Dangerous Liaisons, Letter 52 summary
Letter 52 of 177 · 4 min to read the letter
In Letter 52, the Viscount de Valmont protests Madame de Tourvel’s ban on declarations of love and asks her to judge his sincerity herself. He presents his past affairs as empty distractions and her virtue as the source of a lasting devotion, pressing her for a direct answer about whether she believes him.
What happens
- Valmont protests Tourvel’s command to stop discussing his love, presenting such declarations as his remaining comfort in separation.
- He argues that mutual love offers happiness and that her resistance causes the suffering she attributes to love.
- He asks her to examine her own judgment and answer directly whether she doubts his exclusive devotion.
- He excuses his past inconstancy through youthful inexperience, women’s encouragement, and dissatisfaction with merely sensual pleasures.
- He claims that Tourvel’s inner qualities inspire an exclusive love that her decision cannot change.
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In this letter
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What does Valmont ask Tourvel to answer directly?
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