1a) On one end of the spectrum, Dantès bears his father’s full name; on the other end, Villefort changed his name to escape his father’s ill repute. Are names destiny in this world or can individuals separate themselves from their parentage?

1b) What do the names Dantès, Villefort, Mercédès, and Renée suggest about these characters?

2) Does Villefort care more about Renée’s opinion of him or about her dowry?

3) Does Dantès owe greater loyalty to his captain or to his country?

4) Does Villefort’s decision to burn the letter give Dantès any potential leverage over him?

Final sentence of chapter:

“After making sure that the prisoner was no longer in the antechamber, the deputy prosecutor also went out and began to make his way briskly towards his fiancée’s house.”

previous chapter discussion