The Three Musketeers short summary & analysis

The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers Analysis

Alexandre Dumas, the writer of the books ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, ‘The man in the Iron Mask’ and ‘Black Tulip’, wrote his book ‘The Three Musketeers’ in 1844. Dumas, who started his authorship profession with theatrical works, produced works in many languages all over the world and they took their places in the bestseller list. Since his books not only appeal to grown-ups but also the children, they managed to enter the ‘One Hundred Primary Literary Works’ list in our country. Another piece of interesting information that is known related to the writer is this: he is known as ‘Father’ Alexandre Dumas. This is because he has a son who has the same name and profession just like himself.

The novel ‘The Three Musketeers’ is the work of the writer in the genre of historical fiction. The book was adapted to lots of movies. Along with this, it was also adapted to cartoon films. The adventures of D’Artagnan, who is one of the major characters of the novel, continue in the other works of the writer, such as ‘Ten Years Later’ and ‘Twenty Years Later’. Let’s come to the summary of the book:

The Three Musketeers Short Summary

In the mid seventeenth century, in Gascony, there is a family who live in a town called Melung. The father of this family wants to be a musketeer in the king’s palace during his youth, but he can’t manage. With the thought of “I couldn’t do it, let my son do it at least.”,
he gives a letter to his son who just entered puberty and sends him to the town to see M. de Tréville. This youngster, whose name is D’Artagnan, joins many quarrels on his way to the town and he is regarded somewhat odd in the places he passes through. When he reaches the town at last, people find him odd again and ridicule him. D’Artagnan cannot stand, and has a quarrel with them again, but this time he finds himself unconscious on the ground. Those who knocked him unconscious take the letter, which was written by his father, from D’Artagnan’s pocket and leave away. But, D’Artagnan presumes that the innkeeper is responsible for this incident, and he attacks him. When he finds out that he does not have the letter, he lets him go and sets out for the palace. In the palace, he finds M. de Tréville, the man whom his father wrote, and tells him about the situation. But, just at that moment, he sees the man who stole the letter from his pocket, and he leaps forward to catch him. While he is running, he knocks against Athos, one of the musketeers of the king; he apologizes to him; but, without accepting his apology, Athos challenges D'Artagnan to a duel at eleven o'clock. D'Artagnan, who inevitably accepts this, continues running and this time he knocks against Porthos, another musketeer of the king. After all this time he spends, the man whom he is chasing slips through D'Artagnan's fingers. Thereupon he decides to go up to Athos, whose duel he promised, but, while he is on this way, he gets into trouble with Aramis, another musketeer, and together they challenge each other to a duel at two o'clock.

When he arrives at the place they agreed on, he sees that Athos has brought Porthos and Aramis along with him as witnesses. After having a brief talk with each other, all four of them understand that they actually are good people and get on well with each other, but they do not give up the duel since they take it as a duty. These three men, who are known as "The Three Musketeers" in all over the country by many people, are brave, fearless and determined individuals at the same time. When D'Artagnan sees these men's ambition and determination, he thinks that he will not be able to survive this duel and will die. Just when they are about to start the duel, the soldiers of the cardinal bust this place. Since it was forbidden to duel secretly in that time, the soldiers were going to attack the musketeers. But, D'Artagnan decides to side with the musketeers, not with the soldiers, and clashes against the soldiers with them. These three musketeers and D'Artagnan, who win this crowded duel, are appreciated by M. de Tréville. Besides, at the end of this duel, The Three Musketeers decide to take D'Artagnan to their side and they inform this decision to him. As there is no longer any hostility among them, these friends revolt against the negativity and injustice, always taking each other's side.

As for my own thoughts about the book; although the book may appear as a children's book, it is of the kind that should be read by all the adults. For the children, it is a magnificent book from which some lessons such as friendship, keeping secret, faith and honesty can be taken. If you have not read it yet, read it now. Or, if you have a kid, read it together. It is my advice.

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