In Les Liaisons Dangereuses, many of the characters do the despicable, but few feel bad about it. Having a conscience is a liability: it makes one vulnerable to manipulation and limits your freedom to engage in those fun acts of depravity. And our major characters just love to manipulate. Valmont, a wealthy aristocrat with a lot of time on his hands, plans to seduce a young, scrupulous married woman just to see what happens. You can bet your powdered wig that he plays on her sense of right and wrong. Danceny, an immature young music teacher, takes every opportunity to blame a student he loves for the misery he feels. In this world, guilt and moral responsibility are for the weak.
Questions About Guilt and Blame
- Does Danceny ever take responsibility for his own mistakes?
- How does Madame de Tourvel deal with the guilt she feels over her adultery?
- Does the feeling of guilt ever benefit a character in the story?
- Why does Cécile put up with Danceny's constantly blaming her?
Chew on This
Valmont ultimately feels guilty for what befalls Madame de Tourvel.
Valmont and the Marquise completely lack the capacity for guilt.