Maximilien Morrel Character Analysis in The Count of Monte Cristo

Old Morrel’s only son, Maximilien makes a career as a soldier, falls in love with Valentine de Villefort, and befriends the Count of Monte Cristo. Young Morrel is a man of great bravery and commitment: he vows, for example, to live with Valentine, even if it means giving up his career as a soldier and posing as a farmer, which he does on the semi-abandoned plot next to the Villefort’s home. When the Count fakes Valentine’s death so that Valentine might be saved from Mme de Villefort’s cruel poisonings, young Morrel believes that his life is no longer worth living. But the Count asks him to persevere, eventually revealing to young Morrel that Valentine has been safely hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. The Count later bequeaths his fortune to the young couple.

Maximilien Morrel Quotes in The Count of Monte Cristo

The The Count of Monte Cristo quotes below are all either spoken by Maximilien Morrel or refer to Maximilien Morrel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Justice, Revenge, and God’s Will Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin edition of The Count of Monte Cristo published in 2003.

You see, the angel for whom you longed has left this earth. She no longer needs the adoration of men – she, who, at this moment, is adoring the Lord. So say your farewells, Monsieur, to these sad remains that she has left behind among us.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 1099

Explanation and Analysis:

Yes, he is gone. Farewell, my friend! Farewell, my sister!

Who knows if we shall ever see them again?

My dearest ... has the Count not just told us that all human wisdom was contained in these two words – ‘wait’ and ‘hope’?

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 1243

Explanation and Analysis:

Maximilien Morrel Character Timeline in The Count of Monte Cristo

The timeline below shows where the character Maximilien Morrel appears in The Count of Monte Cristo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Love, Devotion, and Redemption Theme Icon

...not be able to pay the debts drawn up in his name. Julie writes to Maximilien, her brother who is serving in the army, to tell him to return home, since... (full context)

Maximilien rushes home, arriving just before the fifth of September. The family is terrified about their... (full context)

Changes of Identity and Station Theme Icon

As Julie and Emmanuel go off to see after this letter, Maximilien goes into his father’s study, where he hears from his father that, when the bills... (full context)

...Debray, a diplomat; M. Beauchamp, a journalist; M. Chateau-Renaud, a soldier; and M. Morrel, called Maximilien, who once saved Chateau-Renaud’s life in a battle with the Turks. It is revealed, during... (full context)

...refers to Franz’s story about the magical cave on Monte Cristo, an island about which M. Morrel claims to have heard. Albert also mentions that Countess G, among others, compares the Count... (full context)

The Count recognizes M. Morrel but betrays only the slightest hint of blushing at the young man’s name, and Morrel... (full context)

...and French, claiming that it is his banking concern in Rome, and at this name M. Morrel starts, as he of course recognizes it as the firm that saved his father’s life... (full context)

...if still mysterious, devotion, and then the Count takes his leave for a visit to Maximilien Morrel, and Julie and Emmanuel. (full context)

...pays a visit to the small but loving home of Emmanuel and Julie, and of Maximilien, who is staying with them while he’s posted in Paris for the military. The Count... (full context)

Julie and Maximilien mention the agent from Thomson and French—the man who left the bag of money in... (full context)

The chapter begins with Maximilien Morrel, dressed as a gardener, paying court to Valentine de Villefort over the garden wall... (full context)

...conversation, Valentine wonders aloud if there isn’t some ancient hatred between their families, for when Maximilien’s name once came up in the Villefort home, her father was deeply angered at the... (full context)

Maximilien returns to the wall by the alfalfa field to speak to Valentine, who has been... (full context)

...Edouard if, for example, Valentine were to enter a convent, as she once considered doing. Maximilien wonders aloud if perhaps “a friend” he has recently made, the Count of Monte Cristo,... (full context)

Valentine comes in, fresh from her conversation with Maximilien, and Villefort and Heloise leave the room. Valentine realizes that Noirtier is deeply upset at... (full context)

...Saint Meran’s death. In a swoon, Valentine goes outside into the garden, where she hears Maximilien Morrel behind his garden wall in the alfalfa field. (full context)

...Franz as soon as he enters Paris, since it is the wish of her grandmother. Maximilien replies that Franz has just that day arrived in Paris, and so the contract will... (full context)

At this, however, Valentine says that she will in fact elope with Maximilien—that she cannot be responsible for his death, and that she is struck by his honor.... (full context)

The next night, Maximilien waits outside the wall until 9:30 and then realizes that something must have gone wrong—he... (full context)

...that everything in his family is falling apart. At this, he goes back inside and Maximilien, seizing his opportunity, climbs into the house and finds Valentine kneeling, praying, by the bed... (full context)

The pair make their case to Noirtier, and then Maximilien asks to speak with him alone. Morrel asks what he can do—whether he should elope... (full context)

...and Mme de Saint Meran commences on a gloomy day in Paris. At the funeral Maximilien is introduced, via Morcerf and their other friends, to Franz. Franz has just returned to... (full context)

...he will apologize to Albert and issue a full retraction. Albert leaves impatiently, and spots Maximilien on the street, walking very happily along. (full context)

Still in a good mood, Maximilien walks to the Villefort home, where he is scheduled to meet with Valentine (who is... (full context)

...declares that they will meet the next morning before 10 am. The Count, sitting with Maximilien in the box, says that it is all a matter of “perfect indifference” to him,... (full context)

...will, leaving large amounts of land to Haydee and his money at Monte Cristo to Maximilien Morrel. He then rides with Morrel to the dueling spot, where he meets Debray, Beauchamp,... (full context)

Maximilien Morrel, fresh from the aborted duel, goes to visit Valentine at the Villefort home, where... (full context)

Valentine has been feeling faint and unwell, and she tells Maximilien that Noirtier has prescribed to her the same potion that he drinks in large quantities,... (full context)

In parallel, Maximilien runs to the house of the Count, begging him for help, since there is a... (full context)

...to fear, that he has been protecting her in the home for the sake of Maximilien Morrel. (full context)

...this, and the Count says he will protect her because she means the world to Maximilien, and because the Count adores Morrel and Valentine as if they were his children. Although... (full context)

...wake Valentine, Villefort calls for the doctor, who proclaims that Valentine is dead just as Maximilien arrives, worried about Valentine (although he has been reassured by the Count that she will... (full context)

Maximilien flies into a hysterical rage on hearing the news that his intended, Valentine, is dead.... (full context)

Maximilien tells Villefort that he must find and prosecute the murderer to the fullest extent of... (full context)

The Count heads to Pere Lachaise where the funeral is taking place, and finds Maximilien off to the side of the funeral ceremony itself, overcome with grief. The Count then... (full context)

Although Maximilien is unwilling to hear it, the Count begs him to wait one more month for... (full context)

...has done too much in the name of vengeance, and he goes off to collect Maximilien Morrel and begin the flight from Paris, saying that they will “save” Villefort’s other children... (full context)

The Count picks up Maximilien, saying goodbye to Julie and Emmanuel, who thank the Count once again for his service... (full context)

...on a ship to Africa, where he will begin his career as a soldier. When Maximilien goes off to pray at his father’s grave, the Count makes his way to his... (full context)

Maximilien Morrel meets the Count on the island of Monte Cristo, where they had promised to... (full context)

Maximilien then wakes up, however, and realizes that Valentine is real—she did not die at all,... (full context)

...he is still a man capable of love. The novel ends with a scene of Maximilien and Valentine, to be wed, heading toward the mainland of France to start their lives... (full context)