Since I'm still on a Monte-Cristo high and since I obviously like the younger generation more than the rest, a quick thing about Albert.
He's in basically every adaptation, which I approve bc I'm a huge fan of him, but he isn't nearly as cool in them as the book. Never.
There are a few scenes that HAVE to be done right to do him justice imo, and they aren't adapted directly, often bc of big plot changes.
1. Him just sleeping through the night before his probable execution by Vampa, making jokes about bravery and saluting Vampa as he leaves. He is a Funnyguy (tm), very brave (Vampa is speechless at his nerve) and pretty foolish (Franz probably regretted saving him, poor guy)
2. When Haydée tells him her story. Monte-Cristo HAS to be involved for it to hit Albert later that he manipulated him from the start. + explains why he gets angry as soon as he sees "a guy named Fernand" accused of betraying Ali Pacha. HE has connected the dots and is in denial but feels as though everyone else can guess too
3. THE DUEL (shout out to the tv show for including it!). It HAS to happen and he HAS to apologize.
One, because it's what cements that Mercédès didn't just go "thx for dying instead of my son" but had a plan, and trusted Albert to do the right thing.
Two, because it's a callback to his discussion with the count and the resolution to the fact that the man manipulated him for so long
And finally, because in this novel where the protagonist’s character development happens through suffering and then a messed up revenge plot, Albert is the one character whose progression is more like a Bildungsroman. He starts out naive (if brave), and is confronted with two mentors (Edmond, whom he immediately appreciates and admires, and Fernand, whom he respects and loves as his father and a man who deserves his station). The mentors are double, because they also both serve as learning experiences and both betray him in a way. He finishes the book a suddenly more mature young man, who has shown he will do the right thing even when it means letting go of his pride, and who will be responsible and work to make his own name.
Edmond goes off into the sunset with Haydée, his struggles over with and ready to just live the rest of his life. Albert goes off to sea and it's his starting point now that he has, in a way, become an adult.
TLDR : I love Albert and no adaptation manages to entirely do him justice despite him being in basically every one of them (rare thing with this book)
dededos
2087
annaxmalina
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
pixelskylines
jacobvanloon
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