Fifth Dialogue, Part Four Summary and Analysis

After the Chevalier finishes reading the pamphlet, Eugenie and Dolmance comment on how truly sound the arguments are. Dolmance once again states that charity and kindness are idiotic weaknesses, eliciting a surprising response from the Chevalier. The Chevalier, in a fit of righteous indignation, proclaims that Dolmance's hatred of charity is the product of his exorbitant wealth. If Dolmance had ever worked in his life, he would not speak so ill of the poor. Dolmance fires back, stating that Chevalier is young and naïve, and Eugenie contends that Chevalier's only use is his enormous penis. This interchange reflects something uncommon in Sade's writing: character development. Surely, Eugenie's transition for sweet maid of shameless libertine is a central transition, but the Chevalier de Mirvel's sudden advocating of charity in the face of virulent individualist philosophy...