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Foreshadowing
Chapter 33 – Roman Bandits
Explanation and Analysis—Vampa's Tale:
In Chapter 33, the reader discovers a story within a story—the tale of a legendary bandit named Luigi Vampa, as told by Signor Pastrini:
You could not have a better informant than I, Excellency, if you want to have the full story, because I knew Luigi Vampa as a young child. One day when I myself fell into his hands while traveling from Ferentino to Alatri, he remembered our earlier acquaintance, luckily for me. He let me go, not only without making me pay a ransom, but even making me a present of a very fine watch, and telling me his life story.
[...]
The hotelier sat down, after bowing respectfully to his future listeners, with the intention of letting them know that he was ready to give them any information about Luigi Vampa that they might require.
Related Themes:
Chapter 44 – The Vendetta
Explanation and Analysis—Bertuccio's Tale:
In Chapter 44, at the Count's bidding, Bertuccio begins a tale that unfolds into a full narrative of its own—a frame story, within the outer novel, in which a new narrator takes over. Bertuccio introduces this story as a flashback to his past years ago:
Unlock with LitCharts A+‘Where would Monsieur le Comte like me to begin?’ Bertuccio asked.
‘Wherever you wish,’ Monte Cristo replied, ‘because I know nothing.’
‘But I thought that Abbé Busoni had told Your Excellency …’
‘Yes, a few facts, perhaps, but that was seven or eight years ago and I have forgotten.’
‘So, not wishing to bore Your Excellency, I can safely …’
‘Come on, Monsieur Bertuccio, come: you will be my evening newspaper.’
‘It all goes back to 1815.’
‘Ah!’ Monte Cristo exclaimed. ‘A long time ago, 1815!’
Chapter 77 – Haydee
Explanation and Analysis—Haydée's Story:
In Chapter 77, Haydée recounts her life story. Yet again, Dumas uses both the flashback and the frame story as a way to envelop the reader in a secondary tale:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Albert turned to Haydée. ‘At what age did the signora leave Greece?’ he asked.
‘At the age of five,’ Haydée replied.
‘And do you recollect your homeland?’ Albert asked.
‘When I close my eyes, I can again see everything that I used to see. There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body’s sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers for ever.’
‘What is your earliest memory?’
Related Themes:
