Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 141: The Marchioness de Merteuil to the Viscount de Valmont explained
Merteuil rebukes Valmont for his obstinacy and accuses him of being in love with Madame de Tourvel despite his libertine claims.
What happens
Merteuil rebukes Valmont for his obstinacy and accuses him of being in love with Madame de Tourvel despite his libertine claims. She compares him to a sultan who is both tyrant and slave to women, and warns that her next answer on renewing their treaty will be irrevocable. She encloses a satirical 'breakup letter' as a model for how Valmont should treat Tourvel, and promises to reveal its consequences in her next letter.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Merteuil manipulates Valmont by withholding her answer and sending a mock breakup letter as a lesson in how to discard Tourvel.
Gender and Power Dynamics
Merteuil critiques Valmont's role as tyrant or slave to women, and asserts her own power by controlling the terms of their alliance.
Characters to notice
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Writes a scolding, analytical letter to Valmont, accusing him of self-deception and love for Tourvel, and encloses a mock breakup letter as a lesson.
- Viscount de Valmont
Merteuil criticizes his obstinacy and his contradictory behavior toward Tourvel, and warns him that his preference for her may cost him their alliance.
- Madame de Tourvel
Merteuil argues that Valmont is still in love with her, despite his libertine actions, and that he debases himself to win her back.
- Cecilia Volanges
Mentioned briefly at the end; Merteuil thanks Valmont for his account of her and says it will be kept for the scandalous gazette after her wedding.
Key passages
“What I have said, what I have thought, what I still think, is, you are nevertheless in love with your Presidente: not if you will with a pure and tender passion, but of that kind of which you are capable; for example, of that kind which makes you discover in a woman, charms and qualities she has not: which ranks her in a class by herself, and still links you to her even while you insult her.”
Merteuil insists Valmont is in love with Tourvel in his own way—a love that blinds him to her faults and binds him to her even as he betrays her.
Merteuil's central accusation: Valmont's love is real but distorted by his libertine nature.
“One tires of everything, my angel! It is a law of nature; it is not my fault.”
The mock letter begins by claiming that boredom is inevitable and blameless, justifying abandonment.
Merteuil provides Valmont with a template for a cruel, dismissive breakup letter to Tourvel.