Onate Language, Detail and Symbolism in The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas

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In the adventure novel The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas uses highly ornate language and precise detail and symbols to convey an overall dark yet humorous view on noble aristocratic society, particularly its use of personal militias.

Diction

Throughout the novel, Dumas writes in a high connotative style. His use of poetic however grotesque and ornate language creates a disastrous, immoral atmosphere which the characters unintentionally create through their own actions. For example, “It was common gossip that the King was violently prejudiced against the Queen… [His Majesty] was firmly convinced that Madame de Chevreuse served the Queen not only in her political activity but--more tortuous still! -- in her amorous intrigues” (Dumas 139). In this scene, Dumas describes the Queen's alleged affair as "amorous," effectively illustrating the passion of the supposed love shared between herself and the Duke of Buckingham as more than romantic, rather as deeply lustful. The circumstances of these allegations are catastrophic, as adultery in the seventeenth century was highly frowned upon and viewed as sinful for women, even punishable by death. The narrator’s use of forceful vocabulary — such as "violently," “prejudiced," and “tortuous” to describe the opinions on the Queen’s believed tryst reveal the underlying perils of Parisian court life, both socially and physically, as they have the power to take her power and life. If words such as “strongly," “influenced," or “winding” were used, the overall threatening tone of the passage would not be achieved, portraying a mood of subtle annoyance and mild anger at the situation rather than one of passionate fury.

The language employed by Dumas throughout the novel is also pedanti...

... middle of paper ...

... However, these justifications appear fabricated and rather pathetic, as many comrades believe the source of income for such a magnificent article to be a wealthy mistress of Porthos’s rather than his own pocket (22-23). The inclusion of these oppositions to Porthos’s account serve as a ridicule of the gravity placed upon materialistic items as a measure of self worth and authority, as such articles are obtained through the value of currency, as opposed to the values of intellect and character.

Through the inclusion of highly elaborate language, meticulous detail and symbols, Alexandre Dumas conveys a dismal yet amusing perspective on French aristocratic society and its utilization of private soldiers.

Works Cited

Dumas, Alexander pere. The Three Musketeers. United States of America: Random House Inc., Feb. 13 2001. Print.

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