The Count of Monte Cristo

Fatherhood is an important theme in the Count of Monte Cristo. There are three father and son relationships in the story. They are: Dantes and his father, Dantes and Faria and Villefort and Noirtier.

The first father-son relationships is between Dantes and his father. They care a lot about each other. Dantes helps his father with money, even though he is not a rich man. Dantes' father loves his son very much and is happy for him, because he is getting married with the girl he is in love with. He asks God to bless her and their marriage. When he is about to die, he won't let death enter until he has seen Dantes one more time. Only then, he was ready to let go.

A second father-son relationship is between Dante and Faria. Dantes learned a lot from Faria that fathers usually teach their sons. Among other things, world history and languages and how to think in a different way. Faria cares a lot about Dantes like he was his own son. And because of that, he gives Dantes the treasure. Faria was Dante's only friend in prison and helped him when he was ill by giving him his medicine which kept him alive.

A third father-son relationship is between Villefort and Noirtier. Villefort was not very proud of Noirtiers's plan about helping Napoleon Bonaparte back to power. If anyone found out Noirtiers plan, Villefort could lose all his wealth and probably go to prison himself. They are not getting along very well, because Noirtiers plan to help Napoleon could cost Villefort all his power.

Villefort is worried about what his father is doing, so he sends the only one, who knew about the letter to prison to protect himself.

The worst father and son relationship in the story is Villefort and his father, Noirtier.

They don't support each other in their lives. They are more like each others' worst enemy. Noirtier wants Napoleon back to power even though he knows that his own son can lose everything if anyone found out that he had something to do with it.

Villefort will do anything to keep it secret so his father's plan won't ruin his life.

Dantes and his father and Dantes and Faria have much more positive relationships.