Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
9/10/09
Honor in Monte Cristo Notes
How does Noirtier display honor as a theme in The Count of Monte Cristo?
·One epic moment displaying Noirtier’s deep sense of honor exhibited itself when the duel between General d’Epinay and the President. During their battle, the two men truly showed the proper etiquette required for an event of such magnitude. For example, when the General fell from exhaustion, the President “offered him his arm to assist him to rise” (Dumas 396). It would have been extremely dishonorable for Noirtier to stab his adversary while unable to defend himself. Certain small details like that display Noirtier’s remarkable level of honor and discipline.
·Political views were at the forefront of many peoples’ minds at the time and Noirtier was no exception. Having once been a follower of Napoleon, Noirtier’s pride encompassed him as he could not let his granddaughter marry a royalist with such conflicting political views as he. To prove how serious he was, Noirtier did not leave his money to Valentine, the person that loved him the most, just so her royalist fiancé, Franz, could not get his fortune. Noirtier took pleasure in any pain caused to Franz or any royalist: “‘You, Monsieur Noirtier? It was you who killed my father?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Noirtier, with a majestic look at the young man” (398).
·Being such a powerful and well-respected man earlier in his life, Noirtier would not let his many disabilities affect the way people treated him. He demanded the respect of anyone he came into contact with. His honor and pride fueled his desire to live as he would feel like less of a man if he gave up on life or let others walk all over him.