The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
The Advisers explained
The king, agitated by his feelings for Madame, defends her to Monsieur, while de Guiche receives conflicting advice from the Chevalier de Lorraine and Raoul de Bragelonne.
What happens
The king, agitated by his feelings for Madame, defends her to Monsieur, while de Guiche receives conflicting advice from the Chevalier de Lorraine and Raoul de Bragelonne. Ultimately, the king publicly banishes de Guiche to his estates, leaving him devastated.
Themes in this chapter
Court Intrigue and Deception
The Chevalier de Lorraine manipulates de Guiche, while the king uses his power to publicly disgrace him.
Love and Sacrifice
Louis's sudden passion for Madame and de Guiche's devotion to her lead to personal and political consequences.
Power and Ambition
The king asserts his authority by banishing de Guiche, demonstrating the absolute power of the monarchy.
Characters to notice
- Louis XIV
Agitated by his growing attraction to Madame, he defends her to Monsieur and later publicly banishes de Guiche.
- Henrietta of England
The object of the king's sudden passion; she is coquettish and laughs during de Guiche's disgrace.
- Philippe d'Orléans
Monsieur is piqued by the king's defense of Madame and retains his ill-humor.
- De Guiche
Receives conflicting advice from the Chevalier de Lorraine and Raoul; is publicly banished by the king to his estates.
- Raoul de Bragelonne
Advises de Guiche to leave court to avoid disgrace; waits for him after the king's decree.
- Le Chevalier de Lorraine
Advises de Guiche to stay, leading him blindfolded toward a precipice; observes the king's vengeance with hostility.
Key passages
“It is impossible, in fact, to depict the secret play of those strange sympathies which, suddenly and apparently without any cause, are excited, after many years passed in the greatest calmness and indifference, by two hearts destined to love each other.”
The mysterious attraction between two people who have been indifferent for years can suddenly ignite without apparent reason.
Describes the sudden passion between Louis and Madame.
“I advise you to go to sleep in perfect tranquillity, my dear count.”
The Chevalier de Lorraine tells de Guiche to rest easy and not worry.
The chevalier's deceptive advice to de Guiche.
“Comte, this is the season for farming purposes in the country; I am sure your tenants in Normandy will be glad to see you.”
The king orders de Guiche to leave court and return to his estates in Normandy.
Louis XIV publicly banishes de Guiche.