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Alexandre Dumas

             Alexandre Dumas is a French author who wrote during 1825-1850. Dumas grew up in a poor family and only excelled in penmanship at school. Because of this he was able to get a job at a noble's transcribing plays. (Grenier, 12) During this time Dumas began to write some of his own works. Two of his most popular works are The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Love is the predominant theme in The Count of Monte Cristo and honor is the predominant theme in The Three Musketeers, however both are filled with betrayal and revenge. Dumas believed that in life love and betrayal are the greatest emotions one can feel, to have one you must experience the other as well. "Only the man who has experienced extreme agony can experience true happiness" (The Count of Monte Cristo pg 304).
             When analyzing the themes of love and betrayal it is evident that honor and loyalty play a key part in both. To have true love is to honor your spouse and to remain loyal to them no matter what. In the matter of betrayal it is the opposite, the loyalty is broken and because of that the betrayer becomes a dishonorable person to the rest of society. When writing Dumas always keeps the sub-theme of honor in the background, subtle yet influential.
             In both The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers honor is a value that is observed throughout the story yet is always slightly beneath the surface. To the musketeers honor is the basis of life. They live their lives based on a code in which honor is most prevalent. The musketeers also believe in loyalty and respect. This can be observed in the dedication that they have to the king of France and to their duty to protect the common person from persecution. "All for one and one for all" is the musketeer's motto and they do exactly what it says. The musketeers exhibit these values in different ways depending on the musketeer or the situation. For example D"Artagnan is willing to duel to the death over his personal honor.


Essays Related to Alexandre Dumas

1. Hugo romanticism

... Richelieu as Vigny had, as a Romantic - the initial title was A duel under Richelieu. A reading of the play was held on 10 July in the presence of Alfred de Vigny, Alexander Dumas, Alfred de Musset, Honoré de Balzac, Sainte-Beuve, and other friends. Four days later it was admitted by Theatre-Franzaise. However, the censors considered the image of Louis XIII ... tangle of plots and high emotionalism. From the highly emotional plays of Sturm und Drang theatre, Romanticism began to spread it's way across Europe inspiring French philosophers and authors like Alexandre Dumas, Jean-Jaques Ro...

  • Word Count: 2960
  • Approx Pages: 12
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2. The Three Musketeers

Alexandre Dumas" novel "The Three Musketeers" remains extremely exciting and funny. This novel keeps the reader on the edge the entire time, wondering what will happen next. The ... amazement. The most important characters are the four best friends: D"Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. It has become apparent that D"Artagnan is the central character of the novel, Dumas has portrayed the reader that not only is D"Artagnan still a brave, noble, intelligent and ambitious young man. But is also very crafty and romantic. He is driven by love ... a brother, no matter what trouble one gets themsel...

  • Word Count: 1188
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

3. man in the iron mask

... in patience? These questions have plagued yet intrigued people for hundreds of years. Is there a key to unlock this mystery, or will it be unsolved forever (Dumas)? The legend of the Man in the Iron Mask all starts out with King Louis the XIII and his wife Anne of Austria. There marriage was an unhappy ... numerous people. Many may say that in between this time period is where the true King of France was born. The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas takes place in seventeenth century France. The title is very significant of the story because the center character is Phillipe who is ca...

  • Word Count: 798
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Three Musketeers

Outside reading assignment. Secrecy is an important part of the storytelling process. The author must know when to reveal something and when to let the suspense build. In Alexandre Dumas" Novel The Three Musketeers, there are many secrets kept from the characters and the reader. The three central characters take on assumed names, each for their own reasons, but only ... one Athos, has a secret and not to keep a reputation. In fact the only character Dumas tells us completely about is d"Artagnan the hero and only known life of the group. Perhaps the biggest mystery is the identity of Milady wh...

  • Word Count: 803
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  • Grade Level: High School

5. Ancestral Redemption in Literature

... a way, Hareton "redeems" the Earnshaw family by breaking the repetition of abuse, earning back Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights, and just being an all-around good person. In Alexandre Dumas's suspenseful book The Count of Monte Cristo, the children of Edmond Dantès's enemies manage to redeem the terrible actions of their fathers. While the story does revolve around Edmond ... ...

  • Word Count: 1505
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6. Revenge in Great Works of Literature

... ;I regret having helped you in your investigation and said what I did to you, because I have insinuated a feeling into your heart that was not previously there: the desire for revenge." (Alexandre Dumas) Once he escaped, he took the opportunity to find the treasure on Monte Cristo. This immense wealth allowed him to do anything he wanted, and he decided to carry out ... ...

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7. Supernatural In American Fiction And Soceity

... there [is] a smell of ripe cornfields about him."91 During the Roaring Twenties, the Harlem Renaissance produced eerie poetry and prose. In Gwendolyn Bennett's "Lines Written at the Grave of Alexandre Dumas," Bennett speaks of cemeteries as "places for departed souls [and] roving spirits."92 In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck tells the story of a migrant family traveling with the former ... ...

  • Word Count: 3126
  • Approx Pages: 13
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8. Kings To Me

... line delivery was awkward and she exhibited very little facial expression. She does not in any way bring this character to life. The story is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas. It takes a different direction than the book for a more Hollywood effect. There is so much information packed into a two hour time span that you crave more even after the movie ... ...

  • Word Count: 865
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  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a story about friendship, politics, and vengeance. The story takes place in 17th century France during the reign of Louis XIII. The main character, D'Artagnan, arrived in Paris, made close ... ...

  • Word Count: 952
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

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