I don't really get the ending...Why is Madame de Rosemond so happy that Cecile is pregant? She liked that her nephew slept with an engaged 15 year old girl??? Ya that was confusing to me. But also...the part about Danceny. Ok so he's at her Cecile's wedding but with like flirting with two pretty girls. Does that mean he is over Cecile. Then why did he challenge Valmont to a duel. That was a little perplexing.. can anyone explain???
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In my opinion m'am de Rosemond was happy cos in spite of Valmont's death part of him, his future child will be here. And about Danceny - Merteuil had already corrupted him and he began to want more than just Cecile.
May be he agreed to be her lover, not husband at least.
The sniper's got talent!
If one notices,in the scene where Valmont seen dead, and then it is revealed that Cecile is carrying his child, it could be the rebirth of Valmont. Valmont's partner in his bet, however, has also given birth, if you will, and Danceny will be her successor.
Also, during the time period, women, or rather girls married men sometimes 25 years older than them. It was expected that the girl's hymen be unbroken, which they thought would be the certification of her chastity. The most horrific experience for the God-fearing, conservative aristocrat would be, of course finding that his "investment" had been spoiled. Times were very different, and women were seen as possessions...They didn't have Jesse Jackson, and there was no such thing as a women's movement.
Danceny challenging Valmont to a duel was probably the result of is hurt pride. A gentleman could be chivalrous, and would defend his lady's honor.
Also, if you notice, Danceny is also an accomplished swordsman, and Valmont's partner in crime finds Cecile in the very same situation she had been in. In a way, they were being reborn. Humorously enough, they corrupted themselves.
After killing Valmont, I doubt he's over Cecile...but Cecile could be over him.
I hoped this helped
-The East Coast Valmont
I think he also saw Cecile as his possession, then after hearing she was no virgin anymore he wasn't interested in her anymore...he only wanted to kill Valmont 'cause his pride was hurt (he had his "chance" and "blew" it). And I think Cecile was over Danceny esp. because he killed Valmont although he was not better than her cause he slept with her aunt.
I wonder if the old dude knew that Cecile was pregnant? I don't think so otherwise he wouldn't have married her, eh? And Marquise de Merteuil lost everything at the end...the old and the young lover...and Valmont too. She had nothing at the end.
Mme de Rosemond did know that Valmont and Cecile slept together I think...
~*~
I Do Believe In Faeries, I Do I Do...
I don't actually think Danceny even thought about sex until Merteuil came along. The scene where the two young lovers have the chance for sex, he uses the time to teach her a song. It's so frustratingly innocent. This idealized love was more important but the whole concept of the movie is that sex has been placed over love in this particular society. So naturally as Cecile and Danceny, representing the next generation of Merteuils and Valmonts, the same would follow. Danceny would find the pleasures of sex more gratifying and rewarding since love didn't get him anywhere like Valmont and Cecile would probably follow Merteuil's path. And at first I was a little perplexed as why this old woman would condone such behavior but considering her somewhat modern thinking, shown at the dinner scene, and her love for Valmont, I can see it. A piece of Valmont would live on. Although, if you think about it, there may be more pieces of Valmont than Cecile's baby.
shareTimes then were VERY different!!
Most girls at that age were preparing for marriage to men sometimes old enough to be their fathers..or they were already married.
so the thought of Valmont sleeping with the 15 year old cecile was not shocking....as it is to most of us today....
as for her being engaged...
a message give out quite alot on that movie was that alot of times the marriages were not made of love....and the wife and husband had lovers on the side..something that was also very true back then.
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All these explinations are quite good but in fact as this ending is in no way close the orginal ending in the book, so I can see why it would confuse you. It is NOT how the book ends and your right the characters do not behave as the should have, in fact Cecile has a miscarrige and loses the child(if you've seen Dangerous Liasons, it is much more faithful to the actual book but it leaves out much of what happens to the characters at the end.)
You should, if interested, read the book it is facinating and is actually nothing but the correspondence between all these characters instead of a straight forward narritive.
It is a really amazing book.
I havent read the book, and would love to! What a great story! Where did you get yours?? Thanks in advance.
"oooooh....someone needs a RAID enema to kill that bug up their ass!"
I got the book at the library. The library had the book and an audio tape version. I listened to the audio book while doing my long walks. Very interesting listening to the tape, but I found the book very hard to read. On the subject of the movie, I saw both movie versions of the novel and have to say I liked Valmont sooo much better. Valmont has my all time favorite seducation scene. That is when Valmont seduces Cecile. A prime example of a very sexy scene without explicit sex. I thought that was Colin Firth at his very best. Could never understand why the movie did not do better at the box office. It was a beautiful film in every aspect and all the acting was superb. After reading the book and listening to the tape the endings are quite similar except for the fact about Cecile losing the baby. In both movies Valmont dies.
shareOh my God! i agree so much! I liked this version better! I think this version is more underrated because there was not so many famous actors, but I liked this version better (mostly because of Colin Firth and Jeffrey Jones). I liked this Cecile better as well. I saw this film last here the other day, and now it one of my absolute favourite films ever (only thing bothering me was that Jeffrey didn't have to many scenes). I feel like I am a part of the picture when I watch it, and then it is suddenly over. The film just captures you, maybe that is because of Milos? Anyway, I really want to read the book somehow. Just an amazing story and film. I actually wished it was longer! I got completley lost...
"Things we lose have a way of comming back to us in the end" - Luna
There is another difference between the two movies in question:
Madame de Tourvel is alive and well with her judge husband at the end of Valmont, where she puts the rose on Valmont's tombstone (what an understanding and kind man her husband must be) ~~ but she sickens and dies at the end of Dangerous Liaisons and her husband is never mentioned again or seen.
The marriage in Valmont was a bit vague. I just don't think he knew what ALL took place. I feel all he did know or found out about was forgiven. They both crossed the line. I also felt there was a love of honor the film tries to convey.
sharehe offers to cancel the duel in exchange for an apology. an apology for what? Stealing his girlfriend I assumed.
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