Did She Fall Or Was She Pushed? Dangerous Liaisons Readalong 2024

Thank you for posting the summaries Cornish!
It sounds like the beginning of the end, doesn't* *it.

I had forgotten that too Fuzzy. We don't hear much about her husband do we?

Shmoop:
Letter 130: Madame de Rosemonde to the Présidente de Tourvel

• Madame de Rosemonde responds to the news kindly.
• She will always be Madame de Tourvel's mother figure regardless of what happens.
• She tries to reassure Madame de Tourvel that many women have succumbed to love like she has—its what women tend to do.
• And she reminds her "daughter" that her devotion to Valmont doesn't take away the gift of herself that she's given to her friends.

Letter 131: The Marquise de Merteuil to the Vicomte de Valmont

• The Marquise still feels it would be foolish of them to get back together.
• She knows they're two of a kind—deceivers—so it would be a no-win situation.
• Still, she agrees to give him his reward.
• She also reminds Valmont that his word is not good enough. The bargain called for Tourvel's writing as definitive proof of his success and he doesn't have it.
• She also says, moreover, that their being together would require sacrifices on his part that he wouldn't be willing to make.She claims to miss the love and happiness they once had, but it's just not to be.
• Is this a trap?

Letter 132: The Présidente de Tourvel to Madame de Rosemonde

• Madame de Tourvel insists that Valmont is no longer full of the vices that other men have.
• He's worthy of her worship. Why else would he still be kind to her after he got what he wanted?
• And if he's not virtuous, she'd rather die than face the truth.
• This doesn't look good.

Letter 133: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil

• Valmont insists that he'd definitely make whatever sacrifices the Marquise want even if it's at the expense of Madame de Tourvel.
• He tries to convince her (and himself?) that the only reason he's still thinking about Madame de Tourvel is that the situation is just so interesting.
• This was just an experiment on his part and he needs time to think about the results.
• He's not really in love with her.
• He's still working on Cécile, too, after all.
• Valmont's convinced that the relationships they've had with others will only make their pleasure in each other more intense.

I'm not sure Cornish. Did she want Valmont to work hard for his reward? I think she said she was curious about how* *the prude would experience passionate love.

I was also wondering about Tourvel opening up so much to Rosamonde when they were not especially close beforehand. Plot reasons? Probably.

I had forgotten that Mme Volanges had arranged Tourvel's marriage. She had been close to her once.

Thank you Fuzzy! I think I will need to reread. The motive for corrupting Cécile is vengeance on Cécile’s fiancé for leaving MdM; is Merteuil’s motive for MdT just because she’s jealous of Valmont’s attraction to her?

In recent letters I’m surprised about Tourvel’s openness to Rosemonde - would people really have been so honest in their letters or is this just for plot reasons?

Thanks Fuzzy!

I looked back on earlier letters and it took a while! In letter 20, Merteuil asks Valmont for proof written by Tourvel, that she has slept with him. Then Merteuil will offer herself to Valmont as a reward. She reminds Valmont of the deal in letter 131.
It seems everyone needs reminding, Valmont and the readers!

Thanks Fuzzy and Tara. I’d kind of forgotten but I think his seduction of Cécile was at Merteuil’s instigation but Tourvel was his own side project?

Yes they are @FuzzyCaoraDhubh! I think they had an arrangement where they'd both go off and sow a few wild oats and then get together again for a glorious mutual congratulatory shag. But Merteuil is pissed off because Valmont is more emotionally invested than either of them expected.

Thank you for posting the summaries Tarahumara!

I'm trying to remember* *the deal between Valmont and Merteuil at the beginning of the book. 'To deliver what she promised' suggests that Merteuil would offer herself as a reward for Valmont to carry out her plan to seduce Cécile. I'm going to have to reread the start of it.

She's very out of temper with him, whatever is up with her. Is it jealousy, being taken for granted or being talked to as if she were another mate of his and not a desirable woman? These two are going to end up hating each other if they don't work things out soon.

Letter 128: The Présidente de Tourvel to Madame de Rosemonde

• Madame Tourvel says that Madame de Rosemonde's letter, with all its harsh realities, was upsetting to her.
• But it's too late—she now plans to devote her life to Valmont and the letter won't make her regret it.
• She's still suffering, but if Valmont's happy then her suffering doesn't matter.
• She knows she's been ruined, but she lives only for him now.
• She'll be judged only by him.
• She knows that this probably means the end of her friendship with Madame de Rosemonde.

