Before he dies, he gives Danceny the letters proving Merteuil's own involvement. Merteuil declares war on Valmont and reveals to Danceny that Valmont has seduced Cécile.ĭanceny and Valmont duel, and Valmont is fatally wounded. In retaliation, Valmont reveals that he prompted Danceny to reunite with Cécile, leaving Merteuil abandoned yet again. Jealous, Merteuil tricks him into deserting Madame de Tourvel-and reneges on her promise of spending the night with him. Meanwhile, Merteuil takes Danceny as her lover.īy the time Valmont has succeeded in seducing Madame de Tourvel, he seems to have fallen in love with her.
He avenges himself by seducing Cécile as Merteuil had suggested. During the course of his pursuit, Valmont discovers that Cécile's mother has written to Madame de Tourvel about his bad reputation. He expects rapid success, but does not find it as easy as his many other conquests. Merteuil promises Valmont that if he seduces Madame de Tourvel and provides her with written proof of seduction, she will spend the night with him. Valmont refuses, finding the challenge too easy and preferring to devote himself to seducing Madame de Tourvel. Merteuil suggests that the Vicomte should seduce Cécile in order to enact her revenge on Cécile's future husband. Illustration by Fragonard for Letter XLIV, 1796 In particular, the letters between Valmont and the Marquise drive the plot, with those of their victims and other characters serving as contrasting figures to give the story its depth.
The book has also been described as merely a story about two amoral people.Īs an epistolary novel, the book is composed of letters written by the various characters to each other. It has been seen as depicting the corruption and depravity of the French nobility shortly before the French Revolution, and thereby attacking the Ancien Régime. It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals (and ex-lovers) who use seduction as a weapon to socially control and exploit others, all the while enjoying their cruel games and boasting about their talent for manipulation. Les Liaisons dangereuses ( French: English: Dangerous Liaisons) is a French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782.
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