Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Three Musketeers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship and Loyalty
Honor
Class and Power
The Secrets of the Past
Seduction and Romance
Summary
Analysis
On the first Monday of April, 1625, there is an uproar in the town of Meung, as though a revolution is about to begin. The townsfolk of Meung are all making their way toward the Jolly Miller, the local inn. Such commotions are common in Meung, partly because the populace is easily excitable, but mostly because so many wars have gone on as of late. When the townsfolk arrive at the inn, they find the source of the excitement: an unknown young man. The man is like a young Don Quixote; he has the apparel of a knight but looks like a farm boy. He’s ridden into town on an old and weary-looking horse that repulses the crowd.
The opening paragraphs of the story help set the historical backdrop for the novel. Meung-sur-Loire (or just Meung) is a town in central France, south of Paris. As this passage suggests, France was fighting nonstop wars and quashing rebellions throughout the early 1600s in the name of religion. Additionally, this is the first description the novel provides for its protagonist, and it’s not exactly flattering. In essence, the description suggests that this young man wants to be a knight but comes off looking like a buffoon. He is similar to Don Quixote, the famous literary character from the novel of the same name, who thinks he is a knight but is actually just insane.
Themes
The rider—whose name is d’Artagnan—knows that the townsfolk already do not like him or his horse. He didn’t want to bring the horse, but felt he had to because it was a gift from his father. Before leaving home, d’Artagnan’s father gave him three gifts: the horse, 15 crowns, and a letter for Monsieur de Tréville. In a flashback to d’Artagnan’s departure, his father also gives him some advice. He tells d'Artagnan to act bravely, fight often, and to live happily according to his own whims. With that, he sends d’Artagnan on his way to go and meet M. de Tréville, a rich noble who fought many battles, and was once d’Artagnan the Elder’s neighbor. Before d’Artagnan leaves, he also says goodbye to his mother, who gives him a recipe for a salve that is said to cure “any wounds that do not reach the heart.”
Although d’Artagnan’s parents do their best to help him achieve a better life, his origins are quite humble. In addition to the sickly-looking horse, 15 crowns is a paltry sum that is unlikely to get d’Artagnan far. That said, both the healing salve and the letter for M. de Tréville are valuable items that will play important roles as the novel moves forward. Equally important is the advice of d’Artagnan the Elder. As his father suggests, early in his adventure d’Artagnan will fight often and according to his own whims. However, as d’Artagnan matures, he will begin to curb this impulse.
Themes
Because of his father’s advice, d’Artagnan is always on edge and assumes everyone wants to fight him, even if they are smiling at him. It doesn’t help that he gets a lot of smiles and strange looks because of the condition of his horse. Nonetheless, he manages to make it all the way to Meung without fighting anyone. Yet, when he arrives at the Jolly Miller, problems immediately arise. D’Artagnan hears a stranger inside the inn making fun of his horse and is immediately enraged. D’Artagnan orders the man to come outside and repeat what he said to d’Artagnan’s face. The man does so, but in a mocking fashion, which only generates more laughter from his cohort.
The beginning of the novel is similar in tone to Don Quixote. In other words, it is comical on a level that approaches parody. D’Artagnan acts like a madman and tries to fight the first man who shows him any disrespect. The stranger’s mockery suggests that he is likely a soldier himself who probably has much more experience than d’Artagnan. As such, d’Artagnan’s challenge is ill-advised, especially considering he is alone.
Themes
Furious, d’Artagnan pulls out his sword to initiate a duel. Exasperated, the man does the same. He also mutters under his breath that d’Artagnan would be perfect for the King, who is currently recruiting for his musketeers. Before d’Artagnan and the stranger can fight, the stranger’s friends come out and start hitting d'Artagnan with makeshift weapons such as shovels and sticks. D’Artagnan moves to fight them off, while the stranger sheathes his sword. After a moment, the stranger tells his friends to stop fighting as well, but d’Artagnan insists that the fight must go on. Back in the present, it is this spectacle that attracts all of the townsfolk to the inn. When they arrive, they see d’Artagnan take a whack to the head with a stick, which causes him to bleed and pass out.
