Week 9: "Chapter 19. The Third Seizure, Chapter 20. The Graveyard of the Château D'If, Chapter 21. The Island of Tiboulen" Reading Discussion

A death, a rebirth and hint of revenge.

Synopsis:

The foreshadowed "third seizure" takes Faria from Dantès. There is little time to mourn before Edmond hatches another plan of escape. He substitutes himself for the old man's body in the sack and awaits "burial." However, burial at the Château D'If is someone tying a cannonball to your legs and throwing you into the ocean. Luckily, Dantès has secreted a knife and is a strong swimmer. He manages to cut himself free and makes it to a small, uninhabited island. Some other fishermen were not so lucky, and their little vessel smashed on the rocks in the storm.

In the morning, Dantès spies another ship, a tartan. Hungry and tired, he nonetheless tries to swim out to the ship before it bypasses him. He is saved before passing out. Once he awakes, he concocts a story that he is one of the dead fisherman, and he's naked with long hair and a long beard because of some oath, which is now conveniently complete.

The men seem to buy his story and test his sailing acumen. Our man, the experienced sailor, does us proud. However, there is some kind of disturbance at the Château D'If and it becomes obvious that a prisoner has escaped. The men on the vessel bear it no mind, and are just glad to have another hand. Together they continue to sail away.

Final line: This oath was no longer a vain menace; for the fastest sailor in the Mediterranean would have been unable to overtake the little tartan, that with every stitch of canvas set was flying before the wind to Leghorn.

Mod Note: Leghorn is modern Livorno, due East from Marseille and North of Elba. If you're on Google Maps, you may also scroll way in and see a little island called "Montecristo" nearby.

Discussion:

1. Consider the symbolism of the escape. Breaking out of a sack, a rebirth in water, even his age is 33. Anyone getting a vibe?
2. What do you make of this new man? Even without a traumatic imprisonment, what might we expect to be different about a man from 19 to 33? And what about him is a direct result of his experience?
3. Would you be convinced by the story he told? Do you think the sailors he met were actually buying it?

Next week, chapters 22, 23 and 24!