Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 170: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde explained
Madame de Volanges writes to Madame de Rosemonde in distress after discovering that her daughter Cecilia has fled to a convent.
What happens
Madame de Volanges writes to Madame de Rosemonde in distress after discovering that her daughter Cecilia has fled to a convent. Cecilia left a letter explaining her vocation to religious life, and the superior of the convent confirmed her arrival. Madame de Volanges visits the convent, speaks with Cecilia, and reluctantly allows her to stay, though she fears the influence of recent deaths (Tourvel and Valmont) on her daughter's decision. She also worries about the impending return of Count Gercourt and the potential dissolution of the advantageous marriage, seeking Madame de Rosemonde's advice on how to proceed.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Social Standing
Madame de Volanges' primary concern is the potential loss of the advantageous marriage to Count Gercourt, highlighting how social and economic considerations dominate parental decisions about children's futures.
Innocence and Experience
Cecilia's flight to the convent is portrayed as a naive reaction to trauma (the deaths of Tourvel and Valmont), while her mother's anguish reflects the painful transition from protecting innocence to confronting the consequences of experience.
Characters to notice
- Madame de Volanges
Writes to Madame de Rosemonde in a state of shock and sorrow after Cecilia's flight to a convent; she struggles with whether to enforce parental authority or show maternal leniency.
- Cecilia Volanges
Has fled to a convent, claiming a religious vocation; she is described as trembling and tearful when confronted by her mother, and refuses to explain her motives.
- Madame de Rosemonde
The recipient of the letter; Madame de Volanges seeks her counsel and comfort regarding Cecilia's situation.
- Count Gercourt
Mentioned as the intended match for Cecilia; his imminent return complicates Madame de Volanges' decision about the engagement.
Key passages
“I go, my dear friend, from wonder to wonder, from sorrow to sorrow: one must be a mother to conceive my sufferings”
Madame de Volanges expresses that her astonishment and grief are escalating, and only a mother can truly understand her pain.
This opening line sets the emotional tone of the letter, emphasizing maternal anguish.
“There is nothing so dreadful as to decide on the fate of others; and I am equally afraid, on this occasion, of using the severity of a judge, or the weakness of a mother.”
Madame de Volanges feels the terrible weight of making decisions for her daughter, torn between being harsh like a judge or too lenient like a mother.
This captures the central dilemma of the letter: the conflict between authority and compassion in parenting.