The Three Musketeers - Chapter 30-35

[Robin P, Moderator]

This is the portion of the book that wasn't in my children's version or in the classics version I read in high school. Even Dumas several times adds justifications of d'Artagnan's behavior, such as that the times were different and he was very young. Still, it's pretty disconcerting to see what a Don Juan he turns into. He professed devotion to the angelic Constance, is bewitched by the diabolic Milady, and cynically uses the maid Kitty. So we have tropes of the madonna, the whore, and the girl next door. (Not that Constance is necessarily pure, she is married and in the 1970's movie was played by Raquel Welch.)

Am I being too hard on d'Artagnan? As we have learned from recent scandals, it's not unheard of for men to profess love yet enjoy other dalliances.

We start with the duel where Athos has a variation on "If I tell you that, I'll have to kill you" and does so. Again, no one seems concerned about the dead man, except for what to do with his money purse. His friends don't think anyone will miss him. On the other hand, Porthos disables his opponent, then carries him to his vehicle, Aramis scares off his, and d'Artagnan saves Lord de Winter "for love of your sister", which makes them buddies. We saw some of the same respect for the opponent in the duels at the beginning of the book. What do you think of this code of honor?

We get a comic interlude from the dinner at the prosecutor's. This scene reminded me of some from Dickens, and Dumas admits he borrowed from Moliere's The Miser. Some of the humor is from the interplay with the husband, who knows what is going on but can't stop it and some from the 3 1/2 clerks, as well as the pitiful dinner. Although he leaves hungry, Porthos at least has some assurance of support.

Do you think the story is helped or weakened by the transitions back and forth between comic and serious chapters?

Knowing about Milady from having read the book already, I am surprised by how enamored she is of the Comte de Wardes. She could attract anyone she wants and it seems out of character for her to admit how much she cares. Maybe it's because he seems to be the one person who resists her (because d'Artagnan has intercepted her notes to de Wardes.) D'Artagnan conveniently learns that Milady does know about Constance and also that the Cardinal has spared him for some unknown reason.

Returning to the equipment hunt, we learn how Aramis is supplied, and have a joyful reunion with the yellow horse! I think that's a great touch. Porthos has already concocted a story about how the nags were a trick from M. Coquenard, when they really were what Mme. Coquenard gave him. Of course, Porthos gets around her in private and sets up an assignation.

On a very different assignation, d'Artagnan takes the place of de Wardes. This is pretty unbelievable, even in the dark. The saying "at night all cats are grey" is generally used in the context of men not caring if a woman is pretty or not, that they are interchangeable. Here it is the man that is switched out. But d'Artagnan also goes with no remorse from mistress to maid and back again. I think this part is generally left out of movies as well, just because it is so awkward for modern sensibilities. And it's not really needed for the greater plot, although it will get worked in.

Mystery and dread appear when Athos recognizes the ring and tries to warn d'Artagnan off. D'Artagnan writes a very insulting letter (maybe equivalent to a dismissive email or tweet today!) and Milady asks herself "could he have seen." Do you think Athos' (and Dumas') warnings are too subtle?

[Ana]

This is the somewhat scandalous section of the book ;)

The version I read when I was 12 was unabridged so nothing was cut out. I remember wondering how d'Artagnan could love Constance so much one minute and then forget about her and chase Milady. Now I have a slightly different take on it.

I don’t think Constance is much of an angel. She is 23-25 and is married to a man twice her age for security and convenience. She sees that d’Artagnan (18-19) has a school boy crush on her and doesn’t hesitate to take advantage of it. She sends him all the way to London and puts his life at risk without promising him anything other than her gratitude. Then she gets abducted (again!) and disappears without a trace.

I believe d'Artagnan loves Constance, but since he is very practical/pragmatic he quickly realizes even if she’s not dead there is a chance he may never find her. Also, since he is about to go to war where he may be killed he is trying to entertain himself as much as possible in the meantime. I think he is attracted to Milady from the first moment he sees her & that attraction is purely physical (lust, not love). Since the relationship with Constance is never consummated I don’t think d'Artagnan can be blamed for ‘cheating’ on her with Milady.

I don’t have a lot of sympathy for the devil (Milady) - she has ruined many lives with no remorse. Even the cardinal is somewhat uneasy around her. I don’t feel sorry for her when d'Artagnan lies to her because she lies to him too. Maybe he didn’t behave like a gentleman, but she certainly is no lady.

Kitty, the maid is not an innocent victim either - she pretty shamelessly flirts with d'Artagnan, invites him to her room and quickly betrays all the secrets of her mistress. She knows d'Artagnan doesn’t love her just as d'Artagnan knows Milady doesn’t love him. But in her own words - ‘in love it’s everyone for himself’. (All is fair in love and war)

I agree that it is funny to see Milady so infatuated with de Wardes. I guess rejection is the greatest aphrodisiac ;)

I also find it hard to believe Milady didn’t notice the difference between d'Artagnan and de Wardes.
Are they that similar? How dark was that room?
This part doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it makes a good story.

Since so many letters are written and exchanged, this section reminded me of the book ‘Dangerous Liaisons’.
The mean letter d'Artagnan wrote to Milady is pretty awesome. She deserves it.

I really liked the humor in the chapter when Porthos goes to lunch at the lawyer's house.
‘Cousin’ seems to be code for ‘lover’ in this book.

A few of my favorite quotes from this week’s reading:

“As a general rule people ask for advice only in order not to follow it; or, if they do follow it, in order to have someone to blame for giving it.”

‘He accepted her cousin with resignation, but if he had been able-bodied, he would have rejected the idea of any kinship with Monsieur Porthos.’

‘...except for a few times when Madame Coquenard had shown a deplorable tendency toward frugality, she had been generous to him—generous for a lawyer’s wife, that is—and so he expected to be well fed in an opulent house.’

[Francis]

I think we are being too hard on d'Artagnan. I beleive I am writing in general terms and not with a male bias. We have to take into account, as you pointed out Robin, his age. Who was not at 18 or 19 or even 25, 27 easily swayed?

I think d'Artagnan's other qualities like loyalty & dedication outweigh his impulsive behaviors.

[Robin P, Moderator]

That's fair, Francis. I have no sympathy for Milady who deserves everything she gets and more. I have more concern for Kitty but she does throw herself at d'Artagnan and must know he isn't a long-term option. She seems to really desire him for himself, not asking him for any gifts or favors, as might be natural from a nobleman. (Of course, at the moment he is broke as usual but she doesn't know that._

[Daniela]

I agree with Ana. How could Milady not realize she was making love with another man? :-D
I am curious to see whom D'Artagnan will end up with!
About comic and serious chapters: I find that comic and serious moments are well blended. If I try to summarize the plot I realize it could be seen as a pretty though story of deaths and betrayals and narrow escapes. The comic moments make the reading more enjoyable.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I can't remember if I posted this somewhere else, but Dumas and his contemporary Victor Hugo started out writing dramas, where they wanted to emulate Shakespeare in mixing comedy and tragedy (such as the graveyard scene in Hamlet.) Before that French drama was very regulated and could only be one or the other.

[Anne]

Francis wrote: "I think we are being too hard on d'Artagnan. I beleive I am writing in general terms and not with a male bias. We have to take into account, as you pointed out Robin, his age. Who was not at 18 or 19 or even 25, 27 easily swayed?"

I agree with that. He's young, and he doesn't always think with his brain. He also makes impulsive decisions sometimes, which is typical at that age.

Milady is definitely getting what she deserves. Even at this point in the novel, she has already done many manipulative and cruel things.