History Literature / DangerousLiaisons

%%* DuelToTheDeath

''Les Liaisons dangereuses'' is an 18th century EpistolaryNovel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, adapted as a stage play by the same name and as the 1988 film ''Dangerous Liaisons''. It was adapted the very next year as the film ''Valmont'' and [[HighSchoolAU later updated in 1999 to a modern high school]] as ''Film/CruelIntentions''; in 2003 another modern-dress (late 1950's/early 1960's) adaptation was filmed as a miniseries for French TV starring Catherine Deneuve and Creator/LeeleeSobieski.

* ManipulativeBastard: Valmont but especially Merteuil, the TropeCodifier for ManipulativeBitch. A proto-feminist letter argues that there was no other way for a woman to get ahead and live the life she wanted in the 18th century. In ''Cruel Intentions'', Catherine argues that she cannot enjoy sex and be considered 'nice' and that this double standard drives ''her'' manipulations. However, this argument is much weaker in ''Cruel Intentions''.

''Les Liaisons dangereuses'' is an 18th century EpistolaryNovel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, adapted as a stage play by the same name and as the 1988 film ''Dangerous Liaisons''. It was adapted the very next year as the film ''Valmont'' and later updated in 1999 to a modern high school as ''Film/CruelIntentions''; in 2003 another modern-dress (late 1950's/early 1960's) adaptation was filmed as a miniseries for French TV starring Catherine Deneuve and Creator/LeeleeSobieski.

* RecycledInSpace: Besides ''Film/CruelIntentions'', one miniseries set the story in 1960s France and the South Korean film ''Untold Scandal'' transplants the story from 18th Century France to 18th Century Korea. A Chinese adaptation released in 2012 sets the story in 1930s Shanghai.

%%Please don't add Zero-Context Examples. Explain how the trope is used in the work, how it applies to the characters, etc.

* CryForTheDevil: Merteuil's ultimate fate is somewhat of an overkill.

* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: As much as you are ''supposed'' to see these pompous, virgin-corrupting, manipulative sex addicts as the bad guys... you can't help but admire them and perhaps even subconsciously absorb a little of their experience in the love game.
** MoralGuardians have been accusing the author's intent of being this since the book was published.

* TheVamp: Merteuil when around Valmont.

* {{Villain Protagonist}}s

* TheBet
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Merteuil.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:Merteuil in the end.]]

* ConvenientMiscarriage: [[spoiler: Cecile's.]]
* CorruptTheCutie: Cecile.
* CostumePorn

* DeathByDespair: [[spoiler: Tourvel]]

* DuelOfSeduction
* DuelToTheDeath

* IdleRich: Virtually all of the cast.
* TheIngenue: Cecile. So very much.

* NotHimself

* TheQueensLatin

* SlidingScaleOfShinyVersusGritty
* SnowMeansDeath

* ThisMeansWar
* TitleDrop
* UnholyMatrimony: Valmont and Merteuil

* [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]]
* VirginityMakesYouStupid
* WhiteShirtOfDeath

* ManipulativeBastard: Valmont but especially Merteuil, the TropeCodifier for ManipulativeBitch. A proto-feminist letter argues that there was no other other way for a woman to get ahead and live the life she wanted in the 18th century. In ''Cruel Intentions'', Catherine argues that she cannot enjoy sex and be considered 'nice' and that this double standard drives ''her'' manipulations. However, this argument is much weaker in ''Cruel Intentions''.

* ExactWords: Valmont is very fond of those, finding pleasure and amusement in his own duplicity, like when he tells Tourvel she "would think less of him if she knew his motives." Taken Up To Eleven in his best letter, written in bed, on another lover's bare back, and composed in its entirety of sentences alluding to that fact.

''Les Liaisons dangereuses'' is an 18th century EpistolaryNovel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, adapted as a stage play by the same name and as the 1988 film ''Dangerous Liaisons''. It was adapted the very next year as the film ''Valmont'' and later updated in 1999 to a modern high school as ''CruelIntentions''; in 2003 another modern-dress (late 1950's/early 1960's) adaptation was filmed as a miniseries for French TV starring Catherine Deneuve and LeeleeSobieski.

