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
D’Artagnan heads home to think about what to do in regard to Milady. He knows he is in love with her, but he doesn’t think that she cares about him. Furthermore, he still wants to get revenge on her. Eventually, the evening arrives and d’Artagnan heads back to Milady’s residence. When he arrives, Milady immediately invites him into her bedroom. Kitty bears witness to this invitation and is deeply upset by it. Almost immediately, d’Artagnan and Milady have sex. As soon as they are done, Milady starts asking questions about d’Artagnan’s duel with the Comte de Wardes.
When he is not in Milady’s presence, d’Artagnan is better at thinking critically about his situation. However, he does not think clearly enough, because only a few hours later he heads right back to Milady’s home. Essentially, Milady utilizes sex to get d’Artagnan to do her bidding. Of course, she doesn’t yet know that there will be no duel with the Comte de Wardes and is unlikely to be happy when she finds that out.
Themes
D’Artagnan tries to ignore the issue for the time being, but Milady won’t let it go. Eventually, convinced that Milady has some feelings for him, d’Artagnan decides to tell her the truth. He lets her know that he’s been acting as the Comte de Wardes. This enrages Milady, who begins punching d’Artagnan. When d’Artagnan tries to stop her, he accidently rips her dress and spots a fleur-de-lis on her shoulder.
D’Artagnan tricks himself into thinking Milady loves him when nothing could be further from the truth. As Milady attacks d’Artagnan in a fit of rage, d’Artagnan discovers her true identity; she is indeed Athos’s wife, as the fleur-de-lis on her shoulder would indicate.
Themes
In response, Milady picks up a dagger and tries to kill d’Artagnan. Shocked, d’Artagnan grabs his sword so that he can defend himself. He moves the blade to Milady’s throat so that she will calm down and then he makes his escape to Kitty’s room. Milady chases after him, but to no avail. D’Artagnan asks Kitty to help him out of the building. Kitty tells him that it would be better if he put on some clothes first. Because d’Artagnan’s clothes are in Milady’s room, he is forced to leave wearing women’s clothing.
Now that d’Artagnan knows Milady’s secret, she wants him dead. Milady doesn’t realize d’Artagnan knows Athos—which makes matters even worse; just his knowledge of the fleur-de-lis alone is dangerous because he could ruin her if the right people found out about it.
Themes
