Maggie Erin
Virgin
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2003
- Posts
- 10
Hi, Colly,
Read your literary question as you enter the genre' of S & M. You want to know what literary example with which she might compare as she enters into this unfamiliar world of sex and pain enjoyed by sadists and masochists.
Nix "Dante's Inferno"! Although a good read, it comes into modern society from the Dark Ages to a majority of people who do not even know about it let alone have read it. Besides, the man with a goatee dressed up in a red suit, having piercing eyes, two horns on his upper forehead, a long tail with a barb at the end, cloven feet, and a pitch fork at the ready to bring hellish misery to the damned in a hot place of fire and brimstone does not work anymore.
I agree with Dr_d's suggesting the Marquis de Sade as a more recent (late mid 18th century) example of a master of pain associated with sexual activities. With his lecherous uncle as a model, he grows up and carries S & M to its highest level. As such he has been hailed as the "freest spirit who has ever existed." Of course we know word derivations have come to us from his name: sadist, sadism, sadistic, all referring to the intermingling of pain with sex to the nth degree.
Then there is the Victorian Period under the reign of Queen Victoria (A. D. 1819 -1901) in which we find the aristocracy as able to be compared to the Greek god Janus who spoke out of both sides of his head. Outwardly many of the aristocracy passed themselves off as staid and prudish, considering anything having to do with sex beyond procreation as being above them and abominable. Inwardly, however, these same were ribald and lustful both in England as well as in France, Paris in particular. In private clubs they could indulge themselves actively in sexual activities, including orgies, while others chose to watch from special rooms with holes through which they could look at all there was to see.
About the same time there was an anonymous biography titled "My Secret Life" in which the writer is engaged in and with others, male...female...young...old...no matter. It was a time for unrestrained and immoral living with base, sexual men and wanton women who often outdid and outperformed the men in their quest for sexual satisfaction and sensual release. The ongoing story is one sexual encounter after another.
On a more modern example, one might consider the life and times of John Holmes, one of the top actors in porm films, who said he made love to 10,000 women. Whose counting? In many of his films orgies were common place. He is but one example though. There are many others in the business.
I do not know if any of this will help you and your character as you seek to find an example of literature with which she can create an image in her mind as she enters the world of S & M.
Maggie Erin
Read your literary question as you enter the genre' of S & M. You want to know what literary example with which she might compare as she enters into this unfamiliar world of sex and pain enjoyed by sadists and masochists.
Nix "Dante's Inferno"! Although a good read, it comes into modern society from the Dark Ages to a majority of people who do not even know about it let alone have read it. Besides, the man with a goatee dressed up in a red suit, having piercing eyes, two horns on his upper forehead, a long tail with a barb at the end, cloven feet, and a pitch fork at the ready to bring hellish misery to the damned in a hot place of fire and brimstone does not work anymore.
I agree with Dr_d's suggesting the Marquis de Sade as a more recent (late mid 18th century) example of a master of pain associated with sexual activities. With his lecherous uncle as a model, he grows up and carries S & M to its highest level. As such he has been hailed as the "freest spirit who has ever existed." Of course we know word derivations have come to us from his name: sadist, sadism, sadistic, all referring to the intermingling of pain with sex to the nth degree.
Then there is the Victorian Period under the reign of Queen Victoria (A. D. 1819 -1901) in which we find the aristocracy as able to be compared to the Greek god Janus who spoke out of both sides of his head. Outwardly many of the aristocracy passed themselves off as staid and prudish, considering anything having to do with sex beyond procreation as being above them and abominable. Inwardly, however, these same were ribald and lustful both in England as well as in France, Paris in particular. In private clubs they could indulge themselves actively in sexual activities, including orgies, while others chose to watch from special rooms with holes through which they could look at all there was to see.
About the same time there was an anonymous biography titled "My Secret Life" in which the writer is engaged in and with others, male...female...young...old...no matter. It was a time for unrestrained and immoral living with base, sexual men and wanton women who often outdid and outperformed the men in their quest for sexual satisfaction and sensual release. The ongoing story is one sexual encounter after another.
On a more modern example, one might consider the life and times of John Holmes, one of the top actors in porm films, who said he made love to 10,000 women. Whose counting? In many of his films orgies were common place. He is but one example though. There are many others in the business.
I do not know if any of this will help you and your character as you seek to find an example of literature with which she can create an image in her mind as she enters the world of S & M.
Maggie Erin