* RecycledInSpace: Besides ''CruelIntentions'', one miniseries set the story in 1960s France and the South Korean film ''Untold Scandal'' transplants the story from 18th Century France to 18th Century Korea. A Chinese adaptation released in 2012 sets the story in 1930s Shanghai.

* "NotIfTheyEnjoyedIt"Rationalization: Used by Merteul on Cecile with extreme cruelty when the despairing girl writes to her for help ; earlier, the marquise writes to Valmont claiming that women ''welcome'' sexual violence, as it gives them an excuse in a world where they can't freely succumb to desire.

* ItsNotRapeIfYouEnjoyedIt: Used by Merteul on Cecile with extreme cruelty when the despairing girl writes to her for help ; earlier, the marquise writes to Valmont claiming that women ''welcome'' sexual violence, as it gives them an excuse in a world where they can't freely succumb to desire.

''Les Liaisons dangereuses'' is an 18th century EpistolaryNovel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, adapted as a stage play by the same name and as the 1988 film ''Dangerous Liaisons''. It was adapted the very next year as the film ''Valmont'' and later updated in 1999 to a modern high school as ''CruelIntentions''.

* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: As much as you are *supposed* to see these pompous, virgin-corrupting, manipulative sex addicts as the bad guys... you can't help but admire them and perhaps even subconsciously absorb a little of their experience in the love game.

* {{Ironic Echo}}: After succeeding in [[spoiler: sleeping with Madame de Tourvel]], Valmont says that his infatuation with her is temporarily "beyond his control." This is the same phrase Merteuil uses when telling her {{I Have This Friend}} story, which ultimately leads to [[spoiler: his dumping Tourvel and his doom]].

* ManipulativeBastard: Valmont but especially Merteuil, the TropeCodifier for ManipulativeBitch. A proto-feminist letter argues that there was no other other way for a woman to get ahead and live the life she wanted in the 18th century. In Cruel Intentions Catherine argues that she cannot enjoy sex and be considered 'nice' and that this double standard drives ''her'' manipulations. However, this argument is much weaker in Cruel Intentions.

* RecycledInSpace: Besides CruelIntentions, one miniseries set the story in 1960s France and the South Korean film ''Untold Scandal'' transplants the story from 18th Century France to 18th Century Korea. A Chinese adaptation released in 2012 sets the story in 1930s Shanghai.

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: When Merteuil learns of Valmont's death]]

* RecycledInSpace: Besides CruelIntentions, one miniseries set the story in 1960s France and the South Korean film ''Untold Scandal'' transplants the story from 18th Century France to 18th Century Korea. An upcoming adaptation plans to set the story in 1930s China.

* StepfordSmiler: Catherine/de Merteuil is very much type C

* ManipulativeBastard: Valmont but especially Merteuil, the TropeCodifier for ManipulativeBitch. A proto-feminist letter argues that there was no other other way for a woman to get ahead and live the life she wanted in the 18th century.

* TheMasochismTango: Valmont and Merteuil [[spoiler: take this to its logical extreme with Valmont's death as a direct result of Merteuil's manipulation of Danceny, shortly followed by Merteuil's humiliation by ''Valmont's'' manipulation of Danceny.]]

* ManipulativeBastard: Valmont but especially Merteuil, the TropeCodifier for ManipulativeBitch. A proto-feminist letter argues that there was no other other way for a woman to get ahead and live the life she wanted in the 18th century.

* TheBet

* TheMasochismTango: Valmont and Merteuil [[spoiler: take this to its logical extreme with Valmont's death as a direct result of Merteuil's manipulation of Danceny, shortly followed by Merteuil's humiliation by ''Valmont's'' manipulation of Danceny.]]
* ThePornomancer: Averted; the characters spend quite a lot of time on the planning and implementation of a seduction.
* TheQueensLatin

''Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' is an 18th century EpistolaryNovel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, adapted as a stage play by the same name and as the 1988 film ''Dangerous Liaisons''. It was adapted the very next year as the film ''Valmont'' and later updated in 1999 to a modern high school as ''CruelIntentions''.

* [=~The Queen's Latin~=]