Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 137: Viscount de Valmont to the Presidente de Tourvel explained
Valmont responds to Tourvel's letter of accusation, defending himself against the charge of insulting her by being seen with the courtesan Emily.
What happens
Valmont responds to Tourvel's letter of accusation, defending himself against the charge of insulting her by being seen with the courtesan Emily. He claims the encounter was innocent and that his embarrassment stemmed from fear of displeasing her, not guilt. He pleads for her forgiveness and urges her not to conflate a momentary lapse with true love, appealing to her tenderness to restore their happiness.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont employs a sophisticated rhetorical strategy to manipulate Tourvel's emotions, denying wrongdoing while appealing to her love and guilt.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont's letter is a masterclass in hypocrisy, as he presents himself as a victim of circumstance while concealing his true intentions and past actions.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Writes a defensive and manipulative letter to Tourvel, denying any insult and pleading for her forgiveness.
- Madame de Tourvel
The recipient of Valmont's letter; she had accused him of insulting her by being seen with Emily.
- Emily
The courtesan Valmont was seen with; he explains the encounter as a chance meeting and downplays her significance.
Key passages
“Ah! do not thus profane love; or, rather, do not profane yourself, by uniting in the same point of view what never can be blended.”
Do not degrade love—or yourself—by equating a fleeting physical lapse with the pure, spiritual affection we share.
Valmont attempts to separate his indiscretion from his professed love, framing the former as trivial and the latter as sacred.
“What punishment can you inflict on me will be more sorrowful than what I already feel—that can be comparable to the grief of having incurred your displeasure—to the despair of giving you affliction—to the unsufferable idea of being unworthy of you?”
No punishment you could devise would hurt me more than the pain of knowing I have disappointed and upset you.
Valmont employs emotional blackmail, suggesting that her anger is already the worst possible punishment.