At the beginning of my book Dumas says he found the story of the three Musketeers. Why would he say that? Did he write it or find the account? And if he did write it what does it bring to the story to say he found it?
Dumas did a lot of research into the Kings Guards because his father had actually been one. He was writing in the 19th century and the story takes place in the mid 17th century, so you can imagine how difficult it was to research, i.e. no internet. He stumbled on a legend of the Musketeers that he used to create the characters in hs book.
For those of you reading Dumas, it is important to note that he was writing a serical that was published in installements in a weekly or biweekly journal (magazine). They were eventually put together into a novel, accounting for the length. For those of you familiar with the movie, it is only the first have of the Three Musketeers. For those of you who enjoy Dumas, the aaga of the Three Musketeers continues in a book called Twenty Years After and then again in a third installment called Ten Years After, ending with the Man in the Iron Mask.
Setting-France is in turmoil because the Church and the Monarchy are in conflict each trying to gain the upper hand, the power to rule. The Musketeers support King Louis the XIII who is at odds with Cardinal Richelieu. In Twenty Years after it is Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin and in Man in the Iron Mask it is Louis XIV and his mythical twin brother Phillipe.
Count of Monte Cristo, also a very long book takes place in the early part of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, just after the French Revolution and the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I think this is the best of the Dumas novels, but don't go watch the movie first, but it totally gets the theme wrong.
When you finish the Three Musketeers I suggest watching the 1975 movie staring Michael York as Dartangon. I have a copy.
The young D'Artagnan is infatuated with the young Madame Bonacieux. She however is married. In this time period, was it acceptable to have a spouse and a lover?
No, well not really. You will see this one of the really strange things about Dumas. There are really some powerful Christian themes in his books, however, he was no fan of the Church, as you might see in his descriptions of Cardinal Richelieu. This resulted in some strange views on marriage. He had noticed that too often, marriages were about convenience, not about love and fidelity. He himself never married his mistress. They had a child together, and were faithful to each other. It was almost as if he thought getting married would have made the relatiohship too institutional or too superficial. It is hard to know for sure. D'Artagnan thought that Madame Bonacieux was enslaved to a loveless marriage of arrangment, because her husband was much older. In this sense he did not see it as a real marriage. What do you think about this?
Even stranger might be the attitude of Aramis (the priest) toward women? He almost seems a ladies man.
Later you will discover that the relationship between the Queen and Duke of Buckingham is also perplexing. In the end the Musketeers do not condone the Queen's behavior, however, they are honor and duty bound to support her regardless.
I am confused on how to feel towards the Queen. In some parts of the book she is made out to be innocent and under constant attack by the Cardinal but in other parts she is with Buckingham. How are you supposed to view the Queen; friend or foe?
Great Observation Mikayla. I think Dumas is doing this intentionally. At times you are made to feel like she is innocent, but keep in mind she is risking the honor of France by having a relationship with the Duke of Buckingham. In the end it seems she understands her lack of virtue could have cost her everything.
Once again, the musketeers will support her regardless.
to make the three musketeers interesting, i put the One Direction boys as some of the characters. smart idea, am i right Directioners?? so at first i was like, "I want to be Milady!" then i saw how she was hated and how fate caught up to her (death) and was like, "Nevermind...."
What about poor kitty? How can D'Artagan stand to use her and just throw her away. She believes they are in love but he lies to her about Madame B. Why?
The musketeers had muskets, but they were not always dependable and it took a half a minute to reload. Swords were just a more honorable way of fighting, meeting your enemy face to face so to speak.
Katy, I am glad you are starting Count of Monte Cristo, it is such a good book. It is long, but in the end you will be glad you read it. There all good. I am glad to see everyone is having fun with this.
i dont know if someone else has already mentioned this but im just going to say it anyway. isnt it bad for d'artagnan to be lusting after married woman? was that looked down upon back then or what?
Hey! I have a question about the reading prompt for The Three Musketeers/The Man in the Iron Mask. I read The Man in the Iron Mask and I was wondering if the prompt wants me to write about the musketeers individually or as a group. Also, should I talk about d'Artagnan? I know he is a guard and captain of the musketeers, so would he be included in the musketeer group or not? Thank you :)
I cant believe they killed those people and the way Milady seduced Felton. What the heck! Come one they killed the lover.I wanted to scream she was so nice. I don't mind the other guy so much because he was the source of all the trouble. But still it was so sad.
I finally finished The Three Musketeers! I enjoyed the part at the end when D'Artagnan received head of the Musketeers, and all his friends selflessly congratulated him instead of being jealous of him.
At the beginning of my book Dumas says he found the story of the three Musketeers. Why would he say that? Did he write it or find the account? And if he did write it what does it bring to the story to say he found it?
ReplyDeleteDumas did a lot of research into the Kings Guards because his father had actually been one. He was writing in the 19th century and the story takes place in the mid 17th century, so you can imagine how difficult it was to research, i.e. no internet. He stumbled on a legend of the Musketeers that he used to create the characters in hs book.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you reading Dumas, it is important to note that he was writing a serical that was published in installements in a weekly or biweekly journal (magazine). They were eventually put together into a novel, accounting for the length. For those of you familiar with the movie, it is only the first have of the Three Musketeers. For those of you who enjoy Dumas, the aaga of the Three Musketeers continues in a book called Twenty Years After and then again in a third installment called Ten Years After, ending with the Man in the Iron Mask.
