...When he said he was the father? I always just assumed that he meant figuratively: "I've watched you grow your whole life, therefore I love you like a son" sort of thing. But after watching this for the first time in years, I can't tell if it's supposed to be taken literally or not. Wikipedia and other sites seem to take it literally. But for some reason, I can't picture D'artanion committing such a crime against his king.
shareHe said it to Philippe. He did not know Philippe.
Plus it was clear that he genuinely loved the Queen mother. The D'Artagnan created by Dumas had an affair with a married womn, so he might have!
I was forgiven, but now I can't forgive.
That's true. Saying it to Philippe as opposed to Louis...that does make a big difference.
shareThat's quite different from the book. Not only does d'Artagnan never sleep with Queen Anne, he is actually quite frustrated at her ingratitude for his thirty years of service. He hasn't been promoted from Lieutentant since the first book, because she won't give him the time of day.
shareWell, in the context of the movie, I'd say she definitely showed her gratitude!
shareIn the context of this movie, yes, D'artagnan meant it literally. It's implied several times, that he and the Queen have been engaged in a long term affair. It also helps to know a bit of the history too, as the Queens husband had been separated from her for a long time, and they had not conceived children, when she became pregnant with Louis.
So for this movie, yes he did commit a crime against his King, for loving the Queen, and thus fathering her offspring. The scene towards the end when he says to Philippe that he's never felt pride as a father until that moment, because he did not know of Philippe's existence, is him confirming out loud for the first time, that he is in fact the father of Philippe and Louis.
What I don't get is that when D'Artagnan says he'd give up his king but he can't give up his son, that contradicts the fact that Louis is his son too so in that sense he would be giving up one son for another. He made it sound like he had disowned Louis at that point and no longer regarded him as his son. I find it hard to believe he really abandoned love for Louis despite all he was doing wrong considering how long he served him out of fatherly devotion until he learned of Phillipe's existence. Even after Louis stabs him, he begs Phillipe not to kill him because he's his brother and he doesn't want his sons to kill each other as he lays dying.
shareHe never gave up Louis at all. He was just trying to save Philippe from death at that point, and keep his friends alive. His goal was in trying to help his friends escape, not replace Louis. He never stopped loving him.
shareYes, he means it literally. He is their father.
There's clues earlier in the film. Porthos talks about remembering the night they were born, and how D'Artagnan was drunk. Saying it was the only time he'd ever seen D'Artagnan like that. Implying it was out of chracter for him to drink heavily. An allusion to the stress D'Artagnan was under at the time.
Also, notice how much D'Artagnan stuck up for Louis, whilst the other three musketeers had left him for being corrupt. D'Artagnan's loyalty to Louis was because Louis was his son.