The Carnival at Rome — Masked Crowds Flood the Piazza del Popolo (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 36 – Part 2)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Carnival overtakes the Piazza del Popolo, replacing the memory of the scaffold with masks, movement, and relentless noise. The Count insists that the scaffold reveals true character in death, even as he urges Franz and Albert to join the festivities. Dressed in disguise, they enter a surge of carriages and costumed revelers—clowns, harlequins, and nobles alike—filling the streets with confetti, flowers, and laughter. The chaos blurs what they have just witnessed, pulling them into the rhythm of celebration. Grief gives way to motion, as the crowd absorbs them into its fever.   New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://countdownofmontecristo.com Want to talk theories, themes, or betrayals? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm Support the project on Patreon and receive full-length, story-only audio after each chapter: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3vyewhvQugX5M3oREl57A   The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.