Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” (post 8): Monte Cristo and the narrator are afraid to speak his original name, because he has multiple personality

On page 931 of this 1243-page novel, Monte Cristo, disguised as Abbé Busoni, speaking to a man who is bleeding to death, says, “ ‘I am not Abbé Busoni, or Lord Wilmore. Look more carefully; go back further; look into your earliest memories…I am…’ And his lips, barely parting, let fall a name spoken so low that the count himself seemed to fear the sound of it.”

Since the dying man was one of those who had known Edmond Dantès, and had known of his malicious, wrongful imprisonment, the reader must infer that the name whispered by Monte Cristo was “Edmond Dantès.”

Nevertheless, as I’ve discussed previously, the narrator continues to phrase the narrative as though the ongoing character is Monte Cristo. The narrator does not say that Edmond Dantès whispers his real name or fears the sound of it, but that “the count” whispers "a name" and “seemed to fear the sound of it.”

Since Monte Cristo is speaking to an obviously dying man (who does, in fact, die moments later), why does he fear the sound of the original name? Because Monte Cristo and Edmond Dantès are alternate personalities. And in multiple personality, saying a personality’s name is the surest way to bring that personality out and put him in control.

And Monte Cristo, like most alternate personalities, likes to remain in control. Moreover, his mission in life is to take revenge, which he is much more capable of doing than the original personality, Edmond Dantès. Therefore, until revenge is assured, “Edmond Dantès” must not be uttered, at least not in a way that would bring him back out, prematurely.

Or, in terms of the writing process, if the characters are the author's alternate personalities, Dumas does not want the narrator personality to write the name "Edmond Dantes" and bring that personality back to the forefront of Dumas' mind until his Monte Cristo personality has finished carrying out the plot's revenge scenario.

1. Alexandre Dumas. The Count of Monte Cristo [1845]. Translated by Robin Buss. London, Penguin Books, 1996.