In The Count of Monte Cristo, class and wealth serve as powerful forces that shape characters' destinies and relationships, while also highlighting the social inequalities of 19th-century French society.

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Social Hierarchy

  • The aristocracy and old money
  • The rising bourgeoisie
  • The working class and servants
  • Social mobility and its challenges

The Power of Wealth

The novel explores how wealth can:

  • Transform social status and identity
  • Influence justice and morality
  • Create and destroy relationships
  • Serve as both weapon and shield

Economic Themes

Through various characters and plot points, Dumas examines the role of money in society and its impact on human nature and relationships.