Tiny Library: Justine by the Marquis de Sade

In the classics section of my new library, they make a set of Perennial Forbidden Classics. I selected Justine from them because I've heard so often about how shameful and controversial the Marquis de Sade is, and precious to try for myself.

For me personally, the book felt more like a philosophy argument than a report or novel.

The principal character, Justine, is made to suffer purely because she is a well and moral person. Throughout the word she is repeatedly tortured, both physically and mentally, and sexually abused. Every time she helps another person it leads to yet more abuse.

The real subject of the word does sound shocking when written down - there are perennial and lengthy rape scenes - and it's definitely not for the light hearted, but there was something about it that stopped it from being right or affecting. I say it expecting to be broken at all the abuse, but I simply wasn't. And I don't believe that's because I am a horrible psychopath, I think it's because De Sade has written it like a philosophy treatise with no emotional connection whatsoever. You never get out what Justine is thinking, or why she keeps on trusting strangers. She never has a bit of doubt, or anger, or self-pity. She's supremely detached in a way you just wouldn't be - at one stage she comments that someone cut off her toe as if she is discussing the weather. I think it lacked the reality and emotional link to get it truly shocking or disturbing.

On to the philosophy sections, which were obviously dear to De Sade's heart. His chief line is that in a corrupt world, there is no place in being right or virtuous, because you can profit better from following vice. He loves this line so often that he has every part that abuses Justine repeat it. By the end of the bible this gets pretty tiring.

At the first and end of the book, there are moments when it feels as though De Sade is doing a bit of damage limitation, as he knew how shocking his novel would be. He is at pains to state that he is simply writing the tale to exhort others to be virtuous, because if Justine can remain virtuous after everything that has happened to her, surely everyone else can. This doesn't really ring true with the way the word is scripted and has an air of 'get out of jail free' about it.

I'm glad I say this, if but to get out for myself what all of the argument is about.

Score: 2.5 out of 5