Exciting read with questionable morality. Note: some translations may vary slightly.
Plot
Young Edmond Dantés' life is beautiful. He is about to marry the love of his life and be promoted to ship's captain. But after a band of jealous rivals frame him as a traitor to France, he is thrown into the depths of a remote dungeon. For fourteen years, he waits in prison, dreaming of escape and revenge...
Morality
For the most part, right and wrong are clearly portrayed. Dants' rivals lie and cheat to get what they want; his friends are the picture of love and faithfulness. Edmond himself is dignified and (by the book's standards) honorable, but he does have his shortcomings. He lies to hide his identity, and he lays a tangled web of secrets and lies to destroy his enemies, while blessing his friends beyond belief. He claims that he is dealing out God's justice, and much is made of his being the "Avenging Angel." Dantés tells a man that his fiancée is dead when she isn't.
In the end, Edmond begs forgiveness for believing "'For one moment he was the equal of God,'" and acknowledges that God alone has supreme power and infinite wisdom. It's not clear whether he now regards taking revenge as wrong or not.
Spiritual Content
It can be a little confusing. The good guys appear to be Christians. They praise God often, but their actions don't always back up their beliefs. Prayers are offered to God in times of trouble. Edmond declares himself a vessel of God's judgment, which has rather uncertain morality (see Romans 12:17-21). Other people consider him almost god-like in his irreproachable dignity. The "Christianity" portrayed is heavily influenced by the moralist, Deistic views of Dumas and his time period.
Violence
One character commits suicide (we just hear the gun shot); others contemplate doing so. One man dies a frenzied death. Three or more murders occur. A man is thrown into the sea, alive, with a cannonball tied to his feet. One man challenges another to a duel. A small child is poisoned. Another character is kidnapped and told he will be killed if the ransom is not payed. The whole revenge-plot necessarily entails violence on a large scale.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Alcohol is consumed. I only remember one character ever getting drunk. Drugs are used to sedate, and one murderer uses poison. In one chapter a character smokes what is probably more than just tobacco, and has hallucinogenic dreams.
Sexual Content
There is some flirting (the exchanging-flowers type), and some kisses. Background romance is frequently loose and the dialogue features many references to affairs and the like.
An affair conducted in the past is of critical importance to the plot, as is the child who was the result of the liaison. Another married woman has a lover; she is not a main character, however, and not much is said of the affair. The Count of Monte Cristo appears to have a mistress, though the word "mistress" is never actually used and there is nothing explicit. Edmond is rescued from the sea naked.
In the original version and in many editions based on that (Modern Library Classics, for instance), two characters are lesbians. As they are minor, this is not dwelt upon in great length, but is still made obvious. Many editions, however, cut out this subplot.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
God's name is used reverently for the most part, but there are some instances where the intent is questionable. Oaths in French, including ones that take God's name in vain, are fairly common.
Conclusion
This story is a thrilling adventure that paints a vivid picture of life in France in the early 1800s. But it should be approached with caution. There is a lot of violence, and one of the novel's main themes -- revenge -- is contrary to the Bible's teachings. I think, however, that with a discerning mind the story can be greatly enjoyed. I'd recommend it for highschool and up.
Note:
As mentioned in the Sexual Content, translations and editions will vary slightly. We have tried to outline the major points from an unabridged version here.
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