Justine

Justine, also known as The Misfortunes of Virtue, is a philosophical novel by Marquis de Sade first published in 1791. The story follows the tribulations of a young orphan named Justine who, despite her unwavering commitment to virtue and religious piety, is subjected to a relentless series of physical and sexual abuses. Her sister, Juliette, who embraces vice and immorality, prospers. The novel is structured as a series of episodic encounters where Justine falls prey to various depraved individuals who explicitly articulate their philosophies of libertinism and atheism.

The narrative is notable for its graphic depictions of sexual violence and torture, which Sade uses to explore themes of good versus evil, the nature of divinity, and the perceived indifference of the universe to human suffering. Justine's suffering is presented as a direct consequence of her adherence to virtue, suggesting that the world is fundamentally unjust and that vice is rewarded while virtue is punished. The novel's explicit content and philosophical arguments caused considerable controversy upon its publication and throughout history, leading to censorship and condemnation.

Sade's intent is often interpreted as a radical critique of religious and moral institutions of his time. He uses Justine's ordeals to challenge conventional notions of morality and justice, arguing that they are societal constructs that do not reflect any inherent cosmic order. The stark contrast between Justine's fate and Juliette's success in the companion novel Juliette, or the Prosperities of Vice, further emphasizes Sade's bleak outlook. Justine remains a significant, albeit disturbing, work in the history of philosophical literature.