Instruction:
What is the plot of The Count of Monte Cristo?

Response:
In Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," the main character Edmund Dantes is framed and wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit, by his lover's cousin who secretly wants to marry Edmund's lover. Edmund is sentenced to a prison dungeon where he meets an abby that reveals a hidden treasure should Edmund ever escape. Edmund spends years plotting his escape, retrieval of the treasure, and his revenge on all those who conspired against him. He disguises himself as a Count, then one by one exacts his revenge by influencing his rivals to behave in a manner that will lead to each of their downfalls. While he doesn't directly cause harm to any of his rivals, they all suffer the consequences of their own actions and Edmund comes out victorious.