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
Throughout the early part of her first day in captivity, Milady sits and stews in her anger. However, eventually she pulls herself together and reminds herself of how beautiful and capable she is. Immediately, she starts scheming. When she hears footsteps coming in her direction, she purposely splays herself out on an armchair to pretend as though she’s fainted. When Felton comes in to give her dinner, he is not sure what to do. Instead of deciding himself, he goes and fetches Lord de Winter.
At this point, the novel takes a sustained departure from the point of view of d’Artagnan and his friends. Instead, its focus turns to Milady and her dealings with Lord de Winter. Despite her dire circumstances, Milady never stops scheming. Although her situation seems impossible, she never gives up hope. In these chapters, Milady doesn’t become a wholly sympathetic character, but she is not wholly evil, either.
Themes
Lord de Winter comes to look at Milady’s performance and immediately starts laughing. He tells Felton that this is the first of many performances he can expect out of Milady. Lord de Winter then asks Felton if he finds Milady attractive. Felton says no, which Lord de Winter likes. If Felton is not attracted to Milady, then it will be even more difficult for her to corrupt him.
Again, Milady underestimates Lord de Winter. Although her performance partially fools Felton, it does not come close to tricking Lord de Winter. To make matters worse for Milady, Felton claims he is not attracted to her, meaning that she will not be able to use her greatest asset (her beauty) if he is telling the truth.
Themes
After Lord de Winter leaves, Milady angrily grabs the knife that came with her dinner. She is disappointed when she learns that its edges are rounded so that it cannot be used as a weapon. As she makes this discovery, Lord de Winter reopens her cell door and exposes her actions to Felton. Apparently, Felton wanted to give Milady a real knife and Lord de Winter wanted to demonstrate why that was a bad idea. Milady feels foolish and she is angry that she’s been repeatedly outwitted by Lord de Winter. However, she still thinks she will be able to turn Felton against his master. This thought gives her hope as she goes to sleep.
Lord de Winter reopens the cell door to show Felton that Milady is the exact opposite of the person she pretends to be. Although Lord de Winter continues to outsmart Milady, he is only fueling the rage inside of her.
Themes
