Dangerous Liaisons · Chapter
Letter 70: Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil explained
Valmont writes to Merteuil to warn her of Prevan's public challenge to her virtue, recounting a supper at the Marechale de ⸻ where Prevan mocked her reputation.
What happens
Valmont writes to Merteuil to warn her of Prevan's public challenge to her virtue, recounting a supper at the Marechale de ⸻ where Prevan mocked her reputation. He also details his strategic refusal of Tourvel's offer of friendship, preferring a more drawn-out seduction that forces her to confront her desires. Valmont requests Merteuil's instructions and promises to advance their schemes with Cecilia.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Manipulation
Valmont details his calculated strategy to prolong Tourvel's seduction, forcing her to confront her desires and refuse her offer of friendship.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Valmont speaks well of Merteuil publicly while privately plotting; Prevan's challenge exposes the gap between public virtue and private scheming.
Gender and Power Dynamics
Prevan's challenge to Merteuil's virtue and Valmont's control over Tourvel's emotional state highlight the power struggles between men and women.
Characters to notice
- Viscount de Valmont
Writes to Merteuil, reporting Prevan's challenge and outlining his calculated seduction of Tourvel, refusing her offer of friendship.
- Marchioness de Merteuil
Recipient of the letter; Valmont warns her of Prevan's plot and seeks her instructions.
- Prevan
Publicly challenges Merteuil's virtue at the supper, gaining confidence from his recent triple adventure; Valmont considers him a formidable rival.
- Madame de Tourvel
Offered Valmont a plan of capitulation proposing friendship; Valmont refuses, aiming for a more agonizing seduction.
- Cecilia Volanges
Referenced as 'your pupil'; Valmont promises to advance her affair.
- Marechale de ⸻
Hosted the supper where Prevan made his remarks.
Key passages
“I have a most important piece of news for you: last night I supped, as you know, at the Marechale de ⸻, where you were spoke of; I said not all the good that I think, but all that I did not think of you.”
Valmont informs Merteuil that at a recent dinner, he deliberately spoke ill of her to fit in with the company.
Valmont's duplicity in public versus private loyalty.
“I will not credit Madame de Merteuil’s virtue, until I have killed six horses in her service.”
Prevan jokes that he will only believe Merteuil is virtuous after exhausting himself in pursuit of her.
Prevan publicly challenges Merteuil's reputation, mocking her virtue.
“My design is, that she should feel the value, and the extent, of every one of the sacrifices she shall make; not to lead her on so fast, but that remorse may follow every step; to make her virtue expire in a slow agony.”
Valmont plans to make Tourvel fully aware of each sacrifice she makes, prolonging her moral struggle.
Valmont's sadistic approach to seduction, emphasizing control and psychological torment.
“I took peculiar care of my style, and endeavoured to scatter through my letter that kind of disorder which only can display sentiment, and talked as much nonsense as possible; for, without that, there is no tenderness.”
Valmont deliberately wrote his letter with emotional disarray and nonsense to simulate tenderness.
Valmont's calculated use of language to manipulate Tourvel's emotions.
