Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 115: The Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained
Valmont writes to Merteuil from a distance, defending his recent exploits and outlining his plans.
What happens
Valmont writes to Merteuil from a distance, defending his recent exploits and outlining his plans. He boasts of his seduction of Cecilia Volanges and his ongoing conquest of Madame de Tourvel, whom he intends to abandon after achieving total triumph. He criticizes Merteuil's interest in Danceny, offering himself instead, and reveals he has been dictating Cecilia's letters to Danceny to further his own schemes.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont details his calculated seduction of Cecilia and Tourvel, and his manipulation of Danceny through dictated letters.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont presents himself as a friend and confidant to Danceny while secretly being his rival and seducing his beloved.
Gender and Power Dynamics
Valmont asserts dominance over both women and men, controlling Cecilia's letters and dismissing Merteuil's choices.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Author of the letter; boasts of his seductions and plans to abandon Tourvel.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Recipient; Valmont criticizes her interest in Danceny and offers himself instead.
- Cecilia Volanges
Valmont describes seducing her and dictating her letters to Danceny.
- Madame de Tourvel
Valmont boasts of his conquest and plans to abandon her.
- Chevalier Danceny
Valmont has been dictating Cecilia's letters to him and warns Merteuil against pursuing him.
- Chevalier de Belleroche
Merteuil's current lover; Valmont jokes about her treatment of him.
Key passages
“I will show her, forgetting duty and virtue, sacrificing her reputation and two years prudence to run after the happiness of pleasing me; intoxicated with love; sufficiently recompensed for so many sacrifices by a word, a look, which yet she will not always obtain.”
Valmont boasts that he will make Tourvel abandon her virtue and reputation for the mere hope of his attention, then deny her even that.
Highlights Valmont's cruel manipulation and his view of love as a game of power.
“I have been at once his friend, his confidant, his rival, and his mistress; even at this instant, I am endeavouring to save him from your dangerous toils.”
Valmont claims to have played every role in Danceny's life—friend, confidant, rival, and lover—while pretending to protect him from Merteuil.
Illustrates Valmont's duplicity and his ironic self-awareness of his own manipulations.