The Three Musketeers Background
Transcript: The Three Musketeers Life of Dumas •Rise of an absolute monarchy in France •King Louis XIII •Cardinal Richelieu was king's top adviser and wanted to consolidate national power Count de Rochefort •D’Artagnan’s nemesis •Personal representative and spy of the Cardinal •Dangerous and appears at unexpected and troubled times •Friendship is a powerful force •Love conquers all •Looks can be deceiving Queen Anne (Anne of Austria) • Written in serials • Published in the newspaper Le Siècle in 1844 • Dumas states his source from Mémoires de Monsieur d'Artagnan and Mémoire de M. le comte de la Fère from the Marseille library •Queen of France •Not completely trusted by the King or Cardinal •In love with the Duke of Buckingham •Cause for some of d’Artagnan’s journeys which she then rewards with a diamond ring d'Artagnan •Cardinal Richelieu •Madame Bonacieux •Milady •Count de Rochefort •Queen Anne, Anne of Austria •Monsieur de Treville Porthos •17th century France •Mostly in Paris •Trips to England •Father- son relationship •Appears as the wisest and oldest of the three musketeers •Values friendship, nobility, and is generous •Seems to be saddened by a deep, dark secret •Lady-in-waiting for Queen Anne •Wanted for her trusted position with the queen but she is loyal to her queen •Later realizes she is in love with d’Artagnan Author: Alexandre Dumas Aramis The Three Musketeers •Protagonist •Ultimate goal is to be a part of the King’s Musketeers •Intelligent, courageous, and devoted •Often hot tempered, but he is clever, values friendship, and is willing to take risks •Driven by his love for Madame Bonacieux Setting Monsieur de Treville Cardinal Richelieu Major Characters Main character: d'Artagnan The Three Musketeers: Athos, Aramis, and Porthos •Received little formal education •Started his adult life working as a scribe in minor clerical jobs •Started writing novels in about 1840 •Made large amounts of money but lived extravagantly causing him to die in near poverty •Handsome, young, quiet, good- mannered gentleman •Repeatedly emphasizes his temporary position as a musketeer •Believes true calling is to the Church •His mistress is a high noblewoman, close to the queen •Tall, arrogant, pompous, vain, and aggressively self assertive •Dresses handsomely and enjoys calling attention to that •Courageous musketeer and a loyal friend •Represents evil •Beautiful, mysterious and a Cardinalist agent •Vows revenge on d’Artagnan and her husband, Athos •Branded with the Fleur-de-Lis, a mark for the worst criminals •Antagonist •Self-centered, easily angered, and clever but effective leader •Powerful man with large network of spies •Respects and rewards courage Historical Context Athos By: Merin Thomas Lady de Winter (Milady) Central Characters Madame Bonacieux Themes •Captain of the King’s Musketeers •Acts as a protector and advisor for d’Artagnan •Genuinely cares for d’Artagnan •(1802- 1870) •Romantic time period •French playwright, historian, and author •Known for his historical fiction novels •Best known for The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo