colouredin
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So I decided to read De Sade, I have nearly finished the complete works now (im on the tail end of 120 days of sodom). The book fascinated me for many reasons. Im going to quickly mention what I thought of philosophy in the bedroom because I think the main focus will be on Justine and Juliette.
Philosophy in the Bedroom -
Obviously all of what I have read so far has his theories interlaced through, this has the most abrupt version in that they stop to read a pamphlet (I was kind of boggling at the poor literary skill here to be honest but there we go) some of his ideas though I dont agree with them certainly made me think. For example the idea on murder, we are all born equal yet we as humans place ourselves ona pedistool by banning murder. In the animal kingdom killing rivials is fine, but we cant because we are suggesting that human life is more valuable. I think thats a really interesting idea and never really thought of it in those terms previously. I did think a lot of it was far too forced though "well i have committed myself to a life of vice therefore I must commit all acts" it seemed a little too in your face for me.
Justine
Ok so this is probably the most facinating of the two "good conduct, well chastised". I was reading it on the train and shocked myself by giggling quite a bit at it all. The story took ona new edge for me due to the fact that she was protecting this intangible thing of 'virtue' and as soon as you protect it instantly everyone wants it. The introduction that suggests that to appriciate good we must compare it with evil, I think that is true but what I couldnt get my head around was what was Sade really saying. It seems a bit too easy to suggest that he was simply if you are virtuous bad things will happen to you. In fact similar things that happened to Justine happened to Julliette, in fact worse, the differance being that Julliette wanted to see them and be part of them. All the way through Sade refers to Justine as being lovely and constantly points out that all these things are misfortunes. They are only misfortunes however in this book. This seems to me to link so neatly into our preoccupation with the idea of consent. The problem with this theory is as I mentioned that Sade constantly refers to it all as vice, in negative terms.
Julliette.
"vice amply rewarded", This book in my opinion has far more grizzly scenes however they didnt grate as much, in fact I read them almost dispassionatly becuase Julliette and the others embraced them. Everything that they did was enjoyed which somehow made it more boring for me. So comparing the two I would want to say that the idea of good and evil vary depending on the person. What one person loves another hates. But they seem to revel in the pure fact that it is meant to be evil. For example the link between theft and orgasm, the only reason they seem to get off on it is because its against the law. This is something I think many of us would relate to, the edge of danger involved doesnt half make things shine that bit brighter. But is that the only reason that we do it? the taboo gives you more pleasure true, but would you do something simply because it is taboo? This book is about the chasing of pleasure above all else. Sade seems to be saying that is the best way to go, I disagree with him in his apparent assumption that pleasure and taboo are always interlinked.
I didnt understand the need for the shift in infomation from the two books, In the first Julliette repends on Justines death bed and in the second she didnt. I didnt really understand the purpose of that beyond the suggestion that you can live your life one way and its never to late to repent.
The content of the book fascinated me, though I think it may have lost some of its impact in translation becuase I wouldnt refer to Sade as a writer now, more a theorist, one whos ideas were interesting even if I didnt completely agree.
I was wondering what other peoples impressions of the books are? I find that its quite interesting to hear others interpretation because then it will help to solidify mine a bit more.
edit to add, I appologise for the length of this and also that it may not be the most eloquantly written piece in the world I was just a huge bumble of ideas, I am pretty sure if a discussion gets going I will be able to articulate what I think a bit better, I am never very good at starting topics :D
< Message edited by colouredin -- 3/22/2008 4:59:36 AM >
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Sade - 
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. The illustrations were particularly popular 
. This was before the days of the Internet, so students pretty much used anything they could find for their crank files. 
:P 
{{{{walks off humming...."you give me the sweetest taboo....."}}}}
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