Philosophy in the Bedroom: Political Theory as a Form of Existential Drama.

There are many different theories of where to place Sade's political-moral works such as Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue; Juliette, or Vice Amply Rewarded; and Philosophy in the Bedroom within the broader Western literary and philosophic tradition. I argue that while the diverse amount of views available probably do possess a grain of truth, they do not fully consider the feelings and motivations Sade must have had from his incarceration due to the Jacobin purgings, his labeling as a counter-revolutionary, the condemnation of his work by the political left, and his complete disgust with state-concentrated power and capital punishment in the name of vertu and liberté. I believe they miss the insight, philosophically radical critique, and authenticity-based style of liberalism that a political theory-focused interpretation of Sade's work can provide. In addition to the importance of political thought in Sade's writings, we cannot ignore that he chose to write his most political work in the form of a play. With these two essential characteristics in mind, I contend that Philosophy in the Bedroom is a type of satirical allegory of the French Revolution and the theories that so heavily informed it. My interpretation attempts to be faithful to the conviction that this play possesses an implicit discourse with the canon of Western political thought, while being sensitive to his stylistic choice and the various, creative, polemical readings that only theater can invite. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]