Yes, that was sad... After they managed to get Constance out of the way, there the nasty woman is... I found that so touching. Particularly Athos who took d'Artagnan in his arms.
I think that double feeling towards Milady deserving it and feeling sorry for her was intended by Dumas. He used it later very intelligently.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
Yes I loved the scene between Anthos and d'Artagnan. Anthos was my favorite of the Musketeers.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Athos is truly a lovely character, one of the loveliest ever. Or close.
I can't choose between Porthos and Athos because both are so tremendously lovely, in their own ways.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
haha Porthos was my least favortie. I did not dislike him, but I was drawn more tword the others.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Maybe my opinion is a little influenced by what happens after.
Initially, though, Porthos was my absolute favourite! Besde d'Artagnan of course. I found his naivety always so engaging and cute. If not funny. But he has got a really engagng and most true side that is not too much developed in The Three Musketeers yet.
I liked Aramis the least, but still tolerated him because he was smart and of use. However, I have now developed a true dislike.
D'Artagnan though, is my absolute favourite. But I think he incorporates all qualities of all three 'inseperable' friends and thus becomes the true quitessensiel musketeer. I love those moments when they all listen to this young boy of 19, including Athos who has loads of experience, 'because he is smart and he has a plan'. I love it when Athos tells him the story, it is so touching... And the battle at La Rochelle where they will have a quiet dinner. It turns out legendary in the end.
'Mr d'Artagnan?'
'Yes, you know he was the one who kept a platoon out of La Rochelle by himself.'
'Him? Is that not a little exaggerated?'
'No, no, it is true.' (Of course it was exaggerated, but even in the book d'Artagnan grows into a myth. No wonder that the character d'Artagnan also grew into a myth in general so that everyone knows him, but can't really distinguish whether he was actually real or not...)
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
I always loved d'Artagnan the best in the movies, and so I was really looking forward to him in the book, but when I started reading, well I could not help but to fall in love with Anthos. Though d'Artagnan was my 2nd favorite. I enjoyed Aramis I thought it was an amusing.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Yes, you can sort of, almost justify everything Milady has done up until that point, at the very least as an act of self-preservation. But when she kills Constance, all bets are off.
To address the earlier question of her background, when Dumas rewrote the musketeers for the stage ("The Youth of the Musketeers") he added a prologue that takes place during the time when Milady is being courted by Athos, who is the Vicomte de la Fere at the time. It doesn't really illuminate the character that much more, but it's pretty entertaining none the less. You can find the french transcript if you Google "La Jeunesse des Mousquetaires".
I do not think it was self-preservation when she killed De Winter's brother, her second husband. It seemed that he truly loved her and put his wealth at her disposal but she killed him out of her pure greed of wanting the money all to herself.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~ Edgar Allan Poe
@ AthosESK: Wow! I'll have a look at that tomorrow! As it is a good source it will be interesting to read.
About Milady: It is kind of puzzling why she is there and how she comes there. But as soon as you get that chapter where she manipulates Richelieu in giving her a free passage (which allows her essentialy to do anything she likes) and you get the whole story off the hangman (brother of the original priest she seduced who posed as her brother when Athos was courting her) you really grow cold...
Last edited by kiki1982; 03-08-2009 at 07:41 PM.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
>>I do not think it was self-preservation when she killed De Winter's brother, her second husband.
True. But, perhaps you can use poetic license to imagine what happened between the two of them, since his death takes place "off stage/off screen" as it were. It's just that the killing of Constance is the first time you actually SEE her killing someone. All other evidence is... circumstantial
Hey, Kiki! I see you still don't like Aramis after all this time, huh? This saddens me. Talk to you later!
That's the point... Good determination... Those double feelings helped him to create Mordaunt after twenty years. Another hell creature on earth!Originally Posted by kiki1982
"Haven't you, then, a fourth companion?"
"Yes, madame, the Comte de la Fere."
"What does he ask?"
"Nothing."
"There is in the world, then, one man who, having the power to ask, asks - nothing!"
"There is the Comte de la Fere, madame. The Comte de la Fere is not a man."
"What is he, then?"
"The Comte de la Fere is a demigod."
I would never forgive her...
"Haven't you, then, a fourth companion?"
"Yes, madame, the Comte de la Fere."
"What does he ask?"
"Nothing."
"There is in the world, then, one man who, having the power to ask, asks - nothing!"
"There is the Comte de la Fere, madame. The Comte de la Fere is not a man."
"What is he, then?"
"The Comte de la Fere is a demigod."
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