I went to a summer college camp once at Southern Methodist University. Although I met a lot of good people there, there was one girl that particularly stood out to me. She recommended a book that I couldn’t help but pick up for myself. That book was The 120 Days of Sodom.

The 120 Days of Sodom tells the story of four libertines who manage to delve in the sickest, darkest pleasures an aristocrat from the French Revolution could ever dream up. The book is separated into four different passions, each of which cover a wide variety of sexual practices; the simple passions, the complex passions, the criminal passions, and the murderous passions. Each of these passions becomes more twisted than the last, the advent of human suffering clear with every page read. This finally culminates in a horrific conclusion in which many of the survivors have been disposed of. Throughout all of this, they enlist the help of four women, all of which narrate their lives. It was adapted into various films in the 20th century, and has recently been republished by Penguin Books. Because of the violence and graphic sexual themes in the book, many governments have banned the book.

The four men who took charge of these passions were interesting, to say the least. They were all wealthy, ruthless, amoral, and only took an interest in fulfilling their passions. They had little to no regard for the law, or anyone’s dignity, for the matter. They mocked both religious and legal authority and, in a way, are almost leading a rebellion of their own. They are selfish, and have no need for anyone else other than their own corrupt hearts. They each had the prostitutes as their accomplices, and, in a way, saw them as a gateway to their passions. There was a certain darkness within them that stemmed from the lords doing whatever they wanted to do. They seem to reflect what the author believed was the most basic form of humanity, and, strangely enough, they saw it as beautiful.

The book was written by a prisoner of the French Revolution, the Marquis de Sade. Many writers and artists have both praised and criticized him for the more horrific aspects of sexuality in his works, so much so that many have even wondered if there was any value in his work at all. However, he still influenced many, such as Michel Foucault and John Waters. The book revealed a lot about the Marquis. He was a sexual delinquent, and entertained disturbing passions many of us wouldn’t even dare to think, let alone write down. He hated authority, and would rather live by his own standards rather than anyone else. Despite his standing as a nobleman, he was best known for degrading his social status, removing the almost illuminating delusion for us to see what lies beneath. He truly was a remarkable man, and will continue to be so in literature. A pretty incredible accomplishment, considering the fact that he had been shut up in an insane asylum for the majority of his life.

The book has obviously raised more than a few eyebrows. Not only is there pedophilia, but the protagonists in the book undertake many horrific crimes, such as rape, torture, and murder. But though it is disturbing, as well as graphic, the book continues to influence us today, whether we like it or not.