Laclos makes no ambiguity to whom the book is referring, going as far as excluding all the novel's plot to two locations; Paris and the inside of the country house in which the majority of the action happens. This spatial element of the text not only serves to indicate the sheltered existence that the characters lead, but also limits Laclos' critique uniquely to the upper-middle class.
One of the most obvious elements of society that Laclos criticises is the perceived validity of their education and its emphasis on shielding the girls that enter the convent, proving that ironically, it is this that renders the graduates most susceptible to the corrupting forces of any Don Juan who might take their fancy. Indeed Valmont's confidence is startling; even as first as the fourth letter, he talks of seducing Cécile in terms of what little she has seen of life, "serait livrée sans defense," "menée par la curiosité," and he goes as far as openly stating her susceptibility as "Vingt autres peuvent y réussir comme moi." Further scorn of her education comes in her writing style; her letters are linguistically simple, lacking finesse in comparison to those written by our two main protagonists and are "full of naive outpourings confessing her blunders and gaucherie in society"2. It is particularly frightening that in letter 140, she has no idea what is happening as she miscarries, whilst Valmont brags to Meurtail that she is late for her period many letters earlier in the text. .
This naivety is closely related with the 18th century institution of marriage and not exclusive to the.
1. Les Liasons Dangereuses: Hustlers and Hypocrites, Dianne Alstad, Yale University Press (1968) page 156.
2. Les Liasons Dangereuses, critical guide to French texts, Simon Davies page 30.
teenage character of Cécile, as Tourvel is equally guilty of conceding to Valmont's charms.
