Does "The Three Musketeers" disgust anyone else?

[Rosie Cotton]

Am I the only one? I read The Three Musketeers this year, and I'll tell you. It disgusted me.

Dumas has insulted every woman on the planet by placing them so low, and he has embarassed every man on the planet for that. I know people who idolize D'Artagnan. For what? For having an affair with a married woman (Madame Bonacieux), having an affair with a widowed woman that he's not married to (Lady DeWinter) partially for his own reasons, and then using another woman sexually (Kitty). Doesn't that disgust you?

Doesn't it disgust anyone else that one of the integral parts of the book (where he finds the Fleur de Lis on DeWinter's body) takes place while he's having sex?

Doesn't it disgust anyone else that D'Artagnan acts as though every man in France has a mistress, just as a given fact?

Is this just me?

[Charles Darnay]

I have never heard of anyone idolizing D'Artagnan, or treating the story in any other way besides a work of historical fiction.

I personally was not offended by the novel. I belive, although this is just specualtion, that Dumas did not truly believe that this (how he portrayed his characters) is how human beings "should" act, but rather how some "choose" to act. I think that if anything, the novel is a satirization on those who go around romancing anyone they meet. I think you may just be taking this too personally

[m o n s i e u r]

It doesn't disgust me.

Of course, women are demonized a little in Milady. But she's surely a strong character, isn't she? She's really good.

And every man in France DOES appear to have a mistress, apart from Athos, and he seems a little strange.

The thing that I don't like about d'Artagnan is that he has no qualms about killing anyone, and especially when he attacks the Comte de Wardes, whom he doesn't know, and proceeds to further blacken his name later on.

Otherwise he's a fun fellow.

[Rosie Cotton]

I have never heard of anyone idolizing D'Artagnan, or treating the story in any other way besides a work of historical fiction.

I personally was not offended by the novel.

I'm not offended, I'm just disgusted.

I guess I am the only one.

[RobinHood3000]

Well, nobody said that any major character in a novel had to be perfect, or even reflect the author's ideals.

[Rosie Cotton]

No, very true RobinHood, but I think to be considered a literary hero, they have to show a certain morality. I don't think he's good enough. I don't expect them to be perfect, in fact I can't stand it when they are. But I think they have to be righteous enough to be considered good people, which I don't think D'Artagnan is.

[Charles Darnay]

No, very true RobinHood, but I think to be considered a literary hero, they have to show a certain morality. I don't think he's good enough. I don't expect them to be perfect, in fact I can't stand it when they are. But I think they have to be righteous enough to be considered good people, which I don't think D'Artagnan is.

A valid point.... but.....

What about most of Shakespeare's heroes? Should we really be emulating Romeo as much as we do? He was a hedoinsitc teen that brought about the end of several innocents.

Or even Hamlet, whose desire to prove his uncle guilty caused a lot of distress (and the inevitable death of Ophelia). I don't mention Polonius cause he really shouldnt have been there in the first place. Hey, if you hide behind a curtain, expect to be stabbed.

[Boris239]

Come on, D'Artagnan is 18 when he comes to Paris. He is young and unexperienced. Obviously he is far from perfect in terms of morality, but it was different in 17th century- the society was more tolerant to men having mistresses, especially if he was a noble. Ok it wasn't very moral to start an affair with milady, while he was supposedely in love with Constance. Somehow I don't feel too sorry for her. And I certainly don't think that he insulted every woman with his novel. Milady, even though evil, has an incredible strength and intellect. Or you think that women should be insulted because Constance was unfaithful to her husband? Then a huge number of great novel are insulting

[Boris239]

in my previous thread I meant that I don't feel sorry for milady

[dadams]

Sex is cool

[caspian]

I'm not sure about disgusting. But for sure i don't like "three mus" and Duma at all. After reading a couple of his works I came to the point that he's the only writer whose characters's have no "character", they're not analyzed. his works are good just for movies and for kids.

[Boris239]

After reading a couple of his works I came to the point that he's the only writer whose characters's have no "character", they're not analyzed. his works are good just for movies and for kids.

First of all there are a lot of novels in which the characters aren't analyzed well enough. A lot of adventure novels are not supposed to be dramatic masterpieces. Of course, "Three musketeers" is not "Crime and Punishment", but in my opinion the characters there are full of life.
And "Count of Monte Cristo" is, in my opinion, not just for kids and movies. The personality of Edmon Dantes is described and analyzed pretty good.

[Rosie Cotton]

Come on, D'Artagnan is 18 when he comes to Paris. He is young and unexperienced. Obviously he is far from perfect in terms of morality, but it was different in 17th century- the society was more tolerant to men having mistresses, especially if he was a noble. Ok it wasn't very moral to start an affair with milady, while he was supposedely in love with Constance. Somehow I don't feel too sorry for her. And I certainly don't think that he insulted every woman with his novel. Milady, even though evil, has an incredible strength and intellect. Or you think that women should be insulted because Constance was unfaithful to her husband? Then a huge number of great novel are insulting

By that logic how does any boy remain a virgin until marriage? It's rationalization. I do find it DISTURBING that Constance just is completely unfaithful.

[Boris239]

I sincerely doubt that a lot of young men from French nobility of 17th century remained virgins until marriage.
What do you mean by "completely unfaithful"? She doesn't like her husband- that much is obvious. And he afterall betrays her( if I'm not mistaken it happened be4 she became unfaithful). Sorry, no divorce at that time. And she obviously could compare her husband to d'Artagnan...

[designchic06]

Being a woman, I'm actually not offended by the aforementioned. First, you have to take into account when the book was written. Second, I don't feel women are placed low...Milady was very powerful. Third, D'Artagnan wasn't the only one having affairs, it takes two to tango and the women aren't all that innocent themselves...Although I agree I wasn't impressed with D'Artagnan's character and the way he conducted himself, but nor am I with any other 18 year old male. He'll mature, just give him sometime. We were all pretty naive through our adolescence. He did, however, seem deeply in love with Constance toward the end (I didn’t appreciate Milady’s act of vengeance before departing the cloister), and the sense of camaraderie and compassion between he and the other three mustn’t go unnoticed.
As for the issue of sex, I was surprised to not see very much in there at all. Actually, I was a little disappointed, D'Artagnan's always running around doing things in the name of France. But look at the bright side, at least Porthos wasn't the main focus of our attention in the story. I am, however, a bit offended be the treatment of the lackeys...But when I think back to the ignorance of the times, I see where Dumas originates his concepts. I just appreciate even more the opportunity to live in this century and this country.