Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue

Summary

“Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue” is a novel written by the Marquis de Sade in 1791. It tells the story of a young woman named Justine, who, after the death of her parents, strives to live by the principles of virtue and honesty, but her life becomes a series of unfortunate events. In her attempts to avoid poverty, she seeks employment but instead of support and protection, she continuously encounters people who exploit and abuse her, involving cruelty, rape, and various forms of moral decay. The book illustrates the immorality and cruelty of society at the time, questioning social norms and moral values.