing so, I should bring dishonour on myself…I mean that the wife of the first magistrate will not, by her infamy, sully an unblemished name and, with one blow, bring dishonour on her husband and her child” (560). Here, it is revealed that Monsieur de Villefort is coercing his wife into suicide in the name of the family’s honor.

Albert’s Duel with the Count
--At first, when Albert hears of the humiliation brought down upon his father, he confronts the person he believes is responsible (Monsieur Danglars) only to find that it was really the Count of Monte Cristo’s doing.

--Also, after he vows to duel the person responsible, his attitude towards his father changes: “‘Mother, do you know whether Monsieur de Morcerf has any enemies?’ Albert asked. Mercédès started; she noticed the young man did not say ‘my father’” (461).

--Nothing seems to stop Albert: “‘So long as I understand your perfidies and make you realize that I will be revenged, I am reasonable enough,’” (464). Though his father was the one dishonored, Albert still feels he himself must be avenged.

--Monte Cristo also feels he must fight for honor: “‘If you say everything, madame, you also saw that Fernand’s son insulted me in public…he would have thrown his glove in my face but that one of my friends held back his arm” (469). Even after Mercédès convinces Monte Cristo to spare Albert’s life, he still upholds his honor: “‘ You cannot suppose I have the least desire to live after I have been publicly insulted…what I have loved most after you, Mercédès, has been myself, that means to say, my dignity, the force that made me superior to others. This force was life to me. You have broken it, and I must die!’” (473). Even Monte Cristo expresses the idea that to be dishonored is to be condemned to death.

--At the duel, Albert does not wish to fight the Count, mostly and Monte Cristo believes it was, in some aspect, Mercédès’ doing. “‘I therefore say to you, and proclaim it aloud, that you were justified in revenging yourself on my father, and I, his son, thank you for not having done more…if you consider this apology sufficient give me your hand…Monsieur de Monte Cristo accepts my apology. I was guilty of a rash act, but have now made reparation for my fault. I trust the world will not look upon me as a coward because I have followed the dictates of my conscience’” (477). Albert does the noble thing to do and apologizes, seeing clearly now that his father was meant to be dishonored, and in doing so Albert himself retains his honor.