Count's Revenge - Questions

Q: 1 What Arab custom is referred in the short play “The Count’s Revenge”?

An Arab custom mentioned by the Countess of Morcerf to Albert and the Count of Morcerf when the count of Monte Cristo leaves their house without eating anything. The custom runs as “Never to eat food at the house of a deadly enemy”. She strongly believes that since the Count of Monte Cristo has a faith in that custom and thinks them to be his enemy, and hence not eat anything at their place.

Q: 2 What do you know about the reaction, plans or intention of Albert?

Albert, the brave young son of the count of Morcerf, was deeply shocked by the disgrace of his father and family. As a man of honour, he showed severe emotional reaction to the unhappy incident. Albert made his mind to trace about the unknown enemy of his family and avenge the family honour. On his request, Beauchamp, a close friend of Albert, discovered the name of the enemy. It was Albert;s friend the count of Monte Cristo. Putting aside the feeling of friendship, Albert went to the house of the count of Monte Cristo and gave him the challenge of duel.

Q: 3 How did the Count of Morcerf betray his country?

In the year 1823, when the Count of Morcerf was a captain in the French army and was known as captain Fernand, he received bribes from the Turks and surrendered to them the fortress of Yanina. This act of betrayal for the country was not known to anyone because he hid his identity under the guise of the count of Morcerf. The act of betrayal remained unknown until it got published in two newspapers, and he was summoned to the court.

Q: 4 What was the cause of enmity between the two counts?

The cause of enmity between the two counts was the Count of Morcerf’s treacherous act against the Count of Monte Cristo. More than twenty years ago, the Count of Morcerf betrayed his friend Edmond Dantes (the Count of Monte Cristo). He produced false evidence against him in the court and got him imprisoned for life in an underground dungeon. Furthermore, he married the girl his victim was engaged to. The Count of Monte Cristo managed to escape from the prison and flourished. Then he came to Paris to take revenge.

Q: 5 What is the nature of relationship between the count of Monte Cristo and Albert?

The Count of Monte Cristo is very affectionate towards Albert. He once saved his life. He treats him and his mother with kindness. The Countess’ words “the count is like a father to you” show the closeness in their relation. Albert loves and respects him. When he comes to know that the person responsible for his father’s disgrace is his own friend, he becomes pale and very still, showing shock. Though he challenges him for a duel, but when he comes to know that the Count of Monte Cristo’s action is due to past grievance, he apologizes and requests him to remain his friend.

Q: 6 What are the Count of Monte Cristo’s views about dueling?

In scene l, the Count of Monte Cristo expresses his views about dueling by saying these words. “If a man has insulted you, or struck a blow, then a duel may be a good way of dealing with him; but when a man has done you a deadly wrong, has subjected you to slow, profound, eternal torture, then you must treat him as he has treated you: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: that is the rule I follow”. In short, he believes that the punishment of a crime must be equal to the crime in kind and severity.

Q: 7 Briefly describe the role played by Morrel.

We are introduced to this character in scene ll of the play. Morrel is the friend of the Count of Monte Cristo. The Count of Monte Cristo summons him to his house in “Champ Elysees” to help him in making preparation for the duel that is to take place next day in the “Bois de Vincenness”. He requests him to be his second for theduel and prepare for next day. He also signs on the Count of Monte Cristo’s will as a witness at the end of scene ll.

Q: 8 Why did the Countess of Morcerf visit the Count of Monte Cristo’s house?

What was the outcome of her visit?

The Countess of Morcerf visited the Count of Monte Cristo’s house to request him to spare her son’s life. Her son, Albert, had challenged the Count of Monte Cristo for a duel to avenge the family honor, and the countess was fearful of her son’s life because the Count of Monte Cristo was known for his expertise in swordsmanship and marksmanship. If a duel took place, there would be no doubt in which the victor would be the Count of Monte Cristo. As a result of her visit, the Count of Monte Cristo promised to spare her son’s life. He gave her his words that Albert would walk victorious from the field, and it would be his blood that would stain the ground.

Duel is a mode of combat governed by strict conventions. It was very common in 17th and 18th century among the high ranks of society but was not supported by law. A duel normally starts in an insult or injury to a gentleman’s honor or reputation. The person challenged may apologize, and the apology, if accepted would end the matter. If the quarrel between the two parties could not settle, then a duel would be arranged.

Q:10 Define “seconds”.

Seconds were the persons appointed by the aggrieved and the challenged party to make preparation for a duel that includes selection of time and place of duel.

Q: 11 What legal document was prepared by the Count of Monte Cristo after the Countess’ visit and why was it prepared?

After the countess’ visit, the Count of Monte Cristo prepared his will. It was at the end of scene ll that he asked his friend Morrel and steward Bertuccio to sign as witness on the will after signing it himself. He prepared the will because he had promised the countess that he would spare the life of her son. Since the challenge had been accepted, he could not go back on his words; the duel had to take place and the only way left open to him was to fire into the air instead of Albert and let Albert shoot at him.

Q:12 What was fixed for the Bois de Vincennes?

(Describe the happenings).

A duel was fixed for the next morning. It was to take place between the Count of Monte Cristo and Albert. Albert had challenged him for a duel to take revenge from him for the disgrace of his father and family honor. The duel was to take place in the “Bois de Vincennes”, a forest near Paris.

Q: 13 Did Albert act according to his father’s expectation in scene lll of the play?

No, Albert did not act according to his father’s expectation. Albert’s father expected him to take avenge the family honor by having a duel with the Count of Monte Cristo. However, on meeting the Count of Monte Cristo in the “Bois de Vincennes”, Albert asked his forgiveness for challenging him for a duel and requested him to remain his friend. In the light of what his mother had told him the previous night, Albert thought it more proper to apologize to him instead of fighting with him.

Q:14 What did the Countess do after her return from the Count of Monte Cristo’s house?

When the Countess of Morcerf returned from the house of the Count of Monte Cristo she told her son what the Count had revealed to her. She told him that the Count of Monte Cristo was not evil but his own father was the one, responsible for some wrong deeds in the past. He wronged the Count of Monte Cristo; thus, making an enemy out of him. The disclosure about the past changed his mind, and he did not duel the next day.

Q: 15 “You have come back from the tomb and to the tomb you shall return.” When and by whom are these words uttered?

Name the person spoken to. The Count of Morcerf utters these words and the person addressed to is the Count of Monte Cristo. They occur at the closing of the play when Albert returns from Bois de Vincennes accompanied by the Count of Monte Cristo. The Count of Monte Cristo reveals his identity to the Count of Morcerf and evokes his anger. The Count of Morcerf believes that the Count of Monte Cristo died many years ago, but his sudden appearance shocks him, and he attacks him with the intention of killing him.

Q: 16 “When a man resolves to avenge himself, he should first of all tear out the heart from his breast.” Who is the speaker and what did he mean by the utterance?

The Count of Monte Cristo at the end of scene ll while signing his will uttered these words. However, Morrel and Burtuccio were there but it seems that the words were not addressed to any one of them; rather they expressed the Count of Monte Cristo’s state of mind. By the utterance, he meant that to carry out one’s revenge one must have no mercy for the enemy in one’s heart.

Q: 17 “When a man resolves to avenge himself, he should first of all tear out the heart from his breast.” What feature of the speaker’s character comes to light through these words?

The Count of Monte Cristo at the end of scene ll while signing his will uttered these words. He said the words after he had promised the countess to spare the life of her son. However, he planned to take revenge from the Count of Morcerf, but the countess’ entreaties reminded him of the person he was, a nobleman, a gentleman; so he promised the countess that the life of her son would be spared, and it would be another person’s blood that would stain the ground.

Q: 18 How was the Count of Monte Cristo avenged?

The Count of Monte Cristo was avenged in an unexpected manner. The revelation by the Count of Monte Cristo about his identity enraged the Count of Morcerf, and he tried to fire a shot at him in a cowardly manner i.e. without challenging him (as was the custom). His son and Beauchamp grabbed him to prevent him from the act. In the struggle, the pistol went off, killing the Count of Morcef. Thus, the Count of Monte Cristo was avenged.

Q: 19 Briefly describe the role played by Beauchamp.

We are introduced to this character in scene l of the play. Beauchamp is the friend of Albert. He informs Albert about the proceedings of the court, then about the person responsible for the disgrace of his family. When Albert comes to know the name of their enemy, he requests him to be his second for the duel. He goes to the Count of Monte Cristo’s house with Albert to challenge him for a duel. On the day of duel, he returns from the dueling place and informs the worried parents that Albert is fine.

Q: 20 Who disgraced the count of Morcerf and how?

Or

Who was an unknown enemy of the count of Morcerf and what do you know about his plan and action?

The count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes, was an unknown enemy who disgraced and destroyed the count of Morcerf. He made a perfect plan to take a revenge from his old enemy. The count of Monte Cristo wrote nameless letter to the newspaper, exposing the crime of the count of Morcerf. When an extra ordinary trial was conducted, he sent through a lady, the documentary proofs against the villain. In this way, the count of Morcerf was proved guilty of treason. He was conducted as a traitor to his homeland.

Q: 21 Did the count of Monte Cristo really follow his own principle, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for tooth”?

Once the count of Monte Cristo said to Albert that he always acted upon the principle, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for tooth”. We feel that he was quite justified in saying so, because he did the same for his enemy. The count of Morcerf had ruined his life through an intrigue. The count of Monte Cristo paid his enemy in the same coin. He made a similar plan against the count of Morcerf and ruined his life.

Q: 22 Do you think that the end of the play “The Count’s Revenge” is justified? Give reasons.

Yes, I think the end of the play is justified because the poetic justice is done. The wrongdoer is punished, and the good prevails. The Count of Morcerf presented as an evil character dies in the end of the play, whereas the Count of Monte Cristo who represents good, lives.