The plot of the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas revolves around the life of the protagonist Edmond Dantes. It is set in France and Italy in the mid-nineteenth century. The novel explores the themes of friendship, love, betrayal and revenge. Dantes is to marry his fiancee Mercedes. But he is falsely accused of treason by his friends Mondego, Danglars and Villefort and is sent to prison. Dantes makes friends with a prisoner named Faria who educates him, and also helps him to escape and find a fortune. After his escape, Dantes appears in the guise of the elusive Count of Monte Cristo, and seeks revenge for his wrongful imprisonment. His pain and desire for revenge intensify when he finds out that Mercedes is married to Mondego.
The novel charts Dante's journey as an innocent man who is falsely accused and imprisoned. It illuminates the way in which unfortunate circumstances determine the character and motivations of an individual. The novel tells a moving story of a good man who seeks revenge for the wrong done to him. The novel highlights the complexity of love, and the fragility of friendships and the pain of betrayal.