This room was occupied by Dantès’ father. The news of the arrival of the _Pharaon_ had not yet reached the old man, who, mounted on a chair, was amusing himself by training with trembling hand the nasturtiums and sprays of clematis that clambered over the trellis at his window. Suddenly, he felt an arm thrown around his body, and a well-known voice behind him exclaimed, “Father—dear father!”

Question

This room was occupied by Dantès’ father. The news of the arrival of the _Pharaon_ had not yet reached the old man, who, mounted on a chair, was amusing himself by training with trembling hand the nasturtiums and sprays of clematis that clambered over the trellis at his window. Suddenly, he felt an arm thrown around his body, and a well-known voice behind him exclaimed, “Father—dear father!”

The old man uttered a cry, and turned round; then, seeing his son, he fell into his arms, pale and trembling.

“What ails you, my dearest father? Are you ill?” inquired the young man, much alarmed.

“No, no, my dear Edmond—my boy—my son!—no; but I did not expect you; and joy, the surprise of seeing you so suddenly—Ah, I feel as if I were going to die.”

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Question
Use the story excerpt to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, explain how Dantès contributes to the development of a theme. Provide samples from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

In this excerpt, Dantès contributes to the development of a theme of love and family connection. When he surprises his father by returning home, his father is overwhelmed with joy and says he feels like he is going to die. This demonstrates the strong bond and deep love between the two characters. The use of the word "dear" multiple times emphasizes the affection they have for each other. Dantès' unexpected return highlights the theme that the love of family can bring immense happiness and emotional fulfillment.