# Letter 15: Viscount Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained — Dangerous Liaisons

> Chapter companion for Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

## What happens

Valmont writes to Merteuil, expressing jealousy over her affair with the Chevalier and threatening to disturb their happiness. He confesses his own frustrated pursuit of Madame de Tourvel, revealing that she has set a servant to spy on him. Valmont vows to turn this surveillance to his advantage and plans his next move.

## Themes in this chapter

### Seduction and Manipulation

Valmont plots to turn Tourvel's surveillance to his advantage, demonstrating his strategic manipulation in the pursuit of seduction.

### Love, Virtue, and Corruption

Valmont confesses his frustrated desire for Tourvel, equating love with an inability to exist without possession, while Tourvel's virtuous surveillance reveals her resistance.

### Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality

Valmont notes the irony that the most virtuous woman (Tourvel) resorts to covert surveillance, a tactic he himself would not dare openly employ.

## Character check-ins

### Viscount de Valmont

Author of the letter; expresses jealousy and frustration over his lack of progress with Tourvel, and plots to use her surveillance to his advantage.

### Marchioness de Merteuil

Recipient of the letter; Valmont accuses her of favoring the Chevalier and demands she either take him back or take another.

### Chevalier Danceny

Mentioned as the Chevalier; Valmont is jealous of his happiness with Merteuil and vows to disturb him.

### Madame de Tourvel

Object of Valmont's pursuit; she has set a servant to spy on him, which Valmont discovers and plans to exploit.

## Key lines

> Indeed you are very kind not to abandon me to my melancholy fate: the life I lead here is really fatiguing, from excess of repose and insipid uniformity.

Valmont complains that his life at the chateau is boring and monotonous.

_He expresses his dissatisfaction with the quiet country life, contrasting it with Merteuil's exciting adventures._

> Do you know you have roused my jealousy? Why tell me of an eternal rupture? I recant an oath taken in a fit of frenzy.

Valmont admits he is jealous of Merteuil's relationship with the Chevalier and retracts his earlier vow to end their affair.

_He reveals his possessiveness and desire to reclaim his exclusive status with Merteuil._

> I should not even have a word to say to you on the subject, but for an accident that racks my imagination, and leaves me in suspense between hope and fear.

Valmont says he would have nothing to report about his pursuit of Tourvel if not for a discovery that both excites and worries him.

_He refers to the news that Tourvel has set a spy on him, which he sees as an opportunity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-15-viscount-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters