The Princess of Montpensier by Madame de La Fayette: A Forbidden Love Story

Extract

[...] The princess feels a great sadness and ' The Prince of Montpensier and returned to Champigni, to complete in crushing the princess his wife with his presence. ' (page 20) Madame de Noirmoutier makes sure that everyone knows the love she has for the Duke of Guise 'Madame de Noirmoutier was a person who took as much care in making her gallantries explode as others take in hiding them. ' (page 27) The death of Princess de Montpensier is due to a great sadness after the loss of Count de Chabannes, her husband, and the Duke of Guise 'This was the fatal blow to her life: she could not resist the pain of having lost her husband's esteem, her lover's heart, and the most perfect friend who ever was. [...]

[...] However, the Count of Chabannes is jealous of the Duke of Guise and his relationship with Madame de Montpensier much more than he is jealous of the relationship between Madame de Montpensier and her husband 'What chance had done to bring these two people together seemed to him to be such bad omen that he easily predicted that this beginning of a novel would not be without consequences. At the first court of Champigni, a new man falls in love. The Duke of Anjou fell in love when 'Madame de Montpensier, made, in the evening, the honors of her home with the same charm that she made all things. Finally she pleased too much to her guests. [...]

[...] The Princess of Montpensier was unaware of this love, believing that the Duke was in love with another. Feeling offended, she declares to the Duke: do not understand why, based on a weakness that one was capable of at thirteen years old, one would have the audacity to make oneself the lover of a person like myself, and especially when one is in love with another in the sight of the entire court.' (Page 12) The Duke of Guise's declaration to the Princess of Montpensier and their long conversation allowed 'Although they had not spoken to each other for so long, they still found themselves accustomed to each other and their hearts easily returned to a path that was not unknown to them.' (page 12) The Duke of Anjou, during a ball organized at court, realizes the feelings of Madame de Montpensier for the Duke of Guise 'The Duke of Anjou was struck as by a thunderbolt, he saw in this moment that he had a loved rival. [...]

[...] She died a few days later, in the bloom of her age, one of the most beautiful princesses in the world, and who would have been undoubtedly the happiest, if virtue and prudence had guided all her actions. [...]

[...] The Princess of Montpensier - Madame de La Fayette (1662) - Quotes from Madame de La Fayette's short story The story of the forbidden love between the Duke of Guise and the only daughter of the Marquis de Mézières takes place 'While civil war tore France apart under the reign of Charles IX, love still found its place amidst all the disorder, and caused much in its empire.' (page The Duke of Guise, in love with this woman, wanted to marry her. [...]