Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 133: The Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained
Valmont defends his devotion to Madame de Tourvel as a calculated experiment rather than genuine love, asserting his freedom and readiness to sacrifice her if needed.
What happens
Valmont defends his devotion to Madame de Tourvel as a calculated experiment rather than genuine love, asserting his freedom and readiness to sacrifice her if needed. He also details his ongoing manipulation of the Volanges household, maintaining correspondence with Danceny and preparing to seduce Cecilia, while reaffirming his allegiance to Merteuil.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont treats his seduction of Tourvel as a calculated experiment and boasts of manipulating the Volanges household through bribery and deception.
Love, Virtue, and Corruption
Valmont contrasts Tourvel's genuine emotional depth with his own corrupt detachment, using her virtue as a tool for his amusement.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Defends his obsession with Tourvel as a scientific study of rare sensibility, not love; boasts of his control over the Volanges affair and his loyalty to Merteuil.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Addressed by Valmont; he reassures her of his devotion and agrees to her plans, including sacrificing Tourvel if needed.
- Madame de Tourvel
Described as a rare woman of delicacy and sensation, whose emotional responses Valmont studies; he offers to sacrifice her to prove his independence.
- Cecilia Volanges
Valmont has secured communication with her through bribery; he plans to seduce her and eventually hand her over to Danceny.
- Chevalier Danceny
Valmont mocks his naivety, carries his letters to Cecilia, and promises to arrange a meeting; Valmont considers him a tool.
Key passages
“Sacrifices that I would not or could not make! So you think I am in love, subdued! The value I set on the success, you suspect is attached to the person. Ah! thank heaven, I am not yet reduced to that, and I offer to prove it.”
Valmont denies being in love with Tourvel, insisting he can prove his emotional detachment by sacrificing her if necessary.
Valmont's defensive tone reveals his need to assert control over his own feelings and Merteuil's perception of him.
“I have secured my communication since yesterday; a little money to the porter, a few soft speeches to the waiting maid, did the business. Would you believe it? Danceny never thought of this simple method.”
Valmont bribed the porter and flattered the maid to establish secret contact with Cecilia, mocking Danceny's lack of cunning.
Highlights Valmont's pragmatic manipulation and contempt for Danceny's romantic idealism.