The movie was messed up, but the novel takes it to another level. I am generally a fan of stories where villain(s) win and this was not quite that. the ending was a bit more neutral than anything else. i feel awful for the women of this story... even Merteuil though she does not deserve as much sympathy as the others. Laclos's choice to leave her disfigured and essentially declawed but alive is curious. That punishment is worse than the dignity which he allowed in Valmont's death. granted, she was the grand arbiter of the situation, so perhaps it was warranted, but i really felt the greatest direct harms were perpetuated by Danceny and Valmont.
Having finished the book, I completely understand how this is a "psychologically driven" story as we watch someone who likely has narcissistic personality disorder team up with a sociopath to torture a naive teenager and a young woman with an abundance of empathy. Danceny was just a disgusting opportunist, as many men of his age can be. even at the end, his renouncing his love for Cecile just made me dislike him more.
This was a really tough read for me for various reasons, but for a story I will probably remember for a long time. 5 stars from me.
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