The Problem With Prohibiton

Duke of Buckingham and queen Anne vs. D'Artagnan and Madame Bonacieux

"In terms of literary reference, the term for "Romance" is a hard one to pin down" (handout). In The Three Musketeers, written by Dumas, many events occur which classify it as a romance, two of which that are intense love relationships. The Duke of Buckingham from England is in love with Anne of Austria who is Queen of France. The other is that of D'Artagnan, the main character, finds himself in a love with the beautiful Madame Bonacieux. Although they share similar difficulties that hinder their relationships, there are also distinctions that allow each relationship to develop on its own.

The Cardinal is the cause of most of the problems that exist in the relationships. He has both of the mistress's husband's under his control. The problems he causes are all for his benefit, but the reasons he causes them are different. It was no secret that the Cardinal wanted to be the ruler of France himself and this is the reason he tries so hard to get the Queen in trouble. She knows what the Cardinal wants, and even though she has no love for the king, she still tries to protect him. In the case of D'Artagnan, he causes these problems because he does not like the boy. He does not like how the boy seems to devise every plot he seems to carry out. It was similar to milady's reason for revenge.

In both relationships, the men are trying desperately to win the love of their married mistress. They both want the love and are deeply in love with the women. In the relationship of Buckingham and Queen Anne, Buckingham will do anything to win the Queens love. "...Upon a word from her [Queen Anne], I would betray my country, I would betray my king, I would betray my God" (Dumas 245). This statement signifies how deeply Buckingham is in love with Queen Anne and how far he would go to have her. In the relationship between D'Artagnan and Madame Bonacieux, D'Artagnan is the male who is trying to win the love of a married female. The way in which he tries to convey his love for Madame Bonacieux is trying to rescue her from her kidnappers and offering favors. "...But shall I likewise return worthy of your love?" (218). D'Artagnan asks this question to Madame Bonacieux before leaving to go on the errand she asks of him. It signifies that he will also do anything to have her in his arms. Both men exhibit the similarity of being driven by love and chivalry by showing they will do anything to have the woman of his dreams, but they have significant differences in how they achieve it.

Queen Anne and Madame Bonacieux are also in love, but do not say the words directly until the end of the romance. This non-verbal way of showing their love tantalizes both men throughout the novel shown through their actions of constantly asking if their mistress loves them and doing what ever they can to hear the words. The Queen is unable to say she loves Buckingham because of the risk it would run. The cardinal has spies everywhere on her and pronouncing her love would ruin her reputation or worse, get her hung. Queen Anne says "... you forget that I have never said that I love you" to Buckingham to prevent the risk of being blackmailed by a cardinal spy (149). Madame Bonacieux also does not claim her love for D'Artagnan verbally. Unlike the Queen, it is not due to the fact of getting in trouble; it is due to the fact of the affair itself. Constance is an older married woman when she meets D'Artagnan. She does not want to reveal her love for him because she feels a little ashamed of loving him and feels like he is just a boy who does not know real love. After D'Artagnan tells her that he loves her, she says "... You are almost a boy", during the same conversation, he tells