I don’t understand how anyone can find the acts of depravity outlined in 120 Days of Sodom morally acceptable or condonable. While the first half is relatively tame (although applying tame to this novel in any sense is a bastardization of the word), I still am disgusted at the exploits of the characters. I try my best to accept others and the things they enjoy but I draw the line when these acts become completely immoral or indecent. I don’t believe that rejecting the actions in this book makes one a prude, as many of these actions would be considered far into the realm of fetishism and most of them cross into illegality and depravity.
Some classify this work as “erotic” but there does not seem to be any sensual or stimulating facets of this book thus far. De Sade states each act committed in the most factual way possible. Perhaps this novel is considered pornographic or erotic because of its subject matter but I would argue that just because a book or story discusses sexual elements, that does not classify it as pornographic. Rather, it is simply a documentation of all of the heinous acts that humans can commit or force upon others.
If one can bear to look past the atrocities presented at the underlying themes of the book, one possibly interesting element would be de Sade’s views on religion. The beginnings of the book stem from the exploits of priests or members of religious orders. This could speak to de Sade’s disapproval of religion by involving it with sex and child molestation. Priests are supposed to be celibate and committed to a life of piety and worship and de Sade associates them with sex, particularly in such a morally reprehensible form. The members of the clergy in this book aren’t only having sex but violating children and engaging in fetishes that mainstream society finds repulsive. In the first half of this book, de Sade corrupts the ideas of religion and sex itself.