Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 67: The Presidente de Tourvel to the Viscount de Valmont explained
Madame de Tourvel writes to Valmont, expressing her determination to cease correspondence but ultimately offering him her friendship on the condition that he renounce his declarations of love.
What happens
Madame de Tourvel writes to Valmont, expressing her determination to cease correspondence but ultimately offering him her friendship on the condition that he renounce his declarations of love. She warns that any further expression of passion will result in eternal silence from her.
Themes in this chapter
Love, Virtue, and Corruption
Tourvel attempts to redirect Valmont's passion into virtuous friendship, highlighting the tension between love and moral integrity.
Seduction and Manipulation
Tourvel's conditional offer of friendship is a strategic attempt to control Valmont's behavior, reflecting the manipulative dynamics of their relationship.
Characters to notice
- Madame de Tourvel
Writes to Valmont, offering friendship as a condition for continued correspondence.
- Viscount de Valmont
Recipient of the letter; Tourvel demands he renounce his passion and accept friendship.
Key passages
“Give over, then, a language that I neither can nor will hear; renounce a passion that terrifies and offends me”
Stop speaking of love, which I refuse to listen to; abandon this frightening and offensive passion.
Tourvel explicitly demands Valmont cease his declarations of love.
“Thus offering you my friendship, Sir, I give you everything that belongs to me; everything that is at my disposal; what can you wish for more?”
By offering you my friendship, I give you all that I can; what more could you want?
Tourvel presents friendship as the ultimate gift she can bestow.