Athos Character Analysis in The Three Musketeers

Athos is a musketeer whose real name is Comte de la Fère. Despite his aristocratic origins, Athos obscures his identity and refuses to tell anyone about his past. Of the musketeers, Athos is the dourest and there are often stretches of times where he drinks nonstop. Despite his occasional bouts of alcoholism, Athos is the wisest member of the group and is the most likely of the friends to act as a leader along with d’Artagnan. During one of Athos’s binge drinking sessions, he accidently reveals to d’Artagnan that he used to be married to a woman who he killed after he saw a fleur-de-lis on her shoulder. Evidently, Athos’s attempt to murder his former wife failed because she is still alive, and in the present she’s known as Milady de Winter. Although Athos usually keeps his emotions under control, he nurses a deep hatred for Milady and is the only one who seems genuinely happy after her death. Additionally, Athos is the best swordsman in the group, and he has the best military mind. He is often the musketeer who is matched up with more than one enemy at once in combat and he always manages to come out unscathed.

Athos Quotes in The Three Musketeers

The The Three Musketeers quotes below are all either spoken by Athos or refer to Athos. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Athos’s arrival had caused a sensation in the anteroom, for his wound was known to everyone despite all efforts to keep it a secret. The door had remained ajar, and Tréville’s words were greeted by a joyous hubbub. Two or three musketeers, carried away by enthusiasm, drew back the door curtain and looked into the study. Tréville was about to rebuke them sharply when he felt Athos’s hand tighten in his own and saw that he was about to faint.

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Page Number and Citation: 29

Explanation and Analysis:

Unfortunately, Porthos knew no more about Athos’s life than what hearsay told him. It was said that he had suffered great afflictions in his love affairs and that a monstrous betrayal had poisoned his life forever. What that betrayal had been, no one knew.

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Page Number and Citation: 75

Explanation and Analysis:

They were so closely united that they shared whatever they had and each was always ready to help the others, even at the risk of death. They made plans together and carried them out either individually or as a group; they were like four arms that sometimes joined in a single attack and sometimes separated to ward off danger from any direction. Four men like that could surely overcome all obstacles in their path, using either force or guile, and reach any goal they chose, no matter how distant or well defended it might be.

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Page Number and Citation: 81

Explanation and Analysis:

“All for one, one for all.”

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Page Number and Citation: 94

Explanation and Analysis:

Athos was thus an extraordinary man. And yet, despite his distinction and refinement, he sometimes sank into sluggish apathy, as old men sink into physical and mental debility. In his periods of lethargy, and they were many, the radiant side of his nature disappeared, although engulfed in darkness. Then, when the demigod had vanished, what remained was scarcely a man.

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Page Number and Citation: 281

Explanation and Analysis:

“Monseigneur,” Milady interrupted, “I’ll trade you a life for a life, a man for a man; rid me of this one and I’ll rid you of the other.”

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Page Number and Citation: 438

Explanation and Analysis:

“The bearer of this letter has acted under my orders and for the good of the state.

Richelieu”

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Page Number and Citation: 457

Explanation and Analysis:

“We are conspirators, Monseigneur,” said Athos, “but as you saw the other morning, we conspire against the enemy.”

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Page Number and Citation: 502

Explanation and Analysis:

“You’re young,” said Athos. “Your bitter memories still have time to turn to sweet ones.”

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Page Number and Citation: 634

Explanation and Analysis:

Athos Character Timeline in The Three Musketeers

The timeline below shows where the character Athos appears in The Three Musketeers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...a bad mood. Before even bothering to speak with d’Artagnan, M. de Tréville angrily orders Athos, Porthos, and Aramis into the room. Only Porthos and Aramis, the two whom d’Artagnan is... (full context)

M. de Tréville knows that Athos, Porthos, and Aramis were involved in a brawl with the cardinal’s men just the other... (full context)

...such a severely wounded man would bother answering his summons, M. de Tréville rushes to Athos and aggressively shakes his hand. This sudden action causes Athos a great deal of pain... (full context)

...to find the stranger who stole his letter. In his rage, he accidentally collides with Athos and hits the musketeer in the shoulder. Athos howls in pain and chastises d’Artagnan for... (full context)

D’Artagnan makes his way to the Carmes-Deschaux monastery for his first duel with Athos. He doesn’t bring anyone with him as a second because he just arrived in Paris... (full context)

D’Artagnan arrives exactly on time at the monastery, where he finds Athos. Athos tells him that they will need to wait a few minutes for his seconds... (full context)

Eventually, Athos’s seconds arrive. As it turns out, his seconds are Porthos and Aramis. All three musketeers... (full context)

At a quarter past noon, d’Artagnan and Athos are about to begin their duel when they are stopped by the cardinal’s men. The... (full context)

...wound after Jussac becomes impatient. Having dispatched his man, d’Artagnan moves to help the injured Athos. Together they manage to get the best of Athos’s combatant. In the end, the musketeers... (full context)

...arrive to back up Bernajoux. However, their arrival is met by the sudden appearance of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis who come to d’Artagnan’s aid. Soon, the duel grows into a full... (full context)

D’Artagnan asks the musketeers what he should do with his money. Athos suggests that they spend some of it on a good meal, and d’Artagnan agrees. Someone... (full context)

Both Athos and Porthos live in rather elaborate apartments, while Aramis lives in a relatively modest space... (full context)

...the following days, d’Artagnan and his three new friends enjoy spending time together. Porthos and Athos also spend time gambling. Athos always loses but doesn’t seem to mind. Meanwhile, Porthos’s mood... (full context)

...de Tréville. This is d’Artagnan’s first real step toward becoming a musketeer. Whenever they can, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis spend their time with d'Artagnan while he is on guard duty, making... (full context)

...down. However, he ultimately has no luck. While looking for the man, d’Artagnan runs into Athos and Porthos. Not wanting to get in d’Artagnan’s way, Athos and Porthos decide to wait... (full context)

...However, Aramis tells Porthos that he’s an idiot and that d’Artagnan was in the right. Athos congratulates d’Artagnan on his quick thinking as well. In response, d’Artagnan coins a motto for... (full context)

...sure what is safe for her at the moment. D’Artagnan suggests that she hide at Athos’s house while he gathers information for her. Madame Bonacieux agrees to this suggestion and gives... (full context)

Athos is not home, but d’Artagnan knows where he hides his key. He lets Madame Bonacieux... (full context)

...away from where he left Madame Bonacieux, d’Artagnan runs into Planchet who tells him that Athos was just arrested. Apparently, Athos went to d’Artagnan’s apartment to find him and was arrested... (full context)

...are asked, though unbeknownst to them, the man they lead into the room is actually Athos. Monsieur Bonacieux tells the officer that he’s never seen Athos before, which is true. At... (full context)

After several days go by and Athos still hasn’t been seen, d’Artagnan and Porthos decide to inform M. de Tréville that Athos... (full context)

...de Tréville arrives at the Louvre agitated and ready to fight tooth and nail for Athos. As it turns out, the Louvre is a complicated place full of secrets and conspiracies.... (full context)

...the king’s anger does not stop M. de Tréville, who immediately demands to know why Athos was thrown in jail. This begins an argument between M. de Tréville and the cardinal,... (full context)

Athos is released from prison and reunited with his friends. He warns d’Artagnan that the cardinal... (full context)

...to be killed. D’Artagnan agrees and so M. de Tréville writes four letters excusing d’Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, and Porthos from their duties for the next 15 days. (full context)

...the cardinal. This satisfies Aramis and together the two of them make their way to Athos’s house, with Bazin trailing closely behind. (full context)

When they get to Athos’s place, Athos has already received his letter. D’Artagnan explains that they are going on a... (full context)

...but become suspicious when their host acts excessively nice. Because they are suspicious, d’Artagnan and Athos insist on sleeping in the same room and they ask Grimaud and Planchet to guard... (full context)

Additionally, M. de Tréville inquires after Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. D’Artagnan tells him that he isn’t sure what’s happened to his three... (full context)

...of his friends, he goes off in search of the third. On his way to Athos, d’Artagnan thinks about how mysterious Athos is compared to the other musketeers. He wonders about... (full context)

D’Artagnan reaches the inn where he expects to locate Athos and finds it in utter chaos. Evidently, Athos and Grimaud have locked themselves in the... (full context)

...learn about the situation in the basement. Annoyed, they plan to go down and get Athos out themselves. Realizing how poorly that is likely to go, d’Artagnan steps in and promises... (full context)

In his drunken state, Athos tells d’Artagnan a story, which he claims happened to a friend of his. It is... (full context)

The next morning, Athos apologizes to d’Artagnan for whatever crazy stories he told the night before, implying that whatever... (full context)

Athos switches the topic by telling d’Artagnan that he lost two of the horses the duke... (full context)

Although he’s not happy about it, d’Artagnan takes the 100 pistoles. After, he and Athos depart along with their servants. D’Artagnan and Athos ride their servants’ horses, while the servants... (full context)

...and asks him to secure two horses from M. de Tréville. Next, d’Artagnan goes to Athos’s house. Athos is at home, drinking wine. D’Artagnan tells Athos about Porthos’s plan to get... (full context)

While Athos and d’Artagnan are talking, Planchet arrives with the horses from M. de Tréville. D’Artagnan tells... (full context)

...brother-in-law, Lord de Winter. Additionally, it is the same man who took d’Artagnan’s horses because Athos lost them while gambling. As always, the argument escalates to the point of a duel.... (full context)

...at the appointed time. The Englishmen are annoyed by the manners of the Frenchmen because Athos, Porthos, and Aramis refuse to give their real names. Eventually, all three Frenchmen whisper their... (full context)

...take the upper hand. D’Artagnan disarms his opponent, Porthos wounds his, Aramis’s runs away, and Athos kills his as promised. At the end of the duel, D’Artagnan spares Lord de Winter’s... (full context)

...finally do get together, only Porthos and d’Artagnan seem happy. Meanwhile, Aramis is concerned, and Athos appears entirely indifferent to their current circumstances. While the four friends are conversing together, Mousqueton... (full context)

...friend’s story but decides to let it go. Together, the two of them head to Athos’s place to eat. (full context)

On their way to Athos’s residence, d’Artagnan and Aramis run into Porthos, who has a mule and d’Artagnan’s old horse... (full context)

D’Artagnan relates these events to Athos and shows him the ring Milady gave him. When Athos sees the ring, he becomes... (full context)

After leaving Athos, d’Artagnan returns home to find Kitty, who gives him a letter for the Comte de... (full context)

D’Artagnan heads to Athos’s house while still dressed in women’s clothes. Although Athos is confused, he quickly recognizes that... (full context)

D’Artagnan gives Athos the sapphire ring gifted to him by Milady. The two men decide that they will... (full context)

...is gone, d'Artagnan and his musketeer friends make plans to meet at 4 p.m. at Athos’s place. Afterwards, Athos and d'Artagnan sell Milady’s ring and use the funds to buy new... (full context)

As planned, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d’Artagnan meet up at 4 p.m. Planchet shows up and hands d’Artagnan... (full context)

As soon as he sees Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, d’Artagnan thanks them for the wine. However, his friends have no idea... (full context)

...know their identities. The riders refuse to offer up their names, but their aura makes Athos think that he is in the presence of an important figure. Eventually, Athos realizes he... (full context)

...Aramis get some dice from the innkeeper and begin to play with one another. Meanwhile, Athos paces back and forth, thinking. As he paces, he notices a broken stovepipe that goes... (full context)

...doesn’t want to know what she means but agrees to the terms. Having heard enough, Athos decides to leave the inn immediately. He tells his companions to stay behind and inform... (full context)

...he finds Porthos and Aramis playing dice. He asks the two musketeers what happened to Athos, and they tell him that he went to scout the road. This appears to satisfy... (full context)

As the cardinal, Porthos, and Aramis ride away from the inn, Athos makes his way back to it. He tells the cardinal’s guards who are standing watch... (full context)

Athos tells Milady that he knows all about what she’s been up to since allying herself... (full context)

Having obtained the letter, Athos leaves and makes his way back to his companions who are with the cardinal. The... (full context)

...his friends who notified him that they had something important to talk to him about. Athos suggests that the four of them head to the Parpaillot inn to have their discussion... (full context)

...to hear the story. Realizing that they will never have time alone at this rate, Athos proposes a bet to the men who join in on the conversation. He bets the... (full context)

At first, everyone else is taken aback by Athos’s plan. They think that it is dangerous and that they will likely be attacked by... (full context)

...look and see that most of the men are civilians. Rather than shoot at them, Athos stands up and tells them not to come any further. His request is not granted,... (full context)

...the four men return to their conversation and discuss Milady’s plan to kill the duke. Athos promises d’Artagnan that it won’t be that easy for Milady to succeed and then gives... (full context)

...de Winter. The note promises d’Artagnan that Lord de Winter will take care of Milady. Athos takes the note and burns it so that there is no proof of their scheme.... (full context)

Milady is still furious because of her encounter with Athos. As quickly as she can, she makes her way to England, although she is briefly... (full context)

...a letter they were reading before he arrived. Rather than show the cardinal the letter, Athos hurls an insult about the cardinal and his alleged affairs. Because he doesn’t want to... (full context)

Once the cardinal is gone, Athos explains to his companions that his reaction was the only way to keep the cardinal... (full context)

...to Paris. When he leaves, he brings a group of musketeers with him, including d’Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, and Porthos. During the return to Paris, Aramis gets a letter from his contact... (full context)

...track Milady down and seek vengeance. Although everyone agrees that they should go after Milady, Athos urges everyone to wait until the next day so that preparations can be made. No... (full context)

Athos finds a map and sends each of the musketeers’ servants down a different road in... (full context)

...more difficult than it would be otherwise. At several points, the musketeers try to engage Athos’s mystery man in conversation. However, he remains stoic. Eventually the group reaches the inn where... (full context)

Athos peers in the window of the house and spots Milady. Milady sees Athos and screams.... (full context)

...a trial for Milady. Everyone goes around and lists the crimes Milady has committed. Even Athos talks about his history with Milady and for the first time Porthos and Aramis learn... (full context)

...and pleads for her life. At one point, d’Artagnan considers letting her go free, but Athos quickly steps in and shuts that idea down. (full context)

Once she is in the boat, d’Artagnan, Athos, and Lord De Winter all offer her their respective pardons. The executioner gets in the... (full context)

...no use going after Milady. This warning is concerning to Rochefort, who asks what happened. Athos tell him that he will soon find out. (full context)

...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... (full context)

...Meanwhile, Aramis leaves the musketeers to become a monk and Bazin becomes a lay brother. Athos continues on as a musketeer until 1633, only retiring after receiving an inheritance. (full context)

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Athos Character Analysis

Athos Quotes in The Three Musketeers

Athos Character Timeline in The Three Musketeers

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