The second – last novel published during Sade’s lifetime, La Marquise de Gange (it’s not about libertinage but a Gothic – historical theme), was completed in Charenton in 1812. The eponymous heroine, the virtuous Marquise de Gange, Euphraise, was framed by her depraved brother – in – law, Theodore. Theodore’s muddled brother, Alphonse, believed Euphraise was having an affair and imprisoned her. After realizing that Alphonse had not only wrongly accused her but also hated her out of love, Euphraise’s reaction was quite interesting. She not only asked Alphonse to punish her more severely but also continued to defend Alphonse in front of Theodore, whose true nature hadn’t been revealed yet. Sade “praised” Euphraise, a Catholic “saint” who could move the hearts of all non – depraved souls, with the following eloquent words: “My dear, you can’t imagine how much consolation self – esteem and religion can bring to a sensitive soul like mine in a desperate situation. The false accusations from others have instead become a source of joy for me. Justice makes me so proud that I even prefer to be the victim rather than the perpetrator.”
Since God is regarded as the Absolute, it can’t be merely “good.” Ultimately, what differentiates God from humans? God can make humans suffer for its pleasure, and Catholicism calls on believers to imitate God. However, Catholic saints can neither enjoy the “pleasure” from God nor from other humans. They consider being “used” by God as their only desire. The Marquise de Gange wasn’t suffering from hysteria or obsessive – compulsive disorder. She firmly believed that she was doing something sacred. If God took pleasure in torturing her, it was the greatest grace for her because she was “testifying” for God. But what was she “proving” about God? Its cruelty or mystery? No. What martyrdom proved was only the “virtue” of the saints. Saints took pleasure in suffering and won the praise of the common people. Eventually, no one cared why they suffered. Since you can only suffer, then suffer with joy.
So, what Catholicism calls on believers to imitate is never God but the suffering saints, the “lambs” that are at the mercy of others. From being the “lambs” of ordinary people to becoming the “lambs” of God, this is the so – called “transcendence” of Catholics. Being dominated and killed by God is considered the greatest grace that “lowly” humans can receive. Regarding the resurrection, I’ll just say one thing: If heaven, like hell, is a place where you can enter but never leave, then what’s the essential difference between them?
The entire La Marquise de Gange was written with such religious – defending strokes. Whether Sade’s praise was sincere or not doesn’t matter. What matters is the “truth” he discovered: Where else can saints find “virtue” except in “misfortune”? In other words, can an extremely mediocre and stupid person become a “righteous person” just by choosing to suffer? It seems that becoming a saint isn’t that difficult after all.
Here are some more excerpts from La Marquise de Gange:
- “The one who oppresses me will be judged just like I will. We can’t escape the judgment of the Almighty. So the Almighty will stand up for me.”
- “Everything about autumn is moving. Everything is a reflection of life. All that it shows is a lesson for humanity.”
- “You must destroy this arrogant beauty. Your 可恶的美德 (detestable virtue) is hindering you. You must overcome it. This virtue not only gets in the way of your love but also hurts your pride.”
- “Many women become sluts simply because everyone believes they are sluts.”
- “Perhaps, just as you’re good at fabricating lies, I’m good at exposing them. The fact that I have this ability precisely shows that I’m weak. Because ‘Nature’ only bestows this gift upon those who may need to resist the harm from the powerful.”