Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 174: The Chevalier Danceny to Madame de Rosemonde explained
Danceny sends Madame de Rosemonde all of Cecilia's letters, expressing astonishment at her candor combined with perfidiousness.
What happens
Danceny sends Madame de Rosemonde all of Cecilia's letters, expressing astonishment at her candor combined with perfidiousness. He condemns Merteuil's role in corrupting Cecilia's innocence, declares he is no longer in love, and explains his delay in sending the letters was to avoid any appearance of bargaining for her indulgence. He asks for her approval of his conduct and announces his intention to leave for Malta to take religious vows.
Themes in this chapter
Innocence and Experience
Danceny reflects on Cecilia's innocence corrupted by Merteuil's artifices, highlighting the vulnerability of young women fresh from convents.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Danceny contrasts Cecilia's apparent candor with her perfidiousness, and condemns Merteuil's hidden malevolence.
Characters to notice
- Chevalier Danceny
Writes to Madame de Rosemonde, sending Cecilia's letters, declaring he is no longer in love, and planning to leave for Malta to take religious vows.
- Madame de Rosemonde
Recipient of Danceny's letter; he seeks her approval and sends her Cecilia's correspondence.
- Cecilia Volanges
Her letters are returned; Danceny reflects on her innocence and candor corrupted by Merteuil's machinations.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Condemned by Danceny for the 'horrible pleasure and pains' she took to destroy Cecilia's innocence and candor.
Key passages
“You will be astonished to see so much candour united with such perfidiousness.”
You will be amazed to find such honesty combined with such treachery.
Danceny expresses his shock at the contradiction in Cecilia's character.
“What young person, just come out of a convent, without experience, and almost divested of ideas, and bringing with her into the world, as most always happens, an equal share of ignorance of good and evil; what young person could have resisted such culpable artifices more?”
What inexperienced young woman, fresh from a convent and equally ignorant of good and evil, could have resisted such wicked manipulations?
Danceny argues that Cecilia's corruption was almost inevitable given her naivety and Merteuil's scheming.
“I set out for Malta: there I shall with pleasure take and religiously keep vows which will separate me from a world, with which, though young, I have so much reason to be dissatisfied.”
I am leaving for Malta, where I will gladly take vows that will remove me from a world that has given me, despite my youth, so much cause for discontent.
Danceny announces his plan to become a Knight of Malta as an escape from worldly disillusionment.