"The Count of Monte Cristo" Now Streaming On PBS

The first episode of "The Count of Monte Cristo" mini-series premiering on PBS on March 22nd, opens with The Count of Monte Cristo walking into a dusty old cathedral that is seemingly abandoned but for the lone priest in the confession box. The Count then walks into the confession box and states that, "I was robbed of 15 years of my life. The only woman I ever loved was taken from me. And now, I want revenge." Thus unfolds the first episode of Alexandre Dumas' classic morality tale of revenge and how, ultimately, revenge is of The Lord.

While Hollywood specializes in motion picture blockbusters, the British specialize in period dramas. And this forthcoming adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo" looks to be another installment in the British period drama canon. As The King's Attorney, portrayed by the Danish actor, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, is willing to release the wrongfully accused Edmond Dantes . . . at first. But, upon learning that the letter Edmond Dantes hands him was intended for his Napoleon supporting father, The King's Attorney's eyes widen as it dawns upon him that his career is on the line. A scene that is conveyed by Folsgaard in such an impacting manner that viewers can feel the dawning of his realization leap off of the screen.

Emond Dantes, is powerfully portrayed by the British actor, Sam Claflin. A former soccer player who turned to acting after an ankle injury, Claflin adeptly conveys both the masculinity and the innocence of Dantes. As he starts out in the story on the cusp of life. Dantes has just been named captain of the ship, and he is engaged to marry his Catalan sweetheart, Mercedes. All of which is eradicated literally overnight, however, as the collusion of his professional rival, Danglars, with his rival in love, Fernand (the cousin of Mercedes who feels it is his birthright to marry Mercedes), proves to be too skillful in getting Dantes wrongfully imprisoned for being a spy on behalf of Bonaparte. Leading to Dantes being sent to the Chateau d'If. A prison on an island in the sea from where no prisoners come out alive. With Sam Claflin conveying Dantes' sorrow in a powerfully impacting way as he trembles and sobs while placed in solitary confinement.

A French writer, Alexandre Dumas, drew from the police archives of Paris to write "The Count of Monte Cristo". As he uncovered a true-crime story in the archives of Paris wherein a man suffered false political imprisonment after being betrayed by a group of jealous friends. The man spent seven years behind bars until a change in government freed him. After which, the man hunted down the so-called "friends" who betrayed him and killed them all. Thankfully, Dumas, while inspired by the true-crime story, knew how to turn the story into a morality tale by drawing from his own family's history and Christian inspiration.

For in "The Count of Monte Cristo", Edmond Dantes, is a naïve sailor who knows nothing about the ways of the world until he meets the scholarly and wise Abbe Faria in prison. It is Faria who educates Dantes and much to his dismay, also leads him to realize through logic, how he ended up in such a place through no fault of his own. While Dantes is drawn to God throughout his imprisonment, he is also drawn to revenge against those who have wronged him so terribly. However, when he is finally able to seek his revenge against Danglars, Fernand, and The King's Attorney, Dantes does so in a sophisticated manner, not in the same way as the man in the police archives of Paris. Leading readers to root for Dantes as he brings about the downfall of those who have evilly succeeded at his expense.

The novel is replete with a strong undertone of support in favor of Napoleon. As in the novel Dumas states that, "Every one knows the history of the famous return from Elba, a return which, unexampled as it was in the past, will probably remain unimitated in the future." Alongside statements such as, "Napoleon is the Mahomet of the West to all those plebeian but highly ambitious people; he is not only a legislator and a master, he is a type, the personification of equality." Such overt support of Napoleon is likely inspired by Alexandre Dumas' own father who had an illustrious career in the army. With his father even serving for a time under Napoleon Bonaparte.

While it is not known if Alexandre Dumas was inspired by Jane Austen's writings, they were contemporaries for a time. And Dumas incorporates some of her insight into human character into "The Count of Monte Cristo". For Jane Austen champions people of "real understanding" in her novels. With these people possessing the values of gratitude, charity, esteem, being genuine, having principles, and good character. By contrast, Jane Austen disdains and exposes superficial charmers in her novels. People who are characterized by selfish ambition, prefer to advance themselves through manipulation and machinations rather than through skill and merit, and are extremely vain.

This insight into human character is reflected by Dumas in "The Count of Monte Cristo", as the trio who have conspired against Edmond Dantes, Danglars, Fernand, and The King's Attorney (Villefort), are all consumed by selfish ambition. From a worldly point of view, they end up triumphing through this ambition as they become extremely rich through their ill-gotten means and turn to politics as members of the Chamber of Deputies. Yet, their homes are not happy homes. Rather their homes are characterized by interpersonal ambitions, cruelty to animals, and poisonings.

The few happy homes that Edmond Dantes encounters once he morphs into "The Count of Monte Cristo" are the homes of those who actually tried to help him out while in prison. With the number one characteristic that these homes possess being gratitude. As Alexandre Dumas uses this to show his readers how Christ is the redeemer. For after Edmond Dantes becomes "The Count of Monte Cristo", he plays "the part of Providence in recompensing the good" before focusing on bringing about the merited downfall of Danglars, Fernand, and Villefort.

Elements from "The Count of Monte Cristo" were successfully used in the 1994 film, "The Shawshank Redemption". However, Alexandre Dumas' classic is set apart from all others as he emphasizes that, "There are times when God's justice tarries for a while and it appears to us that we are forgotten by Him, but the time always comes when we find it is not so . . ."

While "The Count of Monte Cristo" mini-series will be broadcast on television beginning on March 22nd. It is now available for streaming on the PBS website for those who have PBS Passport access. With PBS Passport access being easy to obtain on the PBS website with either a $60 one-time donation or minimum $5 monthly donation. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/the-count-of-monte-cristo/

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa Attorney, piano instructor, reporter, poet, vocalist, and widely published columnist.