first 2 Letters, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

The first two letters of Les Liaisons Dangereuses have an interesting role because they serve to introduce the reader to the story but at the same time contain no historical, narrative background. Instead of learning about the characters and their setting, we are immediately thrown into the story and expected to understand the personalities of our characters through the ways they address each other in their intimate letters.
The letters also alert the reader to new beginnings in each character's life; Cecile's first foray into society after the convent, and La marquise's new venture into halting a marriage that displeases and humiliates her. Through the letters a relationship is created between these two diametrically opposed female characters and though they are not writing to each other, Laclos sets up a conflict of interest that will surely occupy the rest of the novel.