Statement: The World of the Quills

The notorious Marquis de Sade infamous for his salacious novels and multiple imprisonments for publishing his libertine works, gives perspective on the examination of censorship, raising the question, which is more corrupt, an immoral work or those that attempt to censure it? The play is set during the Marquis second incarceration at Charenton, after the anonymous publication of his novel “Justine & Juliette” which he tongue in cheek dedicated to Napoleon, sealing Napoleons resolve to put an end to the Marquis writing.

The play takes place in 1807 in France at the Charenton Asylum. Napoleon is Emperor and France is thriving under his control. It is important to note not just Napoleons’ rise to power but also the events prior to that which led to the revolution that enabled Napoleon to gain power and the political climate which influenced the characters in the play, the Marquis de Sade in particular.

During Louis XI reign the country fell into deep debt not only due to the extravagance of his court but also because of his involvement in the American Revolution to which he sent financial aid and troops. Ironically the success of the Americans inspired the French to start their own revolution. Which they would win and effectively overthrow the monarchy but instead of things becoming better for the French people they would become worse, the extremist side of the revolution would gain control and thousands would be slain at the guillotine for supposed crimes against the revolution without due process. This time period would come to be known as the Reign of Terror. This affected the Marquis greatly for he had been put jail under the rule of Louis X1 but was freed by the Revolutionaries, then once again imprisoned by them as he states in his monologue in Act One.

Part of the fervor to overthrow the monarchy was the perceived decadence of the aristocracy however once the monarchy was overthrown an interesting piece of legislation was put into place by the Bureau des Moeurs in 1802 legalizing prostitution in France which had previously been illegal. The irony of allowing brothels and prostitution to physically take place but banning the Marquis writings is absurd and gives great insight to the Marquis outrage of not being permitted to write. Though the nature of his writings was violent and sexual they are just writings not doings, yet the severity of his prosecution is disparaging, since the regime legalizes acts of debauchery with one hand and persecutes ideas that have not been committed, only put to paper with another.

Napoleon would come to power through the coup of 18 and crown himself Emperor in 1804 reestablishing the court extravagance of the old monarchy which also shows his hypocrisy to take part in the revolution only to reestablish a monarchy of his own. Napoleon feared the common people reading the Marquis novels due to the Marquis depiction of the clergy. Napoleon believed that religion kept the people meek and easy to control, anything that would make them question religion or debase it Napoleon saw as a threat. Furthermore the literacy rates were climbing in France due to education reforms Napoleon had set in place giving him greater motivation to control what the country was reading. He even controlled all newspapers and every bookseller and publisher was made to swear an oath of allegiance to him. Censorship is the central theme of the play and the Marquis defiance is all the more courageous once the audience is aware of exactly what the Marquis was dealing with when it came to publication of his novels.

The director at Charenton at the opening of the play is the Abbe de Coulmier, whose gentle approach to his wards greatly contrasts with the popular methods of the era, torture termed as therapy in the forms of terror baths, straitjackets and wicker cages. These supposed methods were thought to cure insanity and were used widely at the time despite lack of results.


It is interesting to note that during the year 1807 in which the play takes place France is in the midst of the War of the Fourth Coalition, which led to the Anglo-Russian War these wars mirror the Marquis own struggle at Charenton Asylum. The Marquis desired his freedom to write and defied his oppressors at all cost just as the nations of the Fourth Coalition fought Napoleons' oppression of Europe desiring nothing more than to be free.