"You must have a very innocent heart not to have guessed it immediately" (Dumas, 56). In the Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas highlights the character's loss of blissful innocence. Through the course of the story, Edmond Dantes, Mercedes, and Albert become more hardened and less childish. This pattern is universal, but the following examples are some of the extremes. The most visible and arguably important loss of innocence in the story is that of Edmond Dantes, who literally gains a new identity after his imprisonment. "...if you imagine all this, you still won't have any idea of what I'm losing by losing my life at this time" (379). This quote came from near the end of the story, when the Count was very close to exacting his revenge on all who had destroyed him. In his mission to ruin his enemies's lives, he gained the mindset that he was sanctioned by God to continue by what means he thought necessary. This shows how self infatuated and egotistical he had become. This was an incredibly sharp contrast to the beginning of the story, where his personality was cheerful and bright. While Dantes learned the trades of malice and spite, his fiance Mercedes suffered outside waiting for him. …show more content…
"'...but I've seen the man I loved ready to become the murderer of my son'"(378). Mercedes didn't have to spend fourteen year imprisoned, but she did have her future husband taken from her on her wedding day. She lived unsatisfied with a man she didn't love. Mercedes was forced to grow up, and she had to do so quickly and all alone. This quote specifically comes from the night before Albert and the Count's duel, where she barges into the Count's room begging for his surrender. It's hard to image Mercedes forced into this situation, when earlier she and Edmond were so happy. By coming to the Count, she was able to save her son, and Albert was able to spare the