The Count of Monte Cristo Group

Question:

kristenrenaebranum
kristenrenae...
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In The Count of Monte Cristo, two of the main characters lose their will to live and place themselves at the mercy of others.

Who are they, and what are their reasons?

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Posted by kristenrenaebranum on Saturday August 4, 2007 at 12:19 PM and tagged with characters, the count of monte cristo.

Answers:


  1. jilllessa Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There may be more than two answers to this question but I think the characters you are referring to are Mercedes, Dante's former fiance and Mercedes, the Count de Morcerf, wife.  Her spirit was broken by Dante's imprisonment and she lets herself be cajoled into a loveless marriage, thus putting herself under Morcerf's control.  She becomes a wealthy member of society but is miserable.  When she sees Dante and  her husband dies she goes to spend the rest of her house in prayer at a house that had been owned by Dante's father. 

    The other character is Monsieur Villeforte.  When his life falls apart and his wife murders their "son" and commits suicide, he goes insane, leaving himself completely in the power of others.

    Many other characters lose their will to live but do not leave their lifes in the "control" of others.  Morcerf commits suicide; Heloise Villeforte commits suicide.  Danglers is forgiven and lives but is a ruined man with white hair.  Dante himself does not lose the will to live because his gives control of his life over to the desire for revenge and justice. 

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/count-of-monte-cristo/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/count-of-monte-cristo/plot-summary

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    Posted by jilllessa on Wednesday August 8, 2007 at 5:08 PM