Juliette (novel)
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philosophical novel | |
Publication date | 1797 |
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Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
Preceded by | La Nouvelle Justine |
Followed by | The Crimes of Love (1800) |
Juliette is a novel written by the
Plot summary
The majority of the novel is a first-person narrative in which the amoral Juliette recounts to her moral sister Justine, among other people, the events of her life.[1]: 100 Juliette is raised in a convent. However, at age thirteen she is seduced by a woman who immediately explains that morality, religion and other such concepts are meaningless. There are plenty of similar philosophical musings during the book, all attacking the ideas of God, morals, remorse, love, etc., the overall conclusion being that the only aim in life is "to enjoy oneself at no matter whose expense." Juliette takes this to the extreme and manages to murder her way through numerous people, including various family members and friends.
During Juliette's life from age 13 to about 30, the wanton
Real people in Juliette
During her tour Europe, Juliette encounters a series of libertines, including several historical figures who are all portrayed as depraved.[1]: 99 A long audience with Pope Pius VI is one of the more extensive scenes in Juliette. The heroine repeatedly addresses the Pope by his legal name "Braschi." She also flaunts her learning with a verbal, yet highly detailed, catalogue of alleged immoralities committed by his papal predecessors. Their conversation ends (like nearly every scene in the narrative) with an orgy, in which Pope Pius is portrayed as a secret libertine. While discussing murder, Braschi notes that cruelty is essential to pleasure, remarking that "killing is not enough, one must kill in hideous style".[1]: 107
Soon after this, the male character Brisatesta narrates two scandalous encounters. The first is with "Princess Sophia, niece of the King of Prussia," who has just married "the Stadtholder" at
Publication and reception
Both Justine and Juliette were published anonymously.
The essay (Excursus II) "Juliette or Enlightenment and Morality" in
See also
Bibliography
- Juliette. Translated by OCLC 976556170.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-280469-3.
- ^ Theodor W. Adorno & Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment. Translated by John Cumming. London/New York: Verso, 1999.
- ^ Roche, G. T. "Sade, Enlightenment, Holocaust".
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External links
- Full text of Juliette Archived 2007-09-12 at the Wayback Machine, in French
- "Marquis de Sade – Juliette – AMEA // World Museum of Erotic Art". ameanet.org. 27 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019.
- (in French) La nouvelle Justine, ou les malheurs de la vertu, suivie de l'Histoire de Juliette, sa soeur, vol. 5, vol. 6, vol. 7, vol. 8, vol. 9, vol. 10, en Hollande, 1797.