Marat / Sade

Marat / Sade Summary | Act 1, Scenes 1, 2, and 3 Summary

The full title of this play is "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade." Theatrically, politically, and socially complex, this play dramatizes the events surrounding the production of a play about the French Revolution. Those events are themselves dramatized, giving Marat/Sade the structure of a "play within a play."

Scene 1 - Assembly: As a bell tolls, the inmates of the asylum take their opening positions, while being supervised and, at times, physically manipulated by Attendants. When they are assembled, Sade gives a signal, a door opens, and Coulmier and his family arrive. They are greeted with great respect and deference, and are watched in silence as they take their places on an elevated platform.

Scene 2 - Prologue: Coulmier welcomes The Audience to the performance, saying that the appearance of the inmates in the play is part of their therapy, and also part of the asylum's commitment to the Declaration of Human Rights.

Scene 3 - