The Count of Monte Cristo · Chapter
L: The Morrel Family explained
Monte Cristo visits the Morrel family at their home in Rue Meslay, where he is warmly received by Maximilian Morrel, Julie Herbault, and Emmanuel Herbault.
What happens
Monte Cristo visits the Morrel family at their home in Rue Meslay, where he is warmly received by Maximilian Morrel, Julie Herbault, and Emmanuel Herbault. During the visit, Julie and Maximilian recount the story of their mysterious benefactor, 'Sinbad the Sailor,' who saved their father from ruin and provided Julie's dowry. Monte Cristo, deeply moved, conceals his identity as the benefactor, claiming to know a Lord Wilmore who performed similar acts. The chapter highlights the family's happiness, modest prosperity, and gratitude.
Themes in this chapter
Gratitude and Benevolence
The Morrel family's enduring gratitude toward their unknown benefactor and Monte Cristo's hidden acts of kindness underscore the theme of benevolence and the desire for recognition.
Identity and Transformation
Monte Cristo conceals his identity as 'Sinbad the Sailor,' maintaining his transformed persona while being emotionally affected by the family's gratitude.
Class and Social Mobility
The Morrel family's rise from near ruin to modest comfort through hard work and integrity illustrates social mobility and the value of honest labor.
Characters to notice
- Edmond Dantès
Visits the Morrel family as the Count of Monte Cristo, deeply moved by their gratitude and unaware of his role as their benefactor.
- Maximilian Morrel
Welcomes Monte Cristo warmly, recounts the story of the family's mysterious benefactor, and expresses deep gratitude.
- Julie Morrel
Now Madame Emmanuel Herbault, she tends her garden and shares the story of 'Sinbad the Sailor' with Monte Cristo, hoping to find him.
- Emmanuel Herbault
Julie's husband, a former merchant who built a modest fortune and now lives contentedly with his family.
- Penelon
The old sailor turned gardener, who once saw the mysterious Englishman in Trieste and recognized him as the family's benefactor.
- Cocles
The concierge who opens the gate for Monte Cristo but does not recognize him due to his dimming eyesight.
- Baptistin
Monte Cristo's servant, who announces his master's arrival to the Morrel family.
Key passages
“This letter was written by him the day that my father had taken a desperate resolution, and this diamond was given by the generous unknown to my sister as her dowry.”
Maximilian explains that the letter was written on the day his father considered suicide, and the diamond was a gift from their anonymous benefactor for his sister's dowry.
Highlights the family's debt to the mysterious benefactor.
“We have supplicated Heaven in vain to grant us this favor, but the whole affair has had a mysterious meaning that we cannot comprehend—we have been guided by an invisible hand—a hand as powerful as that of an enchanter.”
Maximilian expresses their fruitless prayers to meet their benefactor, feeling guided by an invisible, magical force.
Emphasizes the family's sense of wonder and mystery.
“Penelon, when he was at Trieste, saw on the quay an Englishman, who was on the point of embarking on board a yacht, and he recognized him as the person who called on my father the fifth of June, 1829, and who wrote me this letter on the fifth of September.”
Julie recounts that Penelon spotted the Englishman in Trieste, recognizing him as the visitor from June 1829 who later sent the letter.
Provides a clue to the benefactor's identity.
“He was an eccentric being, and did not believe in the existence of gratitude.”
Monte Cristo describes Lord Wilmore as an eccentric who doubted gratitude existed.
Monte Cristo uses this to deflect suspicion from himself.
