The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
Introductory Note explained
This introductory note presents an overview of 'The Vicomte de Bragelonne,' the longest and most powerful of the d'Artagnan series, highlighting its historical accuracy in depicting the French court from just before Louis XIV's marriage to
What happens
This introductory note presents an overview of 'The Vicomte de Bragelonne,' the longest and most powerful of the d'Artagnan series, highlighting its historical accuracy in depicting the French court from just before Louis XIV's marriage to the downfall of Fouquet. It discusses key figures such as Louis XIV, Louise de La Vallière, Madame Henrietta, Mazarin, Fouquet, and Colbert, and touches on the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask. The note also reflects on the characters of d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, emphasizing their moral complexity and the blend of fact and fiction in Dumas's work.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Ambition
The rise of Colbert and the downfall of Fouquet illustrate the ruthless pursuit of power at court; Aramis's ambitious scheming as General of the Jesuits also exemplifies this theme.
Love and Sacrifice
Louise de La Vallière's pure love for the king, loving him for himself alone, and her shame at being a king's mistress highlight the theme of sacrificial love.
Friendship and Betrayal
Political interests interfere with the perfect confidence among the musketeers; Porthos's blind trust in Aramis leads to his downfall, and Athos's righteous anger reflects broken bonds.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Praised as a man of action, entirely unconnected with cabals, and as a character who rings true like a good sovereign; his virtues are celebrated as the chief merit of the book.
- Athos
His magnificent outburst of righteous anger against the king is described as the last expiring gleam of the spirit of the Musketeers; he lives only in his love for Bragelonne and dies in his death.
- Porthos
Remains blindly faithful to Aramis and falls victim to his childlike trust in the scheming prelate.
- Aramis
As General of the Jesuits, he is true to the reputation of the order, hesitating at no dissimulation to gain his ambitious ends.
- Louis XIV
His intense egotism is fostered by flattery; he is bashful and timid before La Vallière, and his assumption of power marks the beginning of a brilliant court epoch.
- Louise de La Vallière
The only favorite who loved the king for himself alone; her life is faithfully sketched from her first glimpse of the king at Blois.
- Nicolas Fouquet
Drawn tenderly by Dumas as a master, lover of good cheer and art; his grand fête at Vaux sealed his downfall, and he lived nearly twenty years in prison.
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Rises to high office over the disgraced Fouquet; historic justice is said to be on his side, representing official honesty and fiscal competence.
Key passages
“The romance, as it was written and as it is here presented in English, offers a marvellously faithful picture of the French court from a period immediately preceding the young king's marriage to his cousin, Maria Theresa, the Infante of Spain, to the downfall of Foquet.”
The novel provides an accurate depiction of the French court from just before Louis XIV's marriage to Maria Theresa until Fouquet's disgrace.
Summarizes the historical scope of the book.
“Of his favorites La Vallière was the only one who loved him for himself alone, and she has come down to us as one of the few Frenchwomen who have ever been ashamed of being known as a king's mistress.”
Among the king's favorites, only La Vallière loved him genuinely and was unique in feeling shame for being his mistress.
Highlights La Vallière's distinctive character.
“If his disgrace had not already been determined upon in the king's mind, it would have been at Vaux … As there was but one sun in heaven, there could be but one king in France.”
Fouquet's downfall was inevitable; the grand fête at Vaux only confirmed the king's decision, as there cannot be two suns or two kings.
Explains the symbolic reason for Fouquet's arrest.
“It is in the character of d'Artagnan that we must look for that spirit of morality which is one of the chief merits of the book … the whole man rings true like a good sovereign.”
D'Artagnan embodies the moral spirit of the novel; his integrity is as genuine as a good coin.
Praises d'Artagnan's moral character.
