Characters

• Marquise de Merteuil: A clever, ruthless widow who prides herself on her independence and mastery of social manipulation. She maintains a virtuous public image while pursuing libertine pleasures.

• Vicomte de Valmont: A notorious seducer and Merteuil’s former lover/ally/rival. He is proud of his reputation as a heartless libertine.

• Cécile de Volanges: A naïve 15-year-old fresh from a convent, engaged to the Comte de Gercourt.

• Présidente de Tourvel: A virtuous, married woman known for her piety and fidelity.

• Chevalier Danceny: A young, honorable music teacher who falls in love with Cécile.

• Supporting figures include Madame de Volanges (Cécile’s mother), Madame de Rosemonde (Valmont’s aunt), and various servants and minor aristocrats who facilitate or witness the schemes.

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The novel opens with correspondence revealing the boredom and cynicism of the aristocracy. Merteuil, seeking revenge on her former lover the Comte de Gercourt (who has slighted her), proposes that Valmont seduce and corrupt her fiancé’s innocent young bride-to-be, Cécile de Volanges, before the wedding. This would ruin Gercourt’s honor by ensuring his bride is not a virgin.

Valmont is initially uninterested, viewing it as too easy a conquest that wouldn’t enhance his reputation. He is instead obsessed with seducing the Présidente de Tourvel, who is staying at his aunt Madame de Rosemonde’s estate. Tourvel is famously virtuous, happily married (though her husband is away), and devoutly religious, making her a worthy challenge. Merteuil mocks Valmont’s pursuit but offers a wager: if Valmont can seduce Tourvel and provide written proof (e.g., a letter from her admitting the affair), she will resume their sexual relationship.

Meanwhile, Cécile arrives in society and quickly falls in love with her young music tutor, the Chevalier Danceny. Their innocent romance develops through secret letters. Merteuil pretends to be a confidante and ally to both Cécile and Danceny, offering advice while actually manipulating them to serve her schemes. Valmont eventually agrees to help the young lovers as a way to gain access and trust.

Valmont’s seduction of Tourvel proves extremely difficult. He feigns a moral reformation, presents himself as a penitent changed by true love, and uses every trick like emotional appeals, staged piety, intercepted letters, and calculated kindnesses. Tourvel resists fiercely, torn between her attraction and her principles. Frustrated by slow progress and learning that Madame de Volanges has warned Tourvel about his bad character, Valmont decides to seduce Cécile as petty revenge.

Using his access (facilitated by his role as “helper” to the young couple), Valmont sneaks into Cécile’s room one night and rapes her. He then begins an ongoing sexual relationship with her, teaching her physical pleasures while she continues to love Danceny emotionally. Cécile is initially horrified and ashamed but, under Merteuil’s cynical guidance, comes to compartmentalize the experiences. Cécile becomes pregnant by Valmont but suffers a miscarriage after a fall.

Valmont eventually succeeds in seducing Tourvel. She surrenders both physically and emotionally, falling deeply in love with him and believing his declarations of love. For his part, Valmont appears to develop genuine feelings for her, which alarms Merteuil.

Tensions rise between Merteuil and Valmont. Jealous and unwilling to lose control, Merteuil mocks Valmont for “falling in love” and refuses to honor their bargain. She manipulates him into cruelly abandoning Tourvel without explanation. Valmont complies to protect his libertine reputation but grows resentful. In retaliation, he helps Danceny reunite with Cécile and undermines Merteuil. Merteuil takes Danceny as her own lover and declares open war on Valmont, revealing to Danceny that Valmont has seduced and dishonored Cécile.

The schemes unravel. Danceny challenges Valmont to a duel and mortally wounds him. On his deathbed, Valmont gives Danceny packets of letters exposing Merteuil’s full involvement in the deceptions, seductions, and betrayals (including her own affairs and manipulations). Valmont dies, possibly with some measure of remorse or strategic finality.

The consequences are devastating. Tourvel, overcome with guilt, shame, and heartbreak upon learning of Valmont’s true nature and the betrayal, retreats to a convent and dies of a fever. Merteuil is publicly ruined when the letters circulate. She loses a major lawsuit (affecting her fortune), contracts smallpox that disfigures her face and blinds her in one eye, and flees society in disgrace. Cécile, dishonored and grieving, returns to the convent with the intention of becoming a nun. Danceny is disillusioned and eventually leaves for Malta to join a knightly order.

Is this the Korean version of Vermont?