• Valmont tries to reassure the Marquise that no woman compares with her in his eyes.
• The colorful adjectives he used to describe Tourvel were occasioned by the mood of the moment, not her qualities.
• He tells the Marquise that she's totally superior to any other women.
• His compliments about Cécile were only a result of the task the Marquise gave him.
• He appeals to her sense of justice to deliver what she promised and she'll see that she's the only one who possesses his heart.

Letter 126: Madame de Rosemonde to the Présidente de Tourvel

• Ironically placed, Madame de Rosemonde's letter praises the Présidente de Tourvel for being able to resist Valmont's charms.

• The Marquise is no longer willing to be a prize for Valmont.
• She can tell from his letter how infatuated he is with Madame de Tourvel and she's not willing to be second in anyone's affections.
• Even Danceny holds her in higher esteem now than Valmont.
• So he can just get his kisses somewhere else from now on.

Exactly! It's very odd. Rosamonde let her down. I wonder if you could say in a wider sense that Tourvel has been let down by the women in her social circle, albeit her circle seems very small from what we gather.

It was also striking that M. Le Président's portrait is noted by Valmont during that scene. It's a rare mention of her husband in the correspondence. Tourvel seems very alone. No wonder she was so susceptible to Valmont's false charms.

I agree, Fuzzy - in letter 103 she very much encourages her not to feel bad if she does happen to ‘succumb’. Poor MdT has not been fortunate in her friends.

Yes, Cornish! I'm annoyed because I think Rosamonde indulged Tourvel in her earlier correspondence. She could have been honest about Valmont's character but instead talked about love in a fluffy, abstract way and she seemed to encourage her, in my view. The timing of the last letter is ironic. The bad arm played a part, no doubt about it, but the warning came so late in the day that it's nearly funny.

I hope you can curl up with some treats and the book and catch up soon Bishy!

I enjoyed MdM telling him where to go, too, Fuzzy! As you say, Rosemonde’s letter is badly timed, comically so after that last letter. Do we believe the bad arm excuse for not writing sooner? It’s almost as though she’s given Valmont a head start before raising the red flag.

Mme de Merteuil is having none of it!
'I am not part of a sérail. I am the sérail.' (approximately). I do admire the woman sometimes. (Letter 127).

Letter 125 in which Valmont 'conquers' La Présidente. The poor woman. He manipulated her from beginning to end. This was a long, tense letter. Laclos builds up the tension in a long preamble where Valmont sets out his position to let it be seen that he has the upper hand.

For a minute I thought Prévan had died, that 'quitter son corps' was a fancy way of saying he departed this life, not his regiment!

Letter 126. Thanks a bunch, Rosamonde!
If you had actually said this about Valmont earlier on, that would have been useful! I think this is a failure of friendship. Poor Présidente, not to have good, timely advice from a friend. It might have saved her.

Letter 124: The Présidente de Tourvel to Madame de Rosemonde

• Madame de Tourvel believes that Valmont wants only to make amends and return her letters.
• She expects to hear that he's free of his passion for her.
• She wonders why she's been put through all this torment if God intended him to repent, and she blames her own weakness.
• She's pleased that she played a part in his conversion.
• Once the business with Valmont is concluded, she would like to return to Madame de Rosemonde's home for consolation.

