RE:"The More Tragic, The Better"

If ever there is a novel to pinpoint as the precursor of the modern day action thriller, it is Dumas' "The Three Musketeers". Set in France at the start of the seventeenth century, it spans some 600 pages of gripping storytelling by a master at work, very much familiar with the "art imitating life" style. For those unaware of this style, think of Dostoevsky; starting out at point A and in the most dizzying array of prose, spreading tenfold. By the time you reach the end of this one it is a great ride as Dumas lavishes us with unforgettable characters, dangerous times and, always, excitement.
Such a novel takes time to review; the many aspects that make it great include the joi de vive between the title characters. Athos, stately, mature and possesing acerbic wit; Porthos, "vain and indiscreet, you could see through him like glass." And Aramis, cavalier but godly in a way. Along with the charming D'rtagnan, they live it up in France, doing all kinds of brave and daring stuff. The novel rushes along with espionage, intruige, love and deception... all common features of the times.
But a novel is only as memorble as its characters, and Dumas' greatest invention isn't fully introduced until chapter 30. If Lady Clarick aka Mliady, isn't the greatest figure in French literature then she's way too close to the top to debate it. Surely she's the most inveigling. Compared to her the Cmt. Merteuil ["Dangerous Liasons"] is but a kitty with petty intentions.
The nefarious milady springs to life, claws extended, when her stepbrother, Lord de Winter,introduces her to D'rtagnan, when the musketeer saves his life after a duel. Dumas describes milady's beauty and cunning equal in potency and both qualities hide her devilish ambitions.Ambition, the very word that drives her to spy upon the queen and the duke of Windsor, Lord Buckingham. All this so that she can remain in favour with the cardinal.
MIlady's every move , thought and emotions are predetermined to better whatever advantage may come her way. Even in captivity--the worst of situations--her optimism is shuddering. While on a mission to assasinate Buckingham, she is intercepted by her stepbrother and held virtual prisoner. Looking around the drab quad she exclaims, "come, nothing is lost. I am still beautiful."
Chapters 52-56 are devoted to her steely determination to escape incarceration. It's easily the salient part of this masterpiece as we are treated to her fecund mind. Already bristling with hatred for D'artagnan-- both for failing to secure a vast inheritance for her when he spares Winter's life and for posing as De Wardes, a young count she is enamoured with-- , she now is apoplectic by the failure of her feminine charms over the stolid Felton, the guard in charge of her. But slowly she begins to perforate his religious zeal by posing as an oppressed Puritan vis-a-vis Lord Winter's professed Catholicism.
As she works on him, Dumas notes, "and the poor fanatic was not himself aware of the incoherence of his words, while milady was reading with her lynx's eyes the very depths of his heart." Dumas himself becomes intoxicated by milady's vengeful soul as she takes centre-stage ... especially in the delightful, yet farcicial dialogue between herself and Lord Winter. The musketeers are barely mentioned and this braces us for the inevitable showdown.
In the end, milady convinces Felton not only to spring her out but also to kill Buckingham. This he does under a cloud of fanaticism, feebly declaring that"God has so willed it." Rid of him and her task complete, she then goes in search of revenge. By mere chance she befriends D'artagnan's beloved, Madame Bonacieux, in a convent at Bethune. With a savage joy she begins to arrange a kidnap, but her plans are spoilt by the arrival of the musketeers. Nonetheless, she hands them a fatal blow by poisoning the young woman, whose dying words betray milady's hiding place. This leads to capture and she is "tried" for her many sins and we surmise an inglorious end for one so deliciously evil.
Personally, i hoped Dumas would spare her life...indeed, if this were 1990's drama a la Hannibal Lecter, she would live on in countless sequels. But morality is at the core of the novel and the sheer evil milady represents always loses out in the end. With her death, the novel effectively ends, even though we duly note that the French win the war and the musketeers disband.
They don't make masterpieces like this anymore; works that glorify and condemn the pure evil of genius, the substance of character building and, most importantly, the sheer , impressive span of intruige.
PS: i can't believe i spent so much time waxing about the diabolical milady... shows what a great character can make you do; follow their lead... it's far more interesting