The Paris of Dumas: A City of Shadows and Splendor
Paris in the early 17th century is a city of masks and secrets, where the cobbled streets echo with the clatter of hooves and the whispered intrigues of court and commoner alike. Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers brings this world to life—a city where honor is measured by the blade, and destiny is shaped by the choices of a few bold souls.
Among those souls is a young Gascon named d’Artagnan, who arrives in Paris with nothing but a letter of introduction, a battered sword, and a heart burning with ambition. His journey will plunge him into the heart of Parisian drama, where he will face rivals far more powerful than himself.
The Scene: Duel at the Carmes-Deschaux Convent
One of the most iconic episodes in Dumas’ tale—and in all of Parisian literature—takes place on a quiet morning outside the Carmes-Deschaux Convent. D’Artagnan, hot-blooded and eager to prove himself, has managed to offend not one, but three of the King’s Musketeers in a single day: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
Each challenges him to a duel, one after another, at the same location and hour. As d’Artagnan waits, sword in hand, the three Musketeers arrive—first Athos, then Porthos, then Aramis—each surprised to find the others there for the same purpose. Instead of fighting each other, however, they are interrupted by the arrival of Cardinal Richelieu’s guards, led by the sinister Rochefort.
The Cardinal’s men declare that dueling is forbidden, and attempt to arrest the four swordsmen. In that moment, the rivals become allies. The young d’Artagnan, facing overwhelming odds, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Musketeers against the superior force of the Cardinal’s agents.
The Dramatic Situation: Rivalry of Superior and Inferior
This scene is a perfect illustration of Polti’s “Rivalry of Superior and Inferior.” D’Artagnan, the “inferior”—a provincial newcomer, unknown and untested—faces Rochefort and the Cardinal’s guards, the “superior” force, representing the might of the state and the shadowy power of Richelieu.
The Musketeers themselves are not just rivals to d’Artagnan, but also to each other, bound by pride and honor. Yet, in the face of a greater threat, their rivalry transforms into camaraderie. The duel that was meant to divide them becomes the crucible that forges their friendship.
The Outcome: Brotherhood Forged in Battle
Outnumbered but undaunted, the four men fight with courage and skill. Their swords flash in the morning sun, and against all odds, they drive off the Cardinal’s guards. In the aftermath, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis embrace d’Artagnan as one of their own. The rivalry that began with insults and challenges ends with a bond that will define their destinies.
From that day forward, their motto—“All for one, and one for all!”—becomes a legend in the streets of Paris.
The Meaning: Rivalry as a Path to Growth
Dumas’ Paris is a city where rivalry is not just a source of conflict, but a path to self-discovery and transformation. D’Artagnan’s willingness to stand his ground—first as a rival, then as an ally—earns him the respect of men he once saw as adversaries. The superior and the inferior are not fixed roles; they shift and evolve as courage, loyalty, and wit are tested.
This is the magic of Paris, and of The Three Musketeers: the city is both stage and character, shaping and being shaped by those who dare to write their stories upon its stones.
Questions for the Traveller: Your Own Parisian Rivalry
As you wander the boulevards and hidden corners of Paris, consider the rivalries that have shaped your own journey. Let these questions guide your reflection:
- Who has been your greatest rival, and what did you learn from them?
- Have you ever found yourself outnumbered or outmatched, like d’Artagnan? How did you respond?
- When have you turned a rivalry into an alliance? What changed?
- What values—honor, loyalty, ambition—drive you in moments of conflict?
- If you could meet your rival in Paris, what would you say or do?
- How do you handle the temptation to prove yourself?
- Have you ever found unexpected friendship in the heat of competition?
- What is your personal motto in the face of adversity?
- How do you define victory—in rivalry, in love, in life?
- If your life were a Parisian adventure, who would be your Athos, Porthos, and Aramis?
Epilogue: All for One, and One for All
Paris remains, as ever, a city of drama—a place where rivals become friends, and the “inferior” can rise to greatness. As you explore its streets, remember that every rivalry holds the seed of possibility. Perhaps, like d’Artagnan, you will find that the greatest victories are not won alone, but together.
The Hero's Journey in Paris 