MovieChat Forums > Dangerous Liaisons (1989) Discussion > What was Marquise's intention?

What was Marquise's intention?

posted 14 years ago by glasshouse_gr-1
7 replies | jump to latest

AS a woman the whole time she just wanted revenge from Malkovich's character? and she ruined few lives doing that??

[–] JRod75 14 years ago

Keep in mind the Marquise's favorite word is cruelty. She loved Valmont and learning that he was in love with Madame de Tourvel set her off. If she couldn't have his heart, no one else could. At that point, she tested his loyalty to her by making him break up with de Tourvel. It wasn't her intention for anyone's life to be ruined, but she wanted to retain in control of Valmont at any cost. That is why she declares her victory over Valmont once she learns of his betrayal of de Tourvel.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

[–] FloatingOpera7 14 years ago

No. Valmont never loved Trouvel. I don't see it. He just wanted to bang her. There is no point in the movie that shows any real sing of a man who is in love. He continues to be a decadent libertine. He clearly loves his own damn self and it's not in his nature to be exclusively devoted to one woman. He is addicted to sex. I mean first of all, we see how he rapes Cecile. No one who knows how to love can rape. He corrupts her and also wants to have a night with Madame de Montreul Glenn Close (his ex lover) while supposedly declaring his love for Trouvel. He doesn't love anyone. This man is a monster. I bet there were many such men in the Ancien Regime and French aristocracy in the pre Revolution period. What bastards! You couldn't marry one woman and stayed faithful for life ?? I doubt he would have remained faithful had he and Trouvel married.

[–] student_points 13 years ago

Euh, you seem to have some issues about men. Did a man cheat on you that you are so sensitive about staying faithful. It's not like Valmont did anything to you personal, so lighten up.

maybe it is not love as you experience it, but in his own way Valmont certainly loved Mme de Tourvel. His way: actually having feelings for someone. He didn't care about anyone else, not even Merteuil, he only wanted Merteuil's approval and admiration.
Valmont was a sociopath yes, but still capable of a feeling, altough be it only to one person.

[–] DasMaedchen84 12 years ago

I didn't see Valmont as a monster. A jerk? Yes. But I do feel like he loved Tourvel in the best way that he knew how, which was still pretty dysfunctional. I would disagree that he was incapable of love.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] jh66 12 years ago

How can a 'sociopath' love, as Valmont definitely did De Tourvel? He admitted this himself, with no reason to lie, and a furious de Merteuil believed him and got bitter and angry about it?

We don't know Valmont's childhood, but he seemed quite mixed up and [self]destructive, perhaps realising that as a rich and bored noble, his only chance of attention was in 'outshining' his dubious friends?

[–] sascha-17 11 years ago

Her intentions/motivation are pretty clearly stated in the film.

She initially says that the wants to pay back her old lover (the one who dumped her and is now getting ready to marry Cécile).

More importantly, she also talks about her more fundamental motivations during one of her dialogues with Valmont: She explains how her upper-class upbringing formed her views on men and women and that she decided early on to dominate men and to avenge her own sex. Which, in a way, is pretty hypocritical in itself, since she seems to have no problems with ruining men *and* women alike in her little schemes.

I guess you could say her real motivation is to dominate men, to avenge herself on them, to ensure her place at the top of society's foodchain and, perhaps most importantly, to maintain her image as a virtuous woman. When her true nature is revealed to society in the end (the scene at the opera and her in front of the mirror), that's pretty much a death-scene for that character. I'd go as far as to say that to her, that fate is even worse than death.

I'm not too sure about her motivation regarding Valmont. Meaning: I don't think she had planned to turn on him from the get-go. There was no way she could anticipate him falling in love with Madame de Tourvel, which (IMO) was the one thing that caused a major shift in their relationship and drove her to turn against him.

S.