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
The siege of La Rochelle ends, and the king begrudgingly returns to La Rochelle after his long tenure in Paris. Though he doesn’t want to leave Paris, he is happy that the duke is dead, and he brags about it to the queen. While escorting the king, the musketeers are depressed because of recent events. While on their journey, the four friends stop at an inn where d’Artagnan spots Rochefort. For once, Rochefort is happy to see d’Artagnan because he’s come to arrest him in the name of the cardinal.
Finally, the siege ends because the English are no longer supporting La Rochelle after the Duke of Buckingham’s death. As the novel comes to a close, the musketeers struggle to find happiness. They failed nearly all of their primary objectives and even Milady’s death didn’t bring them closure. To make matters worse, it looks like Rochefort is about to get the last laugh over d'Artagnan.
Themes
Rather than let their friend be arrested, the musketeers swear on their honor that they will make sure d’Artagnan goes to the cardinal as soon as he can. Realizing he will have a fight on his hands if he tries to protest, Rochefort gives in to these demands. Additionally, Rochefort is happy with the agreement because he can now continue with an errand of his own. He expresses this fact to the musketeers who warn him that there is no use going after Milady. This warning is concerning to Rochefort, who asks what happened. Athos tell him that he will soon find out.
Despite their sadness, d’Artagnan and the musketeers still have one another, which makes their position better than it would be otherwise. At the very least, d’Artagnan gets one minor victory over Rochefort; Milady is dead and there is nothing he can do about it.
Themes
Eventually, d’Artagnan and his friends cross paths with the cardinal in Surgères. When he sees him, the cardinal asks d’Artagnan to come to him and then tells him that he is under arrest. D’Artagnan responds that he is not guilty of any crimes. As proof, he gives the cardinal the letter that the cardinal initially gave to Milady, which states that any crimes committed by the person who holds the letter are committed in the name of the cardinal. Additionally, d'Artagnan tells the cardinal the truth about Milady. The cardinal takes the letter from d’Artagnan and burns it.
The cardinal’s letter is the last card d’Artagnan has to play against Richelieu. However, perhaps foolishly, he hands it over to the cardinal who can do whatever he wants with it. When the cardinal burns the letter, it seems that all hope is lost for d’Artagnan.
Themes
However, the cardinal decides to let d’Artagnan go free. He is impressed with d’Artagnan’s resourcefulness and thinks he could be a valuable ally in the future. Additionally, he is somewhat relieved to be rid of Milady because she is so unpredictable and untrustworthy. Instead of punishing d’Artagnan, the cardinal promotes him to lieutenant; or, at least, he gives him a blank paper promoting someone to lieutenant—d’Artagnan is welcome to write in any name he would like. Next the cardinal calls Rochefort over and makes him settle his differences with d’Artagnan. The two act appropriately so that the cardinal will be pleased, although clearly a rivalry still exists between them. As the two men walk away from the cardinal, they promise to duel one another at some point in the future.
Unlike Milady, the cardinal is not a purely evil or vindictive character. He respects d’Artagnan and his friends for what they’ve done, especially since they didn’t end up ruining his plans anyway. At least for now, d’Artagnan appears to have settled his differences with the cardinal and Rochefort, although their alliance is uneasy.
Themes
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The same night, d’Artagnan goes around to each of his friends and offers them the promotion. He feels that they all deserve it more than him. However, each one of them rejects it and insists that d’Artagnan take the promotion instead. Eventually, d’Artagnan returns to Athos, who writes d’Artagnan’s name in the blank, and he officially becomes a lieutenant of the musketeers. D'Artagnan worries about what will become of their group and Athos promises him that all will be well in the long run.
D'Artagnan is disheartened to find that no one wants to take the promotion. He doesn’t consider himself worthy; if anything, he feels like a failure. This final scene is indicative of the tone for the end of the novel; although its plot threads are resolved, its characters remain troubled.
Themes
