SADE AND SEXUAL FREEDOM

Sade and sexual freedom are synonyms today. At the end of the 18th century, this controversial French writer and libertine introduced a new concept of sexual pleasure. His ideas about sexual pleasure were understood as incitement to crime and perversion.

The Marquis de Sade criticised the society of his time for its cynicism that instilled in women the idea of being decent and seeing sex as something diabolical. The same society that admitted prostitution to satisfy the sexual needs of men.

Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, as he was called, was a great scholar of his time. He received a privileged education in philosophy and was very interested in exotic travel and history. He was not just a pornography writer, but rather a political critic who was valued by authors of later years, such as the Surrealists. However, in his time, he was considered a madman who wrote about sex in a macabre way, his writings were considered cursed and his works were hidden for years.

SADISM AND SEXUAL FREEDOM

We know that he spent most of his life in prison for cases against him regarding abuse and torture of maidens. In those accusations the society of the time had a lot of weight and in the animosity that it felt for him. He was condemned to have his head cut off at the guillotine and his writings were among the books declared cursed by the Church.

The expression “sadism” is an example of its influence on sexuality, to this day. Today, sadism evokes sexual freedom and used to refer to erotic practices. A person derives pleasure by causing pain, humiliation or discomfort to another person who accepts that situation.

These are always voluntary practices that cannot go beyond the limits set by the person receiving pain, humiliation or discomfort, and that can be stopped at any time. The person who adopts the sadistic role, takes care at all times of the situation. Thus, the person who receives pain, humiliation or discomfort, in order to avoid any harm. It is an erotic practice that has no similarity to criminal sadism.

REFERENCE OF SEXUAL FREEDOM

Despite his controversial life and his association with perversion, we can say that Sade and sexual freedom are two inseparable concepts. They encourage us to enjoy our own sexuality beyond the modesty and limitations imposed by culture and education.

Marquis de Sade had very advanced ideas regarding the time in which he had to live and proposed moral freedom in its most extreme aspect. He raised two fundamental ideas: the equality of individuals and radical egoism based on the idea that we are born into society and we are condemned to it, without direct relationship with another individual.

He is undoubtedly one of the most controversial characters in history. Works such as “Philosophy in the bedroom” are an introspection in the world of the uncontrollable, penetrating the depth of sexual desire, letting it flow without hesitation, dragging the reader in his insatiable investigation of pleasure and enjoyment.

Basically, Sade proposes a moral freedom in its most extreme aspect and combines two fundamental ideas: the equality of individuals and radical selfishness, based on the idea that we are born into society and we are condemned to it, without direct relationship with another individual.

Therefore, the Marquis de Sade had some advanced ideas regarding the time in which he had to live, so they tried to silence him even long after his death and, to this day, he continues to cause curiosity as one of the most irreverent characters in history.