Characterization in the NovelDumas had many more pages to explore his characters. Below, you'll find some tidbits and some quotes from the novel about certain characters. I'm still updating this!
"In fact, four men such as they were—four men devoted to one another, from their purses to their lives; four men always supporting one another, never yielding, executing singly or together the resolutions formed in common; four arms threatening the four cardinal points, or turning toward a single point—must inevitably, either subterraneously, in open day, by mining, in the trench, by cunning, or by force, open themselves a way toward the object they wished to attain, however well it might be defended, or however distant it may seem. The only thing that astonished D’Artagnan was that his friends had never thought of this," (Chapter 8). D'Artagnan"With a little more heart, he might have been contented with this new conquest; but the principal features of his character were ambition and pride." "At court, provided you have ever the honor to go there," continued M. D’Artagnan the elder, "--an honor to which, remember, your ancient nobility gives you the right--sustain worthily your name of gentleman, which has been worthily borne by your ancestors for five hundred years, both for your own sake and the sake of those who belong to you. […] You ought to be brave for two reasons: the first is that you are a Gascon, and the second is that you are my son. Never fear quarrels, but seek adventures. I have taught you how to handle a sword; you have thews of iron, a wrist of steel. Fight on all occasions. Fight the more for duels being forbidden, since consequently there is twice as much courage in fighting. I have nothing to give you, my son, but fifteen crowns, my horse, and the counsels you have just heard."
AthosAthos is good at everything in the book—falconry, Latin, sword fighting, you name it! Athos and D’Artagnan are slightly better friends than the others.
You saw your wi--" PorthosWhat drives him in the novel is his friends and his desire for money. Porthos is a braggart.
AramisPorthos brags about his conquests and skill, while Aramis quietly has all of the conquests and skill.
Cardinal RichelieuIn the novel, Richelieu has almost wizard-level powers of deduction. There’s a scene in which the Musketeers make a lackey eat a letter because they’re afraid if they burn it that Richelieu will read the ashes.
Milady
ConstanceHe was thinking of Mme. Bonacieux. For an apprentice Musketeer the young woman was almost an ideal of love. Pretty, mysterious, initiated in almost all the secrets of the court, which reflected such a charming gravity over her pleasing features, it might be surmised that she was not wholly unmoved; and this is an irresistible charm to novices in love. Moreover, D’Artagnan had delivered her from the hands of the demons who wished to search and ill treat her; and this important service had established between them one of those sentiments of gratitude which so easily assume a more tender character. Buckingham
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The Three Musketeers | Characters |