Letter written by Valmont to Tourvel.

This letter, written by Valmont to Tourvel, is particular because it clearly shows Valmont’s personality, he is extremely able in the art of manipulation in the way he writes his sentences. He uses many techniques to bring Tourvel on his side and to seduce her. In this essay I will explore the importance that Valmont has to convince Tourvel that he is sincere and to rehabilitate his bad reputation by using manipulation, guilt and his use of techniques in his writings.

Valmont offers us a perfect demonstration of how a manipulator can play with emotions and feelings through the use of words and the way he expresses himself which serve as his unique interests. As mentioned before, one of the first objectives for Valmont to be able to reach to Tourvel and to remove her disinterest towards him is to change her vision that she has on him, which is built from the bad reputation that follows him. To accomplish this, Valmont will show Tourvel a character that is antipode to what he represented before, the one who was frivolous and promiscuous becomes passionate, sincere and tormented by her refusal in the aim to represent perfectly the projection that Tourvel has on the lover that she expects.

We are first introduced with an interjection, ‘Ah!’ which recurs and sets a rhythm throughout the letter. This intervention can be interpreted in two different ways.

Firstly, we the reader, notice that when Valmont uses this interjection, it marks the beginning of a statement which works in reaction to the previous one.

“quelle est donc cette crainte ? Ah ! ce n’est pas celle de le partager : votre cœur (…) n’est pas fait pour l’amour”

In this passage, the interjection “Ah !” separates the question and the response; furthermore, Valmont’s response to his own question takes the form of an affirmation, that is not only provocative, which we will be developed after, but also imprints a simulated sincerity that is found throughout the letter and appears to come straight from Valmont’s heart.

“je désavoue mes reproches ; j’ai pu les écrire, mais non pas les penser. Ah ! laissez-moi vous croire parfaite, c’est le seul plaisir qui me reste.”

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