Dangerous Liaisons, Letter 36 summary
Letter 36 of 177 · 5 min to read the letter
In Letter 36, Viscount de Valmont bypasses President de Tourvel’s refusal to accept his letters and asks her to pity his professed love. He recounts how her beauty and virtue supposedly transform him, then makes her responsible for choosing between his happiness and despair.
What happens
- Valmont blames Tourvel’s rejection of his letters for forcing him to use trickery to reach her.
- He recalls arriving at Madame de Rosemonde’s without expecting to fall in love.
- He claims that admiration for Tourvel’s virtue changes his desires into a love he initially keeps secret.
- He describes helping unfortunate people, then losing control of his feelings when chance leaves him alone with Tourvel.
- He contrasts his suffering with her supposed peace and asks her to determine his fate through her reply.
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In this letter
What to notice
Valmont reverses the positions of offender and victim. His appeal for forgiveness also accuses Tourvel of treating him unjustly.
Quick check
Why does Valmont say he resorts to trickery?
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