Laclos' "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" Quiz

Answer: Army general

Laclos began to write the novel in 1778 during several leaves of duty from his garrison at La Rochelle; the work was published in 1782. Although he never wrote another novel, Laclos did write a pro feminist essay entitled "L'Education des femmes" which called upon women to rebel against the constraints of society.

Answer: Epistolary (series of letters)

The story is told through a series of letters written by the various characters to one another. This form was popular in the eighteenth century and allows for a uniquely candid and detailed look at each of the characters. The Marquise de Merteuil states at one point that her purpose in writing letters is to "create" herself; her skill at writing allows her to present herself exactly as she wishes to be perceived..

Answer: It was pornographic

The Laclos novel does not, in fact, contain any scenes or descriptions which could be termed pornographic (and it is certainly quite tame from our point of view); however the blatant amorality, libertinism, and sexual intriguing of its two principal characters, Valmont and the Marquise, shocked many people. Laclos, however, clearly does not praise or condone their behavior, for which each pays a terrible price.

Answer: He is the only man to have spurned her.

Although she has no feelings for the foolish and dull Gercourt, the Marquise's pride is wounded by his ultimate rejection of her and she vows revenge. Seeing that he desires to marry the innocent, virginal Cecile, she decides to use Cecile herself as the instrument of her revenge by having Valmont deflower the girl and "educate" her sexually.

When Gercourt marries her, he will find her already quite experienced sexually and will be both outraged and humiliated. She reminds Valmont that he deserves revenge on Gercourt as well, since the woman Gercourt had thrown her over for was Valmont's former lover.

The Marquise claims that it is her goal to "avenge my sex", though her method of doing so will blight Cecile's life and result, indirectly, in Mme de Tourvel's death.

Answer: Fifteen

She writes to Valmont that "By the time I was fifteen, I already had the talents to which most of the politicians owe their reputations." Ironically, the innocent Cecile has herself just turned fifteen.

Answer: He wants to make her betray her own religious and moral principles.

Valmont does not want to chip away at Mme de Tourvel's religiousity and moral principles, rather he is intrigued with the idea of forcing her to betray these very principles even as she continues to hold them sacred.

Answer: She warns Mme de Volanges that a love affair is developing between the two.

The Marquise warns her cousin, Mme de Volanges, of the blossoming love affair between her daughter and Danceny. Mme de Volanges, who wants her daughter to marry the wealthy Gercourt, obtains Danceny's letters to Cecile and angrily gives him the sack, forbidding her daughter ever to see him again. Separating the young lovers at this point in their relationship, as the Marquise well knows, is the surest way of firing their passion for each other.

Answer: Sleep with him

The Marquise had ended their romantic relationship, but she offers herself once again to Valmont if he can provide written proof of his successful seduction of Mme de Tourvel. By doing this, perhaps, she hopes to speed up his "project" with Tourvel so that he can once again be at her disposal.

Answer: He saves a local peasant family from ruin.

Valmont notices that Madame de Tourvel has sent someone to spy on him. He decides to intervene in the eviction of a local peasant family and save them from losing their home, knowing that de Tourvel's spy will observe this and inform his mistress. This leads her to disregard the unfavourable report of his character she had received from Mme de Volanges.

Answer: Cecile's mother warns Madame de Tourvel away from him.

Valmont learns that someone has maligned him to Mme de Tourvel and is determined to find out who it is. He has his chausseur seduce Mme de Tourvel's handmaid so that he can "catch" them together and blackmail the maid into telling him who maligned him to her mistress.

He is furious when he learns that it is Mme de Volanges and decides to accept the Marquise's offer to seduce Cecile, since things have gone nowhere thus far with her and Danceny.

Answer: He convinces Cecile to give it to him so he can deliver Danceny's letters.

Having obtained the key to Cecile's room, Valmont seduces her at the first opportunity. Although shocked and outraged at first, Cecile is eventually enthralled by Valmont.

Answer: Aunt

Mme de Rosemonde loves both her nephew Valmont and Mme de Tourvel. She is sympathetic, rather than shocked, when the latter confesses her love for Valmont. In spite of her affection for her nephew, Mme de Rosemonde is not entirely blind to his character; she advises Mme de Tourvel to flee from him.

Answer: True

She miscarries the child during a tryst with Valmont, though the whole business is carefully hushed up. When this is eventually revealed to Danceny, he challenges Valmont to a duel.

Answer: Valmont has become emotionally involved with Tourvel.

Valmont's previous seductions had not engaged his emotions, but his affair with Mme de Tourvel has affected him more than he realizes. The Marquise sees this and is deeply upset, since this means that her hold over him has slipped. She refuses to honor her part of the bargain, claiming that Valmont has lost his mastery of himself.

Answer: It is not my fault.

She relates to him the story of a male acquaintance of hers who broke off a relationship that had become awkward. He kept his emotional distance during the breakup by following each of the proffered reasons with the phrase "It is not my fault." She suggests that Valmont employ this technique, which he does.

Answer: The Marquise has begun a relationship with Danceny

Stung by Valmont's feelings for Mme de Tourvel, the Marquise declares "war" on Valmont. She seduces young Danceny and wins his complete devotion, then turns him against Valmont by revealing the latter's relationship with Cecile. Ultimately, this proves both her and Valmont's undoing; Danceny challenges Valmont to a duel and mortally wounds him. Dying, Valmont gives Danceny his part of the incriminating correspondence with the Marquise.

Answer: A convent

After Valmont's rejection, Mme de Tourvel falls into a state of nervous collapse and suffers constant fits. Possibly out of a desire to be reminded of her childhood innocence, she asks to be taken to her old schoolroom in the convent. Here, she writes an anguished letter to Valmont, reproaching him as "cruel and malignant man." She tells Mme des Volanges that she is dying because she did not heed her warning against Valmont.

Answer: Falsely accused him of attempted rape.

Prevan is a womanizer who had boasted that he could seduce the (supposedly) virtuous Merteuil. When they were alone, the Marquise appeared to submit to his advances, then suddenly began screaming for help. She falsely claimed that Prevan had tried to rape her, an allegation which was universally believed (since everyone supposes the Marquise to be a woman of great virtue) and which proved disastrous to Prevan's career and social standing. Since the Marquise, with great relish, had related her deception in her letters to Valmont, Prevan's status was restored and he took great pleasure in humiliating her publicly at the opera salon.

Answer: They both join religious orders.

Her innocence irretrievably blighted, Cecile enters a convent. Danceny, having narrowly avoided execution for the death of Valmont, takes a vow of celibacy and joins the order of the Knights of Malta.

Answer: Smallpox

Mme de Volanges relates to Mme de Rosemonde that the Marquise de Mertueil has contracted smallpox from which she has recovered, but which has severely scarred her once beautiful face resulted in the loss of one eye. Having lost her beauty and her reputation, she has departed for Holland to live in anonymity.

It has been pointed out that this report may well be untrue, since it comes from Mme de Volanges who, throughout the novel, has believed and reported false information and is easily deceived. Has the Marquise, so skillful at manipulating gossip, spread this false report of her "divine punishment" to diffuse the outrage over her actions (also, the threat of infection would keep people away). And will she merely continue her machinations in another setting? In an intriguing footnote, the author reveals that he is unable to publish the final letters detailing the Marquise's ultimate fate because they might prove offensive to the public.