La philosophie et le libertinage du Marquis de Sade et la place de la

LA PHILOSOPHIE ET LE LIBERTINAGE DU MARQUIS DE SADE
ET LA PLACE DE LA FEMME DANS SES ŒUVRES
by
Warren W. Wills, III
(Under the direction of Francis Assaf)
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores the philosophy of the marquis de Sade and how it falls into place
with the whole of Eighteenth Century philosophy in France and that of the French
Revolution. We examine the condition of women in the society of the period and relate
her stature and socialization to her physical state. We attempt to prove that Sade’s
licentious writing and libertine philosophy was due, in large part, to his imprisonment
and thus the effect of a very active imagination. Finally, we show that Sade went far
beyond the reaches of most of his contemporary philosophers and breached the realm of
human psychology which gave rise many great philosophers and psychoanalysts of
present day. To illustrate the study of Sade’s philosophy we have chosen to compare two
of his primary character, Justine and Juliette to prove that though one chooses vice and
the other virtue as means of living, the both remain victims in a time when specific
philosophical thought dictated the laws of nature and the survival of the fittest. We also
compare the works to the overall feeling of change and reform of the Enlightenment
period.
INDEX WORDS: Sade, le marquis de, dix-huitième siècle, philosophie, Révolution,
femme, sadisme, Warren W. Wills, III, libertin, libertinage

LA PHILOSOPHIE ET LE LIBERTINAGE DU MARQUIS DE SADE
ET LA PLACE DE LA FEMME DANS SES ŒUVRES
by
Warren W. Wills, III
A.B., The University of Georgia, 1993
A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
ATHENS, GEORGIA
2003

© 2003
Warren W. Wills, III
All Rights Reserved

LA PHILOSOPHIE ET LE LIBERTINAGE DU MARQUIS DE SADE
ET LA PLACE DE LA FEMME DANS SES ŒUVRES
by
WARREN W. WILLS, III
Major Professor: Francis Assaf
Committee: Nina Hellerstein
Catherine Jones
Electronic Version Approved:
Maureen Grasso
Dean of the Graduate School
The University of Georgia
August 2003

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Dr. Francis Assaf, professor of French at the University of
Georgia, for his constant encouragement, guidance and patience over the course of
writing this thesis. Had it not been for his direction and inspiration, this thesis would
have never come to fruition. I would also like to thank Drs. Nina Hellerstein and
Catherine Jones, also professors of French at the University of Georgia, for their
invaluable direction, editing and guidance.