Shakespeare’s Influence on "The Count of Monte Cristo"

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Alexandre Dumas had many influences. One of Dumas’ most notable books, The Count of Monte Cristo , for instance had many influences. One of Dumas greatest influences in his writing is Shakespeare. Dumas had been a fan of Shakespearean writing, and it shows in his style and ideas. Being influential, Dumas used some of Shakespeare’s ideas in his own stories.

The most obvious influential idea Dumas used, was the use of a sleeping potion. The idea of two lovers being reunited through the use of a sleeping potion closely resembled the theme used in Romeo and Juliet . In both novels, the potion is used to reunite lovers, but in Romeo and Juliet , both lovers take their own life when they think the other is dead. Unlike Romeo and Juliet , in The Count of Monte Cristo , the lovers are reunited by means of the potion, and both live to be thankful for their guardian, the Count. Both novels use the same idea, but in totally different and exceptional ways. One book takes the very idea that made the other a tragedy, and uses it to make another book end on an ever happy note.

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