Revenge and Cruelty

Merteuil and Valmont's actions are driven by a desire for revenge—Merteuil against Gercourt and Valmont against women who resist him—with cruelty inflicted for pleasure, culminating in duels, ruined reputations, and deaths.

Merteuil's plot is driven by a desire for revenge against Gercourt for past slights, and she takes cruel pleasure in the prospect of his public humiliation.

Merteuil's scheme against Gercourt is driven by his past mistreatment of her, aiming to ruin his marriage.

Upon discovering Madame de Volanges's interference, Valmont vows to seduce and ruin her daughter Cecilia as an act of vengeance.

Valmont's rage at being deceived fuels a detailed fantasy of revenge, including making Tourvel suffer and beg for mercy.