Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 154: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde explained
Madame de Volanges writes to Madame de Rosemonde about the dire state of Madame de Tourvel's health and her own role as caretaker.
What happens
Madame de Volanges writes to Madame de Rosemonde about the dire state of Madame de Tourvel's health and her own role as caretaker. She mentions receiving a letter from Valmont, who asks her to act as intermediary with Tourvel, but she refuses, returning his letter and enclosing her reply. She questions whether Valmont's apparent distraction is genuine or a final deception, and expresses her growing resentment toward him as the cause of the tragedy.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Madame de Volanges questions whether Valmont's distraction is genuine or a final act of deception, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality.
Revenge and Cruelty
Madame de Volanges's resentment toward Valmont as the author of the unhappy adventure underscores the cruel consequences of his manipulations.
Characters to notice
- Madame de Volanges
Writes to Madame de Rosemonde, describing her exhausting attendance on the ill Madame de Tourvel and her refusal to act as Valmont's intermediary.
- Madame de Rosemonde
Recipient of the letter; Madame de Volanges updates her on the patient's condition and Valmont's request.
- Madame de Tourvel
The patient, described as being in a melancholy state with incessant frenzy, unable to understand communications.
- Viscount de Valmont
Wrote to Madame de Volanges asking her to act as mediator with Tourvel; his sincerity is doubted by Madame de Volanges.
Key passages
“The journal will inform you much better than I can, my dear friend, the melancholy state of our patient.”
The medical journal will give you a clearer picture of our patient's sad condition than I can.
Madame de Volanges defers to the written record of the illness, emphasizing the gravity of Tourvel's state.
“I have received a letter from M. de Valmont, who has been pleased to choose me for a confidant, and even his mediatrix with Madame de Tourvel, to whom he wrote under my cover.”
Valmont has written to me, asking me to be his confidante and go-between with Madame de Tourvel, sending his letter to her under my cover.
Valmont's audacious request to use Madame de Volanges as an intermediary shows his continued manipulation.
“But what do you think of M. de Valmont’s distraction? Is it real, or does he mean to deceive the world to the last?”
What do you make of Valmont's apparent distress? Is it genuine, or is he trying to fool everyone until the very end?
Madame de Volanges questions Valmont's sincerity, reflecting the novel's theme of deceptive appearances.