Summary: Philosophy in the Bedroom is a story told strictly through dialogue which displays Sade’s philosophy on libertinage through the sexual education for young Eugenie while revealing a woman’s role in the bedroom.
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Sade’s Philosophy in the Bedroom gives the reader a very blunt and detailed description of what a woman’s role should be in the bedroom. This story is very descriptive of the sexual acts occurring in the bedroom between a man and a woman, or between two men, and in a way paints a disturbing picture since some of the sexual acts are performed between a brother and a sister. However, this detailed description of sexual acts, and disregard for incest, shows how sex was seen more as a means of pleasure rather than reproduction. This definitely goes against social norms at this time in history and offers us a different look on sex than we have seen so far in this class. Despite the fact of very open and pleasurable-seeking sex, Sade’s story clearly shows what a woman’s role should be during sexual intercourse behind closed doors alongside showing their value in society.
Madame de Saint-Anges is clearly enjoying what is being done to her, or what she is being told to do to her brother. And Eugenie is clearly intrigued by the demonstrations and seems to want to learn more. I can’t help but think this young, impressionable girl is being brain washed by these much older and sexually advanced individuals. It is obvious that women are to be submissive to men in the bedroom and acts as a “servant” to their pleasure - “the fetus owes its existence only to the man’s sperm” (206). Meaning, the fetus only exists to be implanted with sperm, and nothing else.
Madame de Saint-Anges is also referred to as “whore” throughout the text - “how I love to play the whore” (208) which is a very degrading term and can dehumanize a person. Even though Madame de Saint-Anges refers to herself as the “whore” it only reiterates how women who were sexually active, such as she was, were addressed . This being said, not once throughout the text was the man involved in the sex called a dehumanizing name, which also displays their power over women.
One could argue that this degrading position of the “whore” can also reflect how women were looked at as more of objects who existed solely for a man’s pleasure. The whole story is about educating women – and in this case, young Eugenie. This tells me that not only are women used as sexual objects but they must also be taught how to follow through with their “job” correctly – as if they would not be capable of pleasing without a man’s guidance. Women must act obedient and “Restrain her eagerness and not surrender her ass for nothing” (282). Meaning, they are to please their partner when asked, but to show restraint when they feel the sexual desire from within themselves. This seems taboo to me as if women do not have feelings or sexual urges of their own. However, this presses my point even further of women being sexual objects rather than lovers.
Sade’s Philosophy of the Bedroom degrades women and their status in society. The sexual education given to young Eugenie basically pushes her into becoming this “ideal” obedient, sexual woman. In a way they brain wash her, take away her identity and force her to fit this role which will eventually leave her as a “whore”, just like the rest of them.
http://allysonway.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/philosophy-in-the-bedroom/
