1. How does it make you feel to revisit the place (and, by extension, the time) of the opening scenes in Marseille?

2. Now that we’ve come full circle with the return to Marseille… has Dantès changed along his journey from confident, young sailor to self-perceived instrument of divine will? Has Mercédès changed along her journey from spirited, independent woman to self-blaming widow?

3. Once again, hearing “Edmond” pronounced feels so raw, powerful, and intimate (I don’t know that I’ve ever come across another work in which the mere utterance of a name is so charged with emotion); as she looks out at the ocean, Mercédès—in spite of herself—calls out Dantès’ name repeatedly, as if the waves are bearing him ceaselessly back to her shore… was anyone else reminded of the final sentence of The Great Gatsby?

Final sentence of chapter:

“‘Edmond, Edmond, Edmond!’”

previous chapter discussion

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