Friday, July 20, 2007

Tragic figure?

Did the characters give Valmont a free pass for his behavior -- which I think was no better than the marquise's -- because he died and deserved mercy? Or was it because he was a man?
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3 comments:

kc said...

Oh, I think there was definitely a sense that he was just a man doing what men will do, and you can think him scandalous, but you really can't blame him too much because he's a man just doing man-things.

Women, on the other hand. No mercy for the miserable sinners. Those sluts are why we fell from heaven's grace in the first place.

I thought the movie, in particular, invested him with an honor and pathos that was not supported by the book. I mean, all that stuff about "tell her she's the greatest happiness I have ever known" and he was daydreaming about having sex with Madame de Tourvel while he dueled. That wasn't in the book.

I made a comment earlier about an honorable death (defending your honor in a duel) being available to him that was not available to women, and I think that applies here.

7:01 PM, July 20, 2007
Ben said...

His reputation was known before he died, so I would say that he was excused because he was a man.

7:27 AM, July 21, 2007
Erin said...

Yeah, everyone knew what he was like. And they continued to invite him to everything. In the movie, Madame de Volanges is telling Cecile how scandalous Valmont is, and Cecile says, "Then why do you receive him?" And her mother says, "Everyone receives him." Something similar is said in the book. It's like they're thinking, yes, he's terrible, but some men are just like that and there's nothing you can do.

I agree, kc, about the movie making him more sympathetic. That deathbed speech was a bit much.

3:47 PM, July 21, 2007

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