The Three Musketeers

The fleur-de-lis, a stylized image of a lily flower, is a symbol commonly associated with France that appears on many coats-of-arms and regional flags. In this novel, however, the fleur-de-lis is not a marker of national pride; rather, it is a brand burned into Milady’s shoulder to identify her as a convicted thief. In the 17th century, severe punishments often comprised not only prison time, but also permanent physical disfigurement in the form of a fleur-de-lis brand to warn anyone interacting with the criminal in the future. Shockingly, the fleur-de-lis brand means that criminals are never done atoning for their crimes: When Athos sees this brand on Milady after marrying her, he decides that the only fitting thing to do is kill her.

In the novel, Milady’s brand is also important because it is a rare physical characteristic, especially in women of the upper class—its relative rarity allows d’Artagnan to recognize that Milady is Athos’s wife. The brand is irrefutable proof of Milady‘s identity, cutting through her many aliases.

Romantic fantasies are an important motif in The Three Musketeers. Characters are more interested in the narrative of romance than in real love.