The default religious world of Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a very Catholic one. Families send their daughters to convent schools. The devout and the duplicitous both attend Mass. Priests are called on in times of trial. For the two main characters, however, religion has no interest beyond what use they can make of it for their own ends. These two—the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, could rightly be called satanic. Why? Because they fancy themselves as the only gods worth anything and their language is often playfully sacrilegious. Their religion is all about self-worship and the ruin of everything else. They think that believers are naïve and ridiculous.
Questions About Religion
- Why does Valmont pepper his speech with religious metaphors?
- What is the relationship in the novel between religious belief and moral behavior?
- What do you think the author believes about the value of religion?
- What does Madame de Merteuil mean when she says that Valmont will not overcome Madame de Tourvel's fear of the devil?
Chew on This
The novel seems to suggest that religious beliefs won't protect you from harm.
The novel suggests that religious beliefs make you more susceptible to harm.