Monte Cristo Foreshadowing

966 Words2 Pages

Foreshadowing is when the author warns or indicates the reader a future event may happen, in order to build a subtle plot twist in the story. In The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, the author uses foreshadowing in order to build suspension and reveal important details in the book. Throughout the novel, the author uses foreshadowing when Monte Cristo meets Mercedes for the “first” time, Valentines marriage to Franz, and when Monte Cristo gives Madame Villefort the poison. When Monte Cristo saves Alberts life, he invites Monte Cristo over where he will later meet Mercedes, Albert's’ mother, for the “first” time. Later, Albert invites Monte Cristo to see his bachelor quarters, where he is attracted to a portrait of a woman, Mercedes. …show more content…

After Monte Cristo makes a commitment to Madame de Villefort he remains, “ faithful to his promise, he sends the prescription (poison) Mme de Villefort had requested” ( Dumas 302). Shortly after Monte Cristo and Madame de Villefort finish their discussion about the poison and how it is very harmful in large doses, characters start to die. They do not die from natural causes as the doctor begins to think, but they are murdered. As D’Avrigny is interacting with Nortier, he asks about Barrois death. He wants to know, “ Do you think the poison was intended for him?” “No” “Now do you think the same hand that struck Barrois in mistake for someone else has to-day struck Valentine?” Yes” ( Dumas 521). This quote not only foreshadows that the assassin was Madame de Villefort, but that the poison was meant for him, Nortier. Madame de Villefort wants Valentine dead and out of the picture, if Valentine is dead, then Edward, Madame de Villefort's blood son, will get all the inheritance from Noriter. This is all the Madame de Villefort is worried about. On the other hand, Villefort wants Valentine to marry Franz and if she doesn’t marry Franz, she will get the inheritance. The marriage is out of the picture, so the only left for Madame de Villefort to do is kill Valentine. Which she attempts to do, and she almost succeeds. Nortier ruined her plans but having Valentine build up a tolerance to the venom. To sum it all up,Madame de Villefort is the assassin that has been killing everyone in their household by the toxin Monte Cristo provided her

Open Document