Classroom Connections: Three Musketeers

Dumas often took inspiration from famous historical figures, saying that history was “the nail on which I hang my novels."

Example: During the reign of Louis XIII, the musketeers served as a type of training ground for the French army. Aramis, Porthos, and Athos—the Musketeers who gradually befriend D’Artagnan--are loosely based on actual people who fought during the same reign. Not much is known about these men, though evidence exists to show that Armand de Sillegue, the inspiration for Athos, died in Paris as the result of a duel. 

Though Dumas is primarily credited as the author of the story, the development of this tale was a team effort! French writer Auguste Maquet collaborated with Dumas for this project, as well as the two sequels and The Count of Monte Cristo (1844). Maquet would conduct historical research, then suggest a general outline of the plot; Dumas would then expand on his ideas and specify the details of the story.  

While researching the reign of Louis XIV for a separate project, Dumas and Maquet stumbled across a historical novel written by Gatien de Cortilz de Sandras. This work, titled Memoires de d'Artagnan, became the main source of inspiration for the writing duo.  

The Three Musketeers was not originally published all at once. Instead, chapters of the novel were published in the magazine Le Siècle on a daily basis, but over the course of several months. This serialized form of writing was popular at the time and made the story accessible to more people; ending each chapter with a cliffhanger would build anticipation for the next set of chapters.  

Titles penned by Dumas and published as a serial include:

• The Three Musketeers 
• Man in the Iron Mask
• The Count of Monte Cristo

The swashbuckler genre emerged between 1800 and 1850, alongside the rising popularity of French Romanticism. Romanticism emphasizes human emotion and glorifies individualism, glorifying the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of bygone eras. Stories are often set in the Renaissance era and feature the adventures of heroic protagonists as they set out to defend their honor and protect the endangered. A swashbuckler’s opponent is often a cruel, dastardly villain who threatens to destroy the hero’s idealistic ways of life. The protagonist, often accompanied by a merry band of fellow dreamers, swordfight and outsmart forces of evil, culminating in one final confrontation between the protagonist and the villain.  

What makes a hero? A swashbuckler is an example of a stock character, a type of fictional character in a work of literature or art who possesses a set of characteristics that appear regularly in a particular genre or artistic movement. Though a hero’s individual circumstances may vary depending on the story, they all contain the following traits:  

• Impressive skill in sword fighting, acrobatics, and other forms of combat. 

• It’s important to note that swashbucklers do not engage in duels or other skirmishes without cause; when they fight, they fight for honor. 

• Wears flashy, extravagant clothing fit for an artistocrat: large, feathered hats, high boots, breeches, and elegant waistcoats. Their weapon of choice is a rapier, a sword with a long, thin blade that is double-edged and pointed at the tip.  

• Adheres to a strict moral code; above all, a swashbuckler believes in noble ideals like honor, justice, true love, kindness, and chivalry. 

If a gentleperson’s honor was threatened or offended, they could challenge the offender to a duel in the following ways: 

• A formal, written request. (An excellent choice for those who wish to plan ahead.) 

• A verbal invitation. (Short, sweet, to the point.) 

• A slap to the face. (For some added drama.) 

Once a duel was set, each party must select a “second.” The second, usually a close friend or servant, must be present to ensure that the rules of the duel are followed. Seconds may also fight each other. 

Duels must be fought with the same weapon; it’s against the rules to pin a pistol against a sword, for example. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the most common weapon of choice was the rapier, the long, slender double-edged swords used by our protagonists in The Three Musketeers. Unlike older types of swords, which were heavy and difficult to maneuver, the lightweight rapier had a much quicker reaction time. Its thin, pointed blade easily inflicted fatal wounds. However, the rising popularity and cheaper price tag of the pistol made it a common choice for those who could not afford a sword.  

A duel could end in the following ways: 

• A mutual resolution of the argument was reached before the drawing of weapons. 

• “First blood”: Whoever injures their opponent to the point of drawing blood wins the duel. 

• “To the death”: The duel ends upon the death of an opponent. 

In an attempt to control the frequency of duels, King Louis XIII released a Royal Edict stating that those engaging in duels of honor were committing a crime punishable by death. However, this did little to curb its popularity. In fact, duels between the rival regiments of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu were encouraged, as the two men believed that it strengthened the reputation of each unit. After the French Revolution, laws forbidding duels were rescinded, leading to an 18th century dueling boom.