Book Club Day: The Count of Monte Cristo

Discussion Questions

Hey guys,

I’m trying out new features and tools to keep us informed and updated on the latest activities of this awesome group.

Here’s the list of questions for tonight’s chat.

Meeting link here. See you there at 7 PM!

1. What’s your 1-5 star rating?

2. What did you like/dislike about the book? 

3. What other books did this remind you of? 

4. Which characters in the book did you like/dislike and why? 

5. Any notable quotes you can share?

6. The central issue in The Count of Monte Cristo is the question of revenge. In the case of this book, is Dantes' quest for vengeance morally just? Can vengeance ever stand in for justice?

7. Does the Count succeed in taking his revenge? Is he happy at the end of the novel? When does he decide to stop taking revenge on his enemies, and why does he do that?

8. Discuss Villefort's decision to imprison Dantes. He believes Dantes has been unfairly accused, but at the same time he fears for his own father's life.

9. How did the experience of living in prison affect the Count?

10. Talk about the role that the Abbe Faria plays in Dante's development. Why does Dantes consider him a second father?

11. Talk about Dantes' profound alienation when he escapes from prison and his gradual movement back into reconciliation with humanity. How does that development take place: what and the plot benchmarks who are characters who help him regain his humanity.

12. Why does Dantes treat Caderrouse more lightly than he does Danglars and Mondego?

13. Do you ever disagree with what the Count does?

14. As he takes his leave from Maximillian, Dantes claims that "there is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more.” What does that statement mean—in the context of the story and in real life—and how does it reverberate throughout the novel?

15. What's the deal with The Count and women? He freely admits that Haydée is his slave, and he claims to have seraglios (harems) all over the world. Does this affect our perception of him?

16. Valentine de Villefort is pretty much the perfect daughter and fiancée. She loves her family, especially her grandfather, and Maximilian Morrel; she would do anything for them. Should we applaud her behaviour? How does her behaviour compare to that of Eugénie Danglars's? How are these two women different or similar?

17. What truths do Julie and Emmanuel reveal to Dantes? What does he learn from them?

18. How is the Count at the end of the novel similar or different from Edmond Dantès at the beginning of the novel?

19. A London newspaper calls you and asks you to write chapters 118 through 130 of The Count of Monte Cristo. What would happen next in your extended ending?

20. You are a big Hollywood filmmaker, and your mission is to create a new film version of The Count of Monte Cristo. However, the film has to be no longer than two hours long. What would you cut out of the story and what would you keep in order to tell your version of The Count?

21. Who are the happiest characters at the end of this novel? Why are they happy?

22. Is "family" an important concept in The Count of Monte Cristo?

23. Should the Count and Mercédès have tried to renew their love at the end of the novel?

24. Do you feel hopeful upon reading the last words of this story? 

25. What other books by Dumas have you read? How did they compare to this book? 

26. What feelings did this book evoke for you? 

27. What did you think of the book’s length? What would you cut?

28. What songs does it make you think of?

29. If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be? 

30. Which character in the book would you most like to meet? 

31. Which places in the book would you most like to visit? 

32. What do you think of the book’s title? What other title might you choose? 

33. What do you think of the book’s cover? How well does it convey what the book is about? Which cover do you like best? 

34. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he or she trying to get across? 

35. How original and unique was this book? 

36. If you could hear this same story from another person’s point of view, who would you choose? 

37. Did the story seem realistic? 

38. How well do you think the author built the world in the book? 

39. Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of anyone? 

40. Name one thing you will always remember from the book.

(Questions by LitLovers and shmoop.com, photo by Barnes & Noble)