The Three Musketeers: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Alexandre Dumas, père

First published: Les Trois Mousquetaires, 1844 (English translation, 1846)

Genre: Novel

Locale: France

Plot: Adventure

Time: 1626

D'Artagnan (dahr-tahn-YAHN), a quick-witted, high-tempered young Gascon who has come to Paris to seek his fortune at the court of King Louis XIII. Having proved his bravery by fighting duels with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, all members of the King's Musketeers, he becomes friends with each. Through the agency of his landlord's wife, Constance Bonancieux, with whom he has fallen in love, he and his friends are induced to go to England to reclaim two diamond studs that the queen has imprudently given to her lover, the Duke of Buckingham. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis are waylaid by agents of Cardinal Richelieu, but D'Artagnan is successful in completing the mission and saving the honor of the queen. In revenge, Milady, an agent of the cardinal, poisons Madame Bonancieux and tries to poison D'Artagnan. Having failed to prevent the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham and having served gallantly at the siege of La Rochelle, D'Artagnan and his friends avenge themselves on Milady by having her beheaded. At the end of the novel, D'Artagnan is made lieutenant of the King's Musketeers.

Athos (ah-TOHS), the name assumed by the Comte de la Fère while serving in the King's Musketeers. When young, he had married a beautiful young woman, only to learn that she had been branded as a thief. She reappears as Milady.

Aramis (ah-rah-MEES), the name taken by the Chevalier d'Herblay when, as the consequence of fighting a duel, he gives up his intention of entering the priesthood and becomes one of the King's Musketeers. At the end of the novel, he is about to return to his religious vocation.

Porthos (pohr-TOHS), the third of the King's Musketeers who welcome D'Artagnan into their fellowship. He is noted for his great strength, vanity, and stupidity.

Milady, known also as Charlotte Backson, the Comtesse de la Fère, and Lady de Winter. She had, when young, first corrupted a priest and then married the Comte de la Fère. Having been revealed as a thief, she married an English nobleman whom she poisoned to secure his estate. In the novel, she is an agent of Cardinal Richelieu, and it is she who steals from the Duke of Buckingham the two diamond studs given him by the French queen. D'Artagnan makes love to Milady under a false name. When she discovers the deception, he plans revenge. She is imprisoned in England by her brother-in-law and placed under the guard of John Felton. She corrupts Felton and induces him to stab Buckingham. Fleeing to France after the death of the duke, she revenges herself on D'Artagnan by poisoning his beloved, Constance Bonancieux. Finally, she is captured by the Musketeers and is beheaded.

The Cardinal-Duke de Richelieu (deh reesh-LYEW), the chief minister of King Louis XIII and an enemy of Queen Anne. He tries to ruin her reputation with the king so that she will be sent back to Spain. He orders Milady to steal from the Duke of Buckingham the two diamond studs given to him by the queen, a plot intended to uncover the queen's love for the Englishman. The plot is foiled by D'Artagnan and his friends.

Anne of Austria, the unhappy queen of King Louis XIII, in love with the Duke of Buckingham. She gives him two of the diamond studs presented to her by the king.

George Villiers (veel-YAY), the Duke of Buckingham, the favorite of King Charles I of England and the lover of Anne of Austria, queen of France. He is, through the instigation of Milady, murdered by John Felton.

Lord de Winter, the brother-in-law of Milady, on whose orders she is imprisoned.

John Felton, an officer in the English navy and a Puritan, ordered by Lord de Winter to guard Milady. She seduces him and prevails on him to assassinate the Duke of Buckingham.

Constance Bonancieux (boh nahn-SYEW), the wife of D'Artagnan's landlord and a confidential servant of the queen. Milady revenges herself on D'Artagnan by poisoning Constance.

The executioner of Lille, the brother of the priest who was Milady's first victim. He beheads her and thus avenges his brother.

De Treville (deh treh-VEEL), the captain of the King's Musketeers and D'Artagnan's patron.

ThechevalierdeRochefort (deh rohsh-FOHR), the master of horse to Cardinal de Richelieu and one of his trusted agents.

Planchet (plahn-SHAY), D'Artagnan's servant.

Grimaud (gree-MOH), Athos' taciturn servant.

Musqueton (mews-keh-TOHN), Porthos' servant.