Book Cases: Amour

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Who do you think best understood the nature and value of love?

cl said...: Hehe. Before I say Marquise de Merteuil, I'd better refrain until we hash out your reply to my comments on the first post.; 3:45 PM, July 17, 2007
Ben said...: I'm not sure any of them did. Perhaps Madame de Tourvel did, or maybe the Vicomte came to understand it.

In the movie as well as in the notes to our edition of the book, it is hinted that he could have prevented his death in the duel. This quasi-suicide might have been due to his grief at losing love, which he had finally come to value.; 4:16 PM, July 17, 2007
Erin said...: Ooh, good question. I'm not sure any of them did. Maybe by the end, Valmont and Tourvel did. Interesting. I'm going to think on this some more.; 6:49 PM, July 17, 2007
kc said...: I am in complete agreement with you here, cl. I think no one in the novel understood the nature of love like the marquise. That is not to say she was loving, of course. But she understood how love worked, what it did to people. That's why she was able to so successfully manipulate the master manipulator. And she understands the fact the Valmont's vanity is the biggest part of his character, so big that he would sacrifice a great love to it.; 8:28 PM, July 17, 2007
Erin said...: I agree 100 percent.; 9:17 PM, July 17, 2007

Tuesday, July 17, 2007