Dangerous Liaisons is a fascinating novel because you're not always sure that the picture you're getting is accurate. In fact, deceit is the point of many of the letters. The reliability of the narrative varies because the book's a collection of letters from a handful of characters, many of them with very different desires and objectives. Dangerous Liaisons is hardly a missive against lying, but it captures the consequences lies have in our relationships. When truth intertwines with deception, understanding suffers and bonds break. If lying isn't immoral, it's almost always dangerous. If you're that kind of person, which Shmoop absolutely knows you're not, you could think of the novel as a master class in deceit and impression management.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Did Madame de Merteuil ever plan on giving Valmont his promised reward?
- How does lying affect the relationships described in the novel?
- Who is the most dishonest character in the story? How so?
- In what ways is the truth used in the novel to deceive?
Chew on This
In the world of Dangerous Liaisons, everyone lies.
Lying to oneself is the most dangerous thing for the characters.