The stranger’s comment is odd because it is said in earnest. Although d’Artagnan’s behavior is off kilter, to put it mildly, the stranger nonetheless thinks he would make a good musketeer. His remark is part of the novel’s commentary on the absurdity of the era. Although the musketeers are the heroes of the story, they are also somewhat absurd figures who are just as petty as they are noble. The fight itself is farcical rather than exciting and engaging. Although d’Artagnan initiates the fight to protect his honor, it quickly devolves into slapstick comedy.
Themes
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To avoid further trouble, the innkeeper takes d’Artagnan inside to attend to his wounds. While d’Artagnan is passed out, the stranger asks the innkeeper about him. The innkeeper—who refers to the stranger as “your Excellency”—tells him that d’Artagnan promised to fight the stranger again as soon as he regained his strength. The innkeeper also says that d’Artagnan invoked the name M. de Tréville, which catches the stranger’s attention. Evidently, the stranger knows Monsieur de Tréville and wonders whether Tréville sent d’Artagnan after him. In order to avoid further trouble, the stranger decides to leave the inn to go meet a woman he only refers to as “Milady.” Before he goes, however, he wants to take a look at the letter relating to Tréville.
Clearly, the stranger is a man of high status; the innkeeper calls him “your Excellency” and he is familiar with M. de Tréville. Meanwhile, it seems as though d’Artagnan took his father’s words to heart; he wants to fight again, even as he is still recovering from his last encounter.
Themes
In the meantime, the innkeeper rushes to d’Artagnan and tells him to leave. He assumes the stranger is leaving because d’Artagnan is still present and thinks he might stay if he kicks out the young troublemaker. D’Artagnan does as he is told, but almost immediately runs into the stranger. The stranger is talking to a beautiful woman in her early 20s. The stranger gives her a box and tells her to immediately return to England and then says that he will return to Paris. Immediately, d’Artagnan interrupts their conversation and once again tries to start a fight with the stranger. Not wanting more trouble, both the stranger and the beautiful woman flee in opposite directions. As they depart, the woman tells the stranger, “the least delay may ruin everything.” As the stranger flees, d’Artagnan yells at him and calls him a coward, but does not have the strength to chase after him.
Presumably, the woman who the stranger talks to is Milady (which is used as a proper name is this context). Together, they seem to be working out some sort of scheme, although it is not clear if they are heroes, villains, or something in between. At this point, all that’s clear is that they position themselves against M. de Tréville, although d’Artagnan doesn’t even know that when he attempts to fight the stranger yet again.
Themes
Because the stranger is gone anyway, the innkeeper allows d’Artagnan to stay at the inn for a crown per night. Because d’Artagnan is injured, the innkeeper assumes he will get all of the money that remains in d’Artagnan’s possession. However, the morning after the brawl, d’Artagnan uses his mother’s salve recipe to cure his wounds and is almost back to normal by the following day. As d’Artagnan is getting ready to depart, he realizes that his letter for M. de Tréville is missing and goes into another rage. Not wanting to risk another incident or get in trouble with Tréville, the innkeeper tells d’Artagnan that he thinks the stranger likely stole his letter. This satisfies d’Artagnan, who vows to complain to Tréville, who will in turn complain to the king.
Above all, the innkeeper cares about making money, a fact that will carry over to the other innkeepers in the novel. However, the innkeeper’s plan to make money is foiled because d’Artagnan’s mother’s salve is as good as advertised, and he doesn’t need to recuperate for long. As d’Artagnan leaves the inn, he expresses a high opinion of himself. Evidently, he believes his letter is important enough to warrant serious regal punishment for whoever stole it.
Themes
D’Artagnan leaves the inn and makes his way to Paris. Once in Paris, he sells his horse, despite his father’s wishes, and gets three crowns in return. Next, he walks around Paris until he can find lodging he can afford, which ends up being a dingy garret. He spends the rest of the day completing miscellaneous errands before going to bed, satisfied with his journey thus far and hopeful for the future. The next day, d’Artagnan wakes up and makes his way to the home of M. de Tréville.
Although d’Artagnan follows his father’s advice in some areas, he shows complete disregard for it in others. Such behavior isn’t disrespectful so much as it is necessary; D’Artagnan’s come to Paris with little to no money, and his horse is a necessary sacrifice if he wants to get by.
Themes
