How does Dumas develop the theme that true love is more important than custom?
(The Count of Monte Cristo)

A) by having Fernand profess his love and cite the Catalans' sacred law
B) by showing Mercedes reject Fernand's proclamations of love in favor of Dantes
C) by the fact that Mercedes points out that intermarrying is custom and not law
D) by explaining the Catalans' custom of intermarrying among the Catalans

In Alexander Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo", the themes of love against custom or tradition seems to be the main issue. Mercedes and Dantes are in love while Fernand is also in a one-sided love with Mercedes.

In Chapter 3 of the novel titled "The Catalans", the narrator tells of how this small village came into being. He also points out that the people of this small community "preserve their original customs and the costume of their mother–country" by "intermarrying" within themselves. Ferdnand loves his cousin Mercedes who in turn is in love with Dantes, a sailor from another country and a 'foreigner/ outsider'. But, Dumas developed the theme of true love being more important than custom is seen when Mercedes rejects Fernand's offer of marriage and instead waits for the 'outsider' Dantes.