Character Analysis
Valmont's aunt, Madame de Rosemonde, hosts Madame de Tourvel while her husband is away. She's one of the few kind and sympathetic characters of the novel. Madame de Tourvel describes her as having a twenty-year old spirit despite her being eighty-four years old.
While she loves her nephew, the Vicomte de Valmont, she has no illusions about him. Where women are concerned, she writes to Madame de Tourvel, he "will ruin them as soon as seduce them." (4.126.4) The Présidente turns to her when the temptation to give in to Valmont's wishes becomes too much to bear. Madame de Rosemonde is sympathetic and compassionate, principled but not judgmental.
Hearing of her nephew's death at the hands of Danceny, she initially wants justice done, but when Danceny explains the situation and sends her the letters he received from Valmont, she sees the truth of the matter and forgives her nephew's killer.