Letter 125: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil

• In the very long and detailed letter, Valmont declares victory over Madame de Tourvel, even though he has to admit he felt a bit conquered by passion himself. He feels he was carried away for the first time in his life.
• He's never had a woman give herself to him as completely as Madame de Tourvel did.
• He wants to think of his feelings as only glory about his conquest. Otherwise, he'd be humiliated to think that he allowed a woman to have control over his pleasure.
• Not that he wouldn't be able to give her up anytime he wants…he's sure of that. Still.
• Anyway, here's how he describes it to the Marquise.
• He arrives at Madame de Tourvel's home at six in the evening.
• She tries to stand when he walks in but has to sit back down because she's trembling.
• He studies the room, noticing an ottoman and a portrait of her husband. He thinks the ottoman would be just the place for his plan and hopes she's not paying too much attention to her husband's portrait.
• Instead of asking for forgiveness, Valmont tells her she's treated him with contempt.
• He insists on either justifying himself in her eyes or apologizing for his offenses.
• She speaks of her first duty, but can't even finish the sentence.
• Tenderly, Valmont asks if she fled because of him.
• She says yes.
• He asks if they must part forever.
• Yes.
• He responds that he'll either possess her or die—implying that he'll kill himself.
• He repeats this thinly veiled threat.
• He starts to leave but she calls out to him. She throws herself in a faint into his arms.
• He carries her to the ottoman and does the deed; seems the Presidente is still in a faint during most of it.
• Valmont's very satisfied with the result of all his strategic planning.
• When Madame de Tourvel comes to, she spaces out, sobs and convulses.
• But then she relaxes, promises her complete and lifelong devotion to his happiness, and gives herself to him again.
• He admits he was completely intoxicated with passion and is still thinking about the whole episode.
• Valmont now insists that the Marquise occupy herself exclusively with him.
• In a P.S., he informs the Marquise that Prévan has been obliged to leave his regiment.

So he's had his wicked way. Do we like his chances of persuading MdM back into bed with the 'I've had Cécile and MdT, now I'm on my way to you' line?

I have caught back up!

I liked the idea upthread that the book was written to warn the innocent - easier to read it with that in mind rather than as a slo-mo car crash.

Why is Valmont so convinced Cécile is up the duff? She’s not left a double-lined test lying around? And do these characters not know about STDs?

Letter 121: Marquise de Merteuil to the Chevalier Danceny

• Chiding Danceny for his flattery, Merteuil tells him he shall have no more letters from her if he continues with such writing.
• She says it's wrong to write this way unless it's an expression of love.
• She compares his writing to style to what you'd find in a romance novel.
• She wants him to be honest about what he's thinking and feeling.
• On one hand, she's encouraging him and Cécile. On the other, she's using a lot of flattery herself

Letter 122: Madame de Rosemonde to the Présidente de Tourvel

• Rosemonde sees that Valmont has become sad and downcast. He's sitting around in his room, half-dressed, writing letters.
• She's glad Tourvel didn't see this; she would have given in to him out of pity.
• His few words imply that he feels terribly guilty about something—or many things.
• He asks her for her forgiveness and speaks vaguely of returning to Paris on the most important concern of his life.
• It sounds a lot like he's planning to kill himself.
• This is all done for show, of course.

Letter 123: Father Anselme to the Vicomte de Valmont

• Madame de Tourvel agrees to the meeting on the condition that it's the last.
• Father Anselme asks Valmont not to delay, because God's mercy can turn to vengeance.
• He offers his services if they are wanted and hopes that religion can give Valmont the peace he seeks.

Letter 121. Danceny gets a slap on the wrist.
I quite enjoyed the telling-off he got over his flowery language. Good to know that Merteuil finds him annoying too.

Edited for wrong letter number (again).

Bishy 😅 Poor lad!

More Shmoop:

Letter 118: The Chevalier Danceny to the Marquise de Merteuil

• Danceny now chides the Marquise, giving her a hard time for her absence.
• He's says he's thinking about her all the time, and lays on the flattery pretty thick.
• He admits that his feelings for her are overshadowing his love for Cécile for the moment.
• He's having a hard time getting along without the Marquise, who's obviously been doing a great job of reeling him in.

• Valmont has sent a messenger to inquire after Madame de Rosemonde, but has not come himself.
• She tells Tourvel that Valmont's been going regularly to Mass. She assumes that it's because of Tourvel's influence.

• Valmont writes to Madame de Tourvel's priest to ask him to arrange a meeting wherein he can apologize for his errors.
• He claims to have some documents that concern her but he can't reveal the contents.
• He tells the priest that he is a penitent who longs for forgiveness, and that it's Madame de Tourvel who's inspired him to repent.
• He encourages the priest to share these letters with Madame de Tourvel. He knows that the way to her heart is through expressing religious faith and he's using that to weaken her.

No, me neither! That was a surprise.

He's a bit annoying the way he's had his head turned by Merteuil. He doesn't seem to have any conception of Cécile's life and the constraints she has to live by.
If there was an award for 'most annoying person', I think I would have to give it to Danceny.