Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 160: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde explained
Madame de Volanges writes from the bedside of the ailing Madame de Tourvel, describing her critical condition and a consultation of four physicians.
What happens
Madame de Volanges writes from the bedside of the ailing Madame de Tourvel, describing her critical condition and a consultation of four physicians. She recounts that Tourvel dictated a long letter during a lucid moment, but then fell into delirium before it could be addressed. Volanges opened the letter, found it addressed to no one in particular, and suspects it was meant for Valmont. She encloses it for Rosemonde, expressing little hope for Tourvel's recovery due to her agitated mind.
Themes in this chapter
Love, Virtue, and Corruption
Tourvel's delirious letter, likely intended for Valmont, reveals the torment of a virtuous woman corrupted by love and abandoned.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Madame de Volanges's intrusion into Tourvel's private letter underscores the gap between outward propriety and the hidden chaos of Tourvel's mind.
Characters to notice
- Madame de Tourvel
Lies in a critical state, with a consultation of four physicians; dictated a letter during a lucid moment but then suffered delirium.
- Madame de Volanges
Writes from Tourvel's chamber, reporting on her condition and the discovery of the undirected letter.
- Madame de Rosemonde
Recipient of the letter; Volanges sends her Tourvel's undirected writing for her insight.
- Viscount de Valmont
Implied as the intended recipient of Tourvel's letter, though it was never addressed.
Key passages
“I write this from the chamber of your unhappy friend, whose state is pretty much the same: there is to be a consultation held this afternoon, of four physicians—I need not tell you this resource is oftener a proof of the danger than the means of relief.”
I am writing from your friend's sickroom; her condition hasn't changed. Four doctors will meet this afternoon, but you know that such consultations usually just confirm how serious the illness is.
Volanges conveys the gravity of Tourvel's condition and the limited hope offered by medical intervention.
“I took it upon me to open it. There I found the enclosed writing, which is certainly not addressed to anybody, being addressed to too many—Yet, I believe, our unhappy friend at first intended it for M. de Valmont, but gave way imperceptibly, to her disordered ideas.”
I decided to open the letter. Inside was a note addressed to no one in particular—really to everyone. I think she meant it for Valmont at first, but her confused thoughts took over.
Volanges speculates that Tourvel's letter was originally meant for Valmont but became a rambling outpouring due to delirium.