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ZeMastor t1_itqdcu0 wrote

Reply to comment by TywinShitsGold in Just finished The Count of Monte Cristo by ComicsNBigBooks

True, but one of the key points in the book was that Dantes did not even get a trial. Villefort just had him quietly hustled away to D'if.

Could possibly mean that the bar for an execution was pretty high, and would have required a trial and a certain bunch of signatures. V. wanted to keep the entire affair on the down-low (protecting Noirtier), and an actual trial would have mean that Noirtier's name would have gone out. And Dantes' likeability and naivety might have won over the other judge.

It could also mean that V. is a better human being than he seemed to be initially. Like, only wanting to shuffle Dantes away until it was convenient to release him (after Napoleon's death). But eventually he forgot about that and Dantes was left to rot.

This is not the only example of "French traitor protagonist in a classic novel slipping between the cracks and not being executed." Victor Hugo allowed Marius to live, and even get married, and live aboveground after Marius' involvement in the Revolt. Marius was at the barricades, shot at soldiers, and threatened to blow everybody up, ffs. But Hugo waved it away by saying that Marius' months-long convalescence saved him, the hubbub died down, and nobody bothered to look for him because so much time had passed.

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TywinShitsGold t1_itqgvm4 wrote

It might have been a little shady and corrupt, but it was basically a plea deal. He had letters showing the emperors intended return and revolution - which is treason. Notier wasn’t some underworld/unknown figure, he was a well known Parisian Bonapartist. And the Morrells were already under suspicion.

Danglars was an opportunist looking to make a political play, Ferdinand was a jealous asshole, but the worst thing Villefort can be accused of is being a politician. He distanced himself from his dad, he married into the bourbons. He didn’t exactly get along with the old man, but Nortier protected him during Bonaparte’s short restoration.

Young Eddie was a fool 10 different ways - Notier/Villefort notwithstanding. Napoleon had just been deposed and exiled. Marseilles was heavily royalist and anti-Bonaparte. Yet he thought nothing of just stopping by at Elba. And he wasnt naive and indifferent - he knew who he was talking to and he was proud to do it - though he kept the secret according to his captains wishes. He was first mate on a “smuggling” boat. How could he not know, hell the accountant (Danglars) knew. One look at the chart and it would be obvious they’re stopping by Elba to pass messages. He might have spent a couple years on boats, but daddy Dantes lived in town, Morrell lived in town. He had to know about the unrest - especially since boats carried word abroad to trading partners.

I don’t think Villefort had any intent of releasing Eddie at any point. Regardless of Bonaparte retaking the throne. A) he was a royalist, B) he knew it wasn’t going to last. Letting Eddie out after 3 months would out him as a Bonapartist like his father and kill his future in France. He’d be sidelined once Napoleon fell apart again. But he didn’t go so far as cutting Eddie’s head off without a trial.

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ZeMastor t1_itrre0s wrote

Can't be a plea deal when the accused didn't even place a plea or try to make a deal. V. was truly ready to release Dantes, and Dantes was ready to head out the door. Until V. found out the letter was addressed to Noirtier. Up until that point, V. wasn't ready to prosecute Dantes (and he wanted to impress Renee with his mercy). V. had seen real foaming-at-the-mouth Bonapartists and wouldn't hesitate to condemn them but that boy wasn't one of them. He saw a dumbass who was in way over his head in something that he didn't truly understand.

V. didn't hang out with the old man because of political ambitions. But we have seen that V. was willing to warn Noirtier that the police were looking for Gen. Quesnel's assassin, and the description of the perp looked just like ol' Dad. And V. just stood by as Noirtier shaved and changed his clothing, and even took parts of V's own wardrobe. So they had differing politics, but V. wasn't hostile or willing to let his father get arrested.

Yeah, Dantes was a naive fool, but I'd write it off as "typical 19 year old". Dantes might have heard a few things here and there, but blew it off as, "Meh, doesn't concern me. No politics for me. All I care about is my job, my Dad and marrying Mercedes. Oh, the captain's last wish was to deliver this letter... ummm, OK."

And that's exactly what he told V. and V. saw his sincerity and believed him.

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