# Abbé Faria — The Count of Monte Cristo character guide > Abbé Faria in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Faria, the Abbé Faria **First appearance:** 0015-xvi-a-learned-italian ## Snapshot The imprisoned scholar who tunnels into Dantès's cell, teaches him languages and science, and dies pointing him toward a treasure. ## Who they are Once a political conspirator, now the Château d'If's most dangerous mind, Faria has spent years digging a passage that ends in the wrong cell — and turns the error into a friendship that remakes Edmond. He gives the young sailor what prison otherwise destroys: learning, patience, and a map to the Spada fortune hidden on Monte Cristo. His death is the hinge of the novel — the moment Dantès stops being a prisoner and starts becoming an instrument of Providence. ## Relationships ### [Edmond Dantès](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters/edmond_dantes) _friendship_ Abbé Faria becomes Dantès' mentor and father figure in prison, educating him and revealing the treasure that transforms his life. ### [Edmond Dantès](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters/edmond_dantes) _friendship_ Abbé Faria becomes Dantès' mentor and father figure in prison, educating him and revealing the treasure that transforms his life. ### [Edmond Dantès](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters/edmond_dantes) _friendship_ Abbé Faria becomes Dantès' mentor and father figure in prison, educating him and revealing the treasure that transforms his life. ## In the story ### [VIII: The Château d’If](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/viii-the-ch-teau-d-if) Referenced by the jailer as a former inmate who went mad after offering a million francs for freedom; foreshadows Dantès' own potential fate. ### [XIV: The Two Prisoners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xiv-the-two-prisoners) The mad prisoner in the adjacent dungeon, known for his delusion of possessing a vast treasure. He has been imprisoned since 1811 and is described as amusingly mad. ### [Number 34 and Number 27](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xv-number-34-and-number-27) The mysterious prisoner in cell 27 who speaks to Dantès from the other side of the wall; reveals he has been imprisoned since 1811. ### [A Learned Italian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xvi-a-learned-italian) The learned Italian prisoner who dug a tunnel to Dantès' cell; reveals his failed escape, his political dreams for Italy, and his resigned acceptance of his fate. ### [XVII: The Abbé’s Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xvii-the-abb-s-chamber) Faria shows Dantès his writings and tools, reveals Villefort's parentage, and begins Dantès' education. ### [The Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xviii-the-treasure) Faria, recovering from a seizure, reveals the secret of the Monte Cristo treasure to Dantès, showing him the reconstructed will of Cardinal Spada and bequeathing half the fortune to him. ### [XIX: The Third Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xix-the-third-attack) Faria suffers a third catalepsy attack, gives final instructions about the Monte Cristo treasure, and dies. His body is taken away by the jailers. ### [The Cemetery of the Château d’If](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xx-the-cemetery-of-the-ch-teau-d-if) Has died; his corpse is used by Dantès to fake his own death and escape the Château d'If. ### [The Island of Tiboulen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xxi-the-island-of-tiboulen) Faria's earlier advice about maintaining strength for escape echoes in Dantès' mind as he swims. ### [The Smugglers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xxii-the-smugglers) Mentioned as Dantès' former tutor in prison; Dantès now becomes a teacher to Jacopo, echoing Faria's role. ### [The Island of Monte Cristo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xxiii-the-island-of-monte-cristo) Referenced as the wise mentor whose revelation of the treasure motivates Dantès' actions. ### [The Secret Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xxiv-the-secret-cave) Though deceased, Faria's teachings and the map he provided lead Dantès directly to the treasure, underscoring his role as Dantès' mentor. ### [The Prison Register](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xxviii-the-prison-register) Mentioned as the crazy abbé who died in the Château d'If, having dug a tunnel to Dantès' cell. ### [CXIII: The Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/cxiii-the-past) Faria's manuscript and memory serve as a guiding light for Monte Cristo, helping him resolve his doubts. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters/abbe_faria - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters