Ambition in The Three Musketeers is circumscribed by a character’s position on the social ladder. The characters as a whole, however, are quite an ambitious bunch. Thus the moments when they put their ambitions on hold are particularly telling moments, as well as the moments when their ambitious sides are let loose.
Questions About Ambition
- In the socially stratified world of The Three Musketeers, what are the limits to a man’s ambition? Can Planchet, for instance, have the same ambitions as D’Artagnan?
- To what extent is Tréville a self-made man? What about D’Artagnan?
- Who is the most ambitious character in the novel? Why?
- How are the ambitions of the four friends similar or different?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Aramis is not serious in his ambition to be a priest.
Aramis is serious in his ambition to be a priest.