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
Now that she has his attention, Milady schemes up ways to get Felton alone. She even starts to enjoy Lord de Winter’s harsh treatment of her because she knows it pits Felton against him. During her third day in the cell, Lord de Winter tells her that she only has four more days and then she’s being sent to work in a penal colony. After Lord de Winter leaves, Milady drops to her knees in prayer. For a moment, she is even genuine; she is deathly afraid of ending up in a penal colony.
Milady enjoys playing psychological games with Felton and she uses every opportunity she has to slowly win him over to her side. Despite her successes, Milady’s plan hits a snag when she learns that she is on a tight timeline. She has to complete her corruption of Felton in only a few short days; otherwise, she will be forever out of reach of d’Artagnan and the Duke of Buckingham.
Themes
Milady continues her prayers because she hears Felton approaching. When Felton reaches her, she asks him if he knows what Lord de Winter has planned for her. Felton claims that he does not. Milady implies that Lord de Winter’s plans are horrific and asks Felton to bring her a knife. She promises that she only wants to use it to kill herself. Felton says he will not bring her a knife because suicide is a sin. Before their conversation can go any further, Felton is forced to leave because he hears Lord de Winter returning.
Milady continues to play up her image as a sad and desperate woman who is facing a fate worse than death. In response, Felton is slowly beginning to let his guard down.
Themes
That night, Lord de Winter comes to Milady and asks her what penal colony she would like to go to. In the process, Milady realizes that Lord de Winter has yet to receive a signed authorization from the Duke of Buckingham, which would allow him to send her away. Lord de Winter assures her that getting the authorization will not be a problem. Milady believes him and uses his warning as motivation to get Felton on her side. That night after dinner, Milady performs another round of loud prayers that she knows Felton hears. At one point, she even turns around and spots him looking at her through the door of her cell.
Lord de Winter offers Milady some small amount of control over her fate in an attempt to show her an ounce of humanity that she would never give to him in return. However, Milady has a very different future in mind. Lord de Winter’s visit only provides her with more motivation as she slowly moves closer to breaking Felton.
Themes
