# Revenge and Cruelty in Dangerous Liaisons

> Theme guide for Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

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.

## Where it surfaces

- [Letter 2: The Marchioness de Merteuil to the Viscount Valmont, at the Castle of ⸻](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-2-the-marchioness-de-merteuil-to-the-viscount-valmont-at-the-castle-of): 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.
- [Letter 20: The Marchioness de Merteuil to Viscount Valmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-20-the-marchioness-de-merteuil-to-viscount-valmont): Merteuil's scheme against Gercourt is driven by his past mistreatment of her, aiming to ruin his marriage.
- [Letter 44: Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-44-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil): Upon discovering Madame de Volanges's interference, Valmont vows to seduce and ruin her daughter Cecilia as an act of vengeance.
- [Letter 100: The Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-100-the-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil): Valmont's rage at being deceived fuels a detailed fantasy of revenge, including making Tourvel suffer and beg for mercy.
- [Letter 144: Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-144-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil): Valmont takes pride in Tourvel's suffering and views her retreat as a trophy, demonstrating his cruel delight in psychological domination.
- [Letter 145: The Marchioness de Merteuil to the Viscount de Valmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-145-the-marchioness-de-merteuil-to-the-viscount-de-valmont): Merteuil revels in her revenge against Tourvel as a rival, and takes pleasure in outmaneuvering Valmont, demonstrating her cruelty.
- [Letter 151: The Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-151-the-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil): Valmont threatens revenge if Merteuil does not comply, and references the suffering of Madame de Tourvel as a consequence of his own cruelty.
- [Letter 153: Viscount de Valmont to the Marchioness de Merteuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-153-viscount-de-valmont-to-the-marchioness-de-merteuil): The chapter culminates in Merteuil's declaration of war, setting the stage for mutual destruction and revenge.
- [Letter 154: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-154-madame-de-volanges-to-madame-de-rosemonde): Madame de Volanges's resentment toward Valmont as the author of the unhappy adventure underscores the cruel consequences of his manipulations.
- [Letter 159: The Marchioness de Merteuil to the Viscount de Valmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-159-the-marchioness-de-merteuil-to-the-viscount-de-valmont): Merteuil explicitly states her preference for revenge over ridicule, highlighting the theme of calculated cruelty.
- [Letter 162: Chevalier Danceny to the Viscount de Valmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-162-chevalier-danceny-to-the-viscount-de-valmont): Danceny's challenge is driven by a desire for revenge and to restore his honor after Valmont's betrayal, highlighting the theme of retribution.
- [Letter 163: M. Bertrand to Madame de Rosemonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-163-m-bertrand-to-madame-de-rosemonde): The duel represents the culmination of revenge and cruelty between Valmont and Danceny, leading to Valmont's death.
- [Letter 164: Madame de Rosemonde to M. Bertrand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-164-madame-de-rosemonde-to-m-bertrand): Madame de Rosemonde's call for legal vengeance against Danceny reflects the theme of retribution, even as she invokes religion and humanity.
- [Letter 167: Anonymous to the Chevalier Danceny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-167-anonymous-to-the-chevalier-danceny): Madame de Rosemonde's reported intention to prosecute Danceny suggests a desire for legal revenge following Valmont's death in the duel.
- [Letter 169: The Chevalier Danceny to Madame de Rosemonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-169-the-chevalier-danceny-to-madame-de-rosemonde): Danceny justifies his duel with Valmont as an act of revenge for betrayal in love, friendship, and confidence, and seeks to expose Merteuil as the true instigator.
- [Letter 173: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-173-madame-de-volanges-to-madame-de-rosemonde): The public humiliation of Merteuil at the opera, orchestrated by societal scorn and possibly Prevan's return, exemplifies collective cruelty as revenge for her past manipulations.
- [Letter 175: Madame de Volanges to Madame de Rosemonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/chapters/letter-175-madame-de-volanges-to-madame-de-rosemonde): The public glee at Merteuil's downfall and the sarcastic remarks about her disfigurement reflect the cruel satisfaction of her enemies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/themes/revenge_and_cruelty
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dangerous_liaisons_se/themes