Aubrey holds a Ph.D. in English and has published many articles on nineteenth-century literature. In this essay Aubrey discusses The Count of Monte Cristo in the context of its literary allusions to Byron and Shakespeare, with reference to some of the philosophical implications of Monte Cristo's beliefs about divine justice.

The Count of Monte Cristo vicariously satisfies the fantasies of everyone who has ever dreamed of winning the lottery or who has idly plotted revenge against their enemies, knowing full well they will never act on their darkest desires. Monte Cristo is like a nineteenth century Superman. His miraculous, Houdini-like escape from prison, when he manages to escape drowning even though a cannon ball is tied to his feet, sets the tone for what follows. Everything goes right for the formidable Count, who seems like a lord in charge of his own destiny and that of...