Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

The Vicomte de Valmont

In a novel with some many characters narrating their own stories, it's a little unfair to pick only one protagonist. And here we've chosen the suave creep, Valmont. Why him? Because most of the major plot points in the novel are a result of his planning and action. He's the one with the "quest," so to speak, the one we read to see if he accomplishes his goals or totally blows it. Will he or won't he seduce both Madame de Tourvel and Cécile Volanges? These are the big plot questions of the book. Will he win the battle of the baddies with Madame de Merteuil?

Valmont's also one of the more interesting characters because it's not perfectly clear whether or not he really falls in love with Madame de Tourvel. He does ultimately seem undone by love for her, and his last act of forgiving Danceny for killing him shows some tiny shred of decency. The Marquise, OTOH, doesn't have a single redeeming quality. Advantage: Valmont.