Reading the Chunksters discussion

I just finished chapter 30 while sitting on my deck in about 83 degree weather. The day was fairly cloudy so it seemed cool.

One of the quotes that seemed to be saying something important but not clearly was,

“Morrel attributed Penelon's embarrassment to the elegance of his attire; it was evident the good fellow had not gone to such an expense on his own account;”

This might mean that someone paid Penelon to do something wrong—maybe damage the Pharaon.

And of course, at the end of chapter 30,

“Farewell to all the feelings that expand the heart! I have been heaven's substitute to recompense the good — now the god of vengeance yields to me his power to punish the wicked!"

Dantes begins his vengeance.

I'm on Chapter 70 something. I don't have any good quotes at hand but will keep a lookout when I pick up the book again, hopefully tomorrow.

I will say that the book really bogged down for me starting with Chapter 31 and then on and off again for many chapters. That's when I put it down in previous attempts. But it has really picked up for me since then.

So I think if you plow through, you'll find it worthwhile. A lot of what happens in those chapters have bearing on the later action. I'm glad I have.

I am running really behind but plan to catch up in the next day or two. Sorry! I was really struck by the conversation the Count has with Franz at the public execution. I believe we are given a glimpse of the Count's philosophy on vengeance, and probably, his future plans. He asks Franz, who is visibly affected by the public spectacle in the street, about his thoughts on the equality of consequences.

"But are there not millions of sufferings which can rend the entrails of a man without society taking the slightest heed of them or providing even the inadequate means of reparation that we spoke of just now? Are there not crimes for which impalement a la turque, or Persian burial alive, or the whips of the Iraqis would be too mild a torment, but which society in its indifference leaves unpunished?" (384).

When Franz offers the idea of dueling as the answer to this, the Count continues: "A man has stolen your mistress, a man has seduced your wife, a man has dishonored your daughter. He has taken an entire life, a life that had the right to expect from God the share of happiness that He promises to every human being in creating us, and turned it into a mere existence of pain, misery and infamy; and you consider yourself revenged because you have run this man through with your sword or put a bullet in his head, after he has turned your mind to delirium and your heart to despair? . . . in return for a slow, deep, infinite, eternal pain, I should return as nearly as possible a pain equivalent to the one inflicted on me. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, as they say in the East . . . " (385). The Count is laying out his plans to the unknowing Franz, who has no idea that these same plans doubtless include his dear friend. I'm very interested to see what the Count will consider as an eye for an eye!

Peg wrote: "I just finished chapter 30 while sitting on my deck in about 83 degree weather. The day was fairly cloudy so it seemed cool.

One of the quotes that seemed to be saying something important but not ..."

I thought Penelon was embarrassed because he had taken his salary from Morrel - even though Penelon didn't need it at all. (and Morrel did).

I think there was a brief mention that Penolon had "some money of his own,"