Immorality vs. Morality

Throughout the entire novel, Laclos pits morality against immorality in almost every interaction, attempting to show that any level of immoral thought or behavior will always lead to destruction whereas morality will lead to grace, if not to happiness. Merteuil is, without doubt, an immoral character. Her entire life is built on deceit and lies, and her behaviors are for pleasure rather than love or a greater good. She betrays everyone, including those she holds dear. In a search for vengeance, her immoral behaviors lead her to corrupt a young, innocent girl, seduce an innocent young man, betray a true friend, and to play a part in the death of a young man she once claimed to love. Further, her immoral behaviors lead to her bankruptcy, her social seclusion, and her disfigurement. Clearly, in the case of Merteuil, her immoral behaviors led to a swift and...