Porthos is a musketeer whose real name is M. du Vallon. Of the musketeers, Porthos is the most concerned with his looks; he dresses fancifully and orders his servant, Mousqueton, to do the same. Porthos also acts as the novel’s comic relief. He is always the last one to catch on to a plan and he often needs things overtly explained to him. Additionally, Porthos is the easiest musketeer to read. Although he attempts to conceal secrets, such as his affair with Madame Coquenard, he fails to do so effectively. Unlike the other musketeers, Porthos doesn’t have a dramatic arc that stretches across the novel. Instead, the chapters that focus on him largely deal with his comical relationship with Madame Coquenard and his propensity for gambling. A great lover of money, Porthos finally gains his fortune at the end of the novel by marrying Madame Coquenard after her husband dies.
Porthos Quotes in The Three Musketeers
The The Three Musketeers quotes below are all either spoken by Porthos or refer to Porthos. 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:
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Chapter 3
Quotes
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.
Related Characters:
M. de Tréville, Athos, Aramis, Porthos, Cardinal Richelieu
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7
Quotes
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.
Related Characters:
Athos, Porthos, Milady de Winter
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8
Quotes
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.
Related Characters:
D’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, Aramis
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Chapter 9
Quotes
“All for one, one for all.”
Related Characters:
D’Artagnan (speaker), Athos, Porthos, Aramis
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Porthos Character Timeline in The Three Musketeers
The timeline below shows where the character Porthos appears in The Three Musketeers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
D’Artagnan’s eye is first drawn to Porthos, the largest of the musketeers and the most elaborately dressed. Together, the three musketeers are...
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Chapter 3
...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 already...
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M. de Tréville knows that Athos, Porthos, and Aramis were involved in a brawl with the cardinal’s men just the other day,...
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Chapter 4
...can leave M. de Tréville’s residence, he collides with another musketeer. This time it is Porthos; d’Artagnan attempts to get by him, but the wind blows Porthos’s cape up into d’Artagnan’s...
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Chapter 5
Eventually, Athos’s seconds arrive. As it turns out, his seconds are Porthos and Aramis. All three musketeers are surprised to learn that they each have a duel...
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Chapter 6
...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 brawl...
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Chapter 7
...agrees. Someone also recommends that d’Artagnan use his money to buy a servant. D’Artagnan, through Porthos, hires a man named Planchet to be his servant. Planchet assumes that d’Artagnan is quite...
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Both Athos and Porthos live in rather elaborate apartments, while Aramis lives in a relatively modest space on the...
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In 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,...
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...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 Monsieur...
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Chapter 8
...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 in d’Artagnan’s...
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Chapter 9
When the guards leave, Porthos chastises d’Artagnan for not fighting back. However, Aramis tells Porthos that he’s an idiot and...
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Chapter 15
After several days go by and Athos still hasn’t been seen, d’Artagnan and Porthos decide to inform M. de Tréville that Athos is likely being held unjustly in prison....
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Chapter 19
...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.
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...queen but does not get more specific than that. In the middle of the explanation, Porthos arrives, also bearing a letter. D’Artagnan tells everyone that they’ve received 300 pistoles for their...
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Chapter 20
...interact with d’Artagnan and the musketeers. The man proposes a toast to the cardinal and Porthos tells him that they will only toast to the cardinal if he will toast to...
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...the road for a while, the musketeers and d’Artagnan stop and wait to see if Porthos will rejoin them. However, he doesn’t, so they have to keep moving. After traveling a...
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Chapter 23
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 friends....
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Chapter 25
Planchet and d’Artagnan take off to find Porthos in Chantilly. They take all four horses the duke gave to d’Artagnan with them. When...
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D’Artagnan goes and finds Porthos who is still wounded, although he pretends to be fine. Porthos’s room is a mess...
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Chapter 28
...realizes that his friends have also lost their horses. The three friends continue on to Porthos, only to find that he, too, is without his horse. Porthos had to sell his...
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Chapter 29
...and d’Artagnan must ride off to war and they are still without their equipment. However, Porthos has a plan. Realizing this, d’Artagnan follows him to see what he is up to....
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Porthos attempts to offer holy water to Milady as she exits the church, knowing that doing...
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Chapter 30
...d’Artagnan goes to Athos’s house. Athos is at home, drinking wine. D’Artagnan tells Athos about Porthos’s plan to get equipment. In response, Athos promises d’Artagnan that he has a plan of...
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Chapter 31
...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 real...
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The duel starts and the musketeers quickly 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...
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Chapter 32
Porthos goes to Madame Coquenard’s house where he is expected for dinner. He is excited for...
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After dinner, Madame Coquenard invites Porthos to a private room so they can talk. Porthos tells Madame Coquenard that he needs...
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Chapter 34
...much time with one another as of late. When they finally do get together, only Porthos and d’Artagnan seem happy. Meanwhile, Aramis is concerned, and Athos appears entirely indifferent to their...
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On their way to Athos’s residence, d’Artagnan and Aramis run into Porthos, who has a mule and d’Artagnan’s old horse that he used to travel to Paris...
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Chapter 39
As planned, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d’Artagnan meet up at 4 p.m. Planchet shows up and hands d’Artagnan two...
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Chapter 42
As soon as he sees Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, d’Artagnan thanks them for the wine. However, his friends have no idea what...
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Chapter 44
...to someone of great importance. However, they have no idea who that someone is. Bored, Porthos and Aramis get some dice from the innkeeper and begin to play with one another....
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Chapter 45
...with Milady, the cardinal returns to the common room of the inn where he finds Porthos and Aramis playing dice. He asks the two musketeers what happened to Athos, and they...
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As the cardinal, Porthos, and Aramis ride away from the inn, Athos makes his way back to it. He...
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Chapter 47
Together, the group brainstorms ideas on how to handle their current situation. Porthos thinks that they should kill Milady before she can kill anyone else. D’Artagnan has a...
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Chapter 48
...forced to admit that they’ve both seen the brand, a fact that is surprising to Porthos and Aramis.
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Chapter 60
...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 that will allow...
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Chapter 65
...has committed. Even Athos talks about his history with Milady and for the first time Porthos and Aramis learn the truth about their friend’s past. Even the man in the red...
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Epilogue
...king returns to Paris and D’Artagnan accepts his promotion in the musketeers. One year later, Porthos leaves the musketeers, marries Madame Coquenard, and finally gets his hand on her strongbox, which...
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