Dangerous Liaisons

“I mean the real prudes. They hold back at the very heart of rapture and offer nothing but half-pleasures.”

This statement made by Merteuil represents a central claim of the libertine philosophy, which seeks a full experience of seduction and sexual pleasure. Merteuil criticizes Valmont’s desire to seduce Tourvel because she is one of the “real prudes,” meaning being with her will not afford him real pleasure but only insufficient “half-pleasures.” This statement is an early insight into how Merteuil regards sex as a purely carnal act, thereby rejecting the idea of any real connection through it.

“In fact, if not being able to live without possessing what one desires is to be in love, to sacrifice one’s time, one’s pleasures, one’s life, then I truly am in love.”

This passage reveals that a key motivation behind Valmont’s actions is self-discovery. He wants to find out what his capabilities are, but he also seeks to find an acceptable definition of, or demarcation between, love and sex.

“I am astonished at the pleasure one feels at doing good. And I should be tempted to believe that those whom we call virtuous do not have so much merit as we are led to believe.”

Valmont is the novel’s most ambiguous character. Most of the time he appears to be completely egotistical and can only achieve pleasure from subverting others to his will. However, there is this brief moment when an act of virtuous behavior pleases him. In typical fashion, however, he immediately rejects the idea of morality as sincerely worthwhile, joking that the “pleasure” one experiences “at doing good” means that even the seemingly “virtuous” may be more motivated by that self-aggrandizing pleasure than truly doing good for others.