Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 6: Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained
Valmont defends Madame de Tourvel against Merteuil's criticisms, describing her natural beauty, modesty, and sensibility.
What happens
Valmont defends Madame de Tourvel against Merteuil's criticisms, describing her natural beauty, modesty, and sensibility. He recounts a moment where he held her while crossing a ditch, interpreting her blush and heartbeat as signs of love. He declares his intention to seduce her, not to cure her of her prejudices but to enjoy her remorse and surrender. He also mentions that he has begun to gain her trust by confessing past adventures, and he playfully notes her unwitting role as an advocate for her own seduction.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont outlines his calculated plan to seduce Tourvel, aiming to enjoy her remorse and sacrifice of virtue.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont presents himself as a convert to Tourvel's moral lectures while secretly plotting her downfall.
Innocence and Experience
Tourvel's naive trust and modesty contrast with Valmont's experienced, predatory worldview.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Defends Tourvel, recounts his seduction strategy, and expresses renewed passion.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Addressed by Valmont; criticized for her harsh view of Tourvel.
- Madame de Tourvel
Described as naturally beautiful, modest, and sensitive; Valmont interprets her physical reactions as signs of love.
- Madame de Rosemonde
Mentioned as Valmont's aunt who misinterprets Tourvel's reaction during the ditch crossing.
- Chevalier Danceny
Mentioned in the postscript as 'our poor Chevalier'.
Key passages
“I will have this woman. I will take her from a husband who does not deserve her. I'll even snatch her from the god she adores.”
Valmont declares his determination to seduce Tourvel, removing her from her husband and her religious devotion.
Reveals Valmont's ambition to conquer Tourvel completely, both physically and spiritually.
“Let her rely on her virtue, and sacrifice it. Let her crime terrify her, without being able to resist its impulse; and, alarmed with a thousand terrors, let her neither be able to forget or conquer them but in my embraces.”
Valmont wants Tourvel to struggle with her conscience and yield to him despite her guilt, finding pleasure in her inner conflict.
Highlights Valmont's sadistic enjoyment of the psychological torment he plans to inflict.
“She says she is determined to make a convert of me: but has not the least suspicion how much the purchase will cost her.”
Tourvel believes she can reform Valmont, unaware that her efforts will lead to her own seduction.
Irony: Tourvel's moral mission becomes the tool of her undoing.