Setting-France is in turmoil because the Church and the Monarchy are in conflict each trying to gain the upper hand, the power to rule. The Musketeers support King Louis the XIII who is at odds with Cardinal Richelieu. In Twenty Years after it is Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin and in Man in the Iron Mask it is Louis XIV and his mythical twin brother Phillipe.
Count of Monte Cristo, also a very long book takes place in the early part of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, just after the French Revolution and the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I think this is the best of the Dumas novels, but don't go watch the movie first, but it totally gets the theme wrong.
When you finish the Three Musketeers I suggest watching the 1975 movie staring Michael York as Dartangon. I have a copy.
The young D'Artagnan is infatuated with the young Madame Bonacieux. She however is married. In this time period, was it acceptable to have a spouse and a lover?
ReplyDeleteNo, well not really. You will see this one of the really strange things about Dumas. There are really some powerful Christian themes in his books, however, he was no fan of the Church, as you might see in his descriptions of Cardinal Richelieu. This resulted in some strange views on marriage. He had noticed that too often, marriages were about convenience, not about love and fidelity. He himself never married his mistress. They had a child together, and were faithful to each other. It was almost as if he thought getting married would have made the relatiohship too institutional or too superficial. It is hard to know for sure. D'Artagnan thought that Madame Bonacieux was enslaved to a loveless marriage of arrangment, because her husband was much older. In this sense he did not see it as a real marriage. What do you think about this?
ReplyDeleteEven stranger might be the attitude of Aramis (the priest) toward women? He almost seems a ladies man.
Later you will discover that the relationship between the Queen and Duke of Buckingham is also perplexing. In the end the Musketeers do not condone the Queen's behavior, however, they are honor and duty bound to support her regardless.
I am confused on how to feel towards the Queen. In some parts of the book she is made out to be innocent and under constant attack by the Cardinal but in other parts she is with Buckingham. How are you supposed to view the Queen; friend or foe?
ReplyDeleteGreat Observation Mikayla. I think Dumas is doing this intentionally. At times you are made to feel like she is innocent, but keep in mind she is risking the honor of France by having a relationship with the Duke of Buckingham. In the end it seems she understands her lack of virtue could have cost her everything.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, the musketeers will support her regardless.
to make the three musketeers interesting, i put the One Direction boys as some of the characters. smart idea, am i right Directioners?? so at first i was like, "I want to be Milady!" then i saw how she was hated and how fate caught up to her (death) and was like, "Nevermind...."
ReplyDeleteWhat about poor kitty? How can D'Artagan stand to use her and just throw her away. She believes they are in love but he lies to her about Madame B. Why?
ReplyDeletehahaha! Great idea Arianna! i'm going to do that :)
ReplyDeleteWhy do the Musketeers use swords when they have guns?
ReplyDeleteI am just now starting The Count of Monte Cristo! I feel like I am behind all of youu! haha
ReplyDelete~Kaitey V~
Ha, it's ok Kaitey. i just started the Three Musketeers, and i feel so behind also! I'm glad to see i'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteEveryone,
ReplyDeleteThe musketeers had muskets, but they were not always dependable and it took a half a minute to reload. Swords were just a more honorable way of fighting, meeting your enemy face to face so to speak.
Katy, I am glad you are starting Count of Monte Cristo, it is such a good book. It is long, but in the end you will be glad you read it. There all good. I am glad to see everyone is having fun with this.
Thanks Mr. Rea! I am enjoying the book aton! At first It was a little bit confusing though, but it is starting to make more sense(:
ReplyDelete~Kaitey V
i dont know if someone else has already mentioned this but im just going to say it anyway. isnt it bad for d'artagnan to be lusting after married woman? was that looked down upon back then or what?
ReplyDeleteHey! I have a question about the reading prompt for The Three Musketeers/The Man in the Iron Mask. I read The Man in the Iron Mask and I was wondering if the prompt wants me to write about the musketeers individually or as a group. Also, should I talk about d'Artagnan? I know he is a guard and captain of the musketeers, so would he be included in the musketeer group or not? Thank you :)
ReplyDeletei am really enjoying the three musketeers. D'Artagnan shows a lot of bravery and strength even though he is young.
ReplyDeleteI cant believe they killed those people and the way Milady seduced Felton. What the heck! Come one they killed the lover.I wanted to scream she was so nice. I don't mind the other guy so much because he was the source of all the trouble. But still it was so sad.
ReplyDeleteThe Three Musketeers is definitely much better than i thought it would be. I realized that i misjudged both of our books, and i'm glad i read them.
ReplyDeleteYes, I finished! that took forever, but it was worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteI finally finished The Three Musketeers! I enjoyed the part at the end when D'Artagnan received head of the Musketeers, and all his friends selflessly congratulated him instead of being jealous of him.
ReplyDelete