18th Century and Enlightenment Research Paper

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Europe witnessed a flowering period in the 18th century that historians call the Age of Enlightenment. A period filled with experimentation as well as intellectual curiosity, people relied on the power of human reason in order to understand society and nature. One specific manifestation of the Enlightenment was a steadfast faith in the stable progression of civilization via scientific development. Because of this religious judgment went to the wayside. Instead, people wanted improvement through freedom, equality, and tolerance. French writers/thinkers expressed these sentiments and notions through their work. These philosophers devoted their passion to useful thought and not speculation. Towards the latter half of the 18th century (1782), such thinking took the form of a highly scandalous story, Dangerous Liaisons.

Written by Pierre Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos, a member of minor nobility and a French intelligence officer within the army, Dangerous Liaisons describes French nobility and the search for sex and love during the eighteenth century. Laclos wrote the novel as a shock piece. Because of this, the acts of sexual betrayal, deceit, desire, and intrigue allowed the reader to witness sexual manipulation that highlights an important aspect of the Enlightenment, which was to pursue useful thought over speculation.

The book was turned into a movie in 1988 and remarked on how sex can be used to achieve a means to an end and manipulate others to do one's bidding.

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This is shown through the character Marquise de Merteuil who seeks revenge against the Comte de Bastide, an ex-lover. To do this, she intends to disgrace through seduction, her ex's fiancee, the virgin Cecile de Volanges. The seducer is sometimes partner Vicomte de Valmont. Through his task of seducing the virgin fiance, the sexual manipulation proceeds full steam ahead.

The Enlightenment sought to end judgments and promote equality. Society always saw sexuality and expression of sexuality as a masculine activity. Men engaged in sex, developed sexual prowess, and gained the attention of numerous women. However, in the book/film, it is flipped around. Women like Cecile are instructed to experience sex, and develop a sexual prowess through sexually engaging men. This then becomes the reason why society at the time, viewed the book as such a scandalous piece of literature and became a success as a film. It was through the sexual manipulation and corruption of Cecile by Valmont that readers saw how far sex can go.

Although Valmont is the one to force himself on Cecile de Volanges, Cecile eventually begins taking 'lessons' from him, accepting her sexual freedom and the direct manipulation by Valmont and his accomplice, Isabelle de Merteuil. Merteuil provides an interesting evolution of female sexuality. She is the one that generates the circumstances that not only land Cecile in trouble, but also….....

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