# The Departure for Belgium explained — The Count of Monte Cristo

> Chapter companion for The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

Following the scandal of Andrea Cavalcanti's arrest at the Danglars' salon, the household disperses in chaos. Eugénie Danglars, defiant and resolved to escape the constraints of high society, convinces her companion Louise d'Armilly to flee Paris with her. Disguising herself as a man and cutting her hair, Eugénie orchestrates their departure by post-chaise, heading first toward Fontainebleau before planning to change direction. The chapter ends with Danglars realizing he has lost his daughter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Transformation

Eugénie physically transforms herself by cutting her hair and donning male attire, symbolizing her rejection of societal expectations and her embrace of a new, independent identity.

### Class and Social Mobility

Eugénie's flight from the scandal-ridden Danglars household represents a rejection of the rigid social structures of the fashionable world in favor of a free, artistic life.

### Betrayal and Deception

The exposure of Andrea Cavalcanti as a convict and murderer reveals the deep deceptions underlying the Danglars' social standing, leading to the family's collapse.

## Character check-ins

### Eugénie Danglars

Eugénie orchestrates her escape from Paris after the scandal, cutting her hair and disguising herself as a man to flee with Louise d'Armilly.

### Louise d'Armilly

Louise assists Eugénie in the escape, having previously obtained a man's passport for her through Monte Cristo.

### Baron Danglars

Danglars remains closeted in his study making a statement to the police after the scandal, and by the end of the chapter he no longer has a daughter.

### Madame Danglars

Madame Danglars is terrified and remains in her boudoir following the exposure of Andrea Cavalcanti.

### Andrea Cavalcanti

Andrea is revealed as a murderer and escaped galley-slave, causing the scandal that precipitates Eugénie's flight.

## Key lines

> I hate this life of the fashionable world, always ordered, measured, ruled, like our music-paper. What I have always wished for, desired, and coveted, is the life of an artist, free and independent, relying only on my own resources, and accountable only to myself.

Eugénie expresses her disdain for the rigid, rule-bound existence of high society and her longing for the freedom and self-reliance of an artist's life.

_This speech reveals Eugénie's core motivation for escaping—her desire for autonomy and rejection of societal constraints._

> We are rich. With forty-five thousand francs we can live like princesses for two years, and comfortably for four; but before six months—you with your music, and I with my voice—we shall double our capital.

Eugénie calculates that their combined funds of forty-five thousand francs will support them for years, and that their artistic talents will soon increase their wealth.

_This shows Eugénie's practical planning and confidence in her and Louise's ability to sustain themselves independently._

> I am giving them the slip; this woman to whom we have given twenty louis may betray us for forty; we will soon alter our direction.

Eugénie tells Louise that she is deliberately misleading the laundress about their destination to avoid betrayal, and they will change course after leaving.

_This demonstrates Eugénie's cunning and strategic thinking in ensuring their escape remains undetected._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xcvii-the-departure-for-belgium
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters