Reinaldo avec Sade

Though distant in time and in space, the literatures of Sade and Reinaldo Moraes seem to observe the same principles. In fact, in both, the recurrent fantasies of collapse always serve to heighten the shock, dread and suddenness of the event that seeds catastrophe. Moreover, the life of the hero of Pornopopéia is no less troubled than that of the protagonist of Juliette, whose penchant for excess he shares. If Zeca’s polished poverty overlaps seamlessly with the inestimable wealth of Sade’s wanton libertine it is because, though inhabiting opposing ends of the spectrum, neither builds, creates or produces anything, so all-consuming is their devotion to the vertigo of dereliction.  An examination of the two authors suggests that their erotic fictions “correct” the world according to the imperatives of desire, without the slightest moral, ethical, political, religious or psychological qualms. Keywords: Marquis de Sade – Reinaldo Moraes – Pornopopéia - Histoire de Juliette – erotic literature – Brazilian literature – French literature