![]() Dantès is also surprised to find his father with hollow cheeks. He has plans to buy a house for his father once he obtains the lucrative post. Dantès relates the prospect of his new post to his father. Dantès' father is overjoyed at the sight of his son. Action takes place in Dantès' father's chambers. The setting for this chapter is no longer aboard ship. Perhaps this influenced Dumas to make such a social commentary by honoring the Captain. Dumas' father was also a close friend and General of Napoleon's. Additionally, the deceased Captain is accorded a proper burial which befits his rank and legacy in Napoleon's army. Morrel's excitement at the mention of the Emperor's name, one sees Dumas' respect for the former Emperor. The action takes place during 1815 when Napoleon is in exile on the Island of Elba. Yet Danglars is not to be trusted, as we shall see.Īlso significant in this first chapter is the tribute paid to Napoleon. Morrel that he shall trust Danglars if Morrel himself deems Danglars worthy of his trust. Dantès, however, makes the mistake of not discarding of Danglars when he can. Danglars manages to extricate himself from Morrel's suspicion, but the reader is not fooled. Morrel wishes to know why Danglars knows of the secret package that Dantès delivered to Napoleon. His deceptiveness is revealed when he reddens in conversation with M. When he hints of a withheld letter, Danglars is sowing the seeds for Dantès' ruin. Dantès has all the attributes for success, thus he has an enemy in the jealous Danglars. He cannot feel the hate Danglars harbors for Dantès. Morrel's intuitive nature is non-existent. ![]() Morrel comments on Dantès youth and talent to Danglars. Dantès is presented as a naïve youth, despite his taste for danger and his ability to command a ship. ![]() Dantès success shall fuel the jealous natures of others, such as Danglars. The death also is a window for Dumas to immediately establish the conflict that is to be central to the entire work. The Captain's death prepares the reader for what is to be an adventure-packed novel. Some of the first images encountered are a deceased captain and a ship cargo whose contents remain undefined. Morrel and Danglars watching Dantès row ashore.ĭumas introduces drama and suspense in this first chapter. Dantès turns down Morrel's dinner offer for the evening, however, because he must first see his poor father and his betrothed, Mercedes. Morrel assumes that if such a letter exists, Dantès will give it to him. ![]() In conversation, Danglars hints at a letter that Dantès may be withholding from M. The package was for the Emperor Napoleon himself. Morrel that he merely stopped at Elba to deliver a package for the deceased Captain. Dantès clears his responsibility for this delay by clarifying to M. Morrel that Dantès delayed the ship's progress at the Island of Elba for a day and a half. Morrel also converses with Danglars, the ship¹s accountant, who bears nothing but hate for Dantès. First, however, he must consult the boat's co-owner. Morrel is impressed and thus plans to officially make Dantès the captain of the ship. His crew is fond of him and they follow his orders quickly and precisely. Thus, it is now Dantès who commands the ship. Morrel finds that Dantès, a captain's mate when the ship left, has now assumed the captain's post because misfortune befell the ship and the aging war veteran, Captain Leclère, has died. ![]() He also has an aura of calmness and resolution that befits an individual accustomed to danger. He is described as eighteen or twenty years old with black eyes and "raven" black hair. Morrel and the reader encounter the protagonist, Edmond Dantès. Morrel, watches his boat arrive in the harbor and he quickly jumps into a small skiff to go meet it. The date is Februand the vessel, the Pharaon is returning to Marseilles after a three month long journey. ![]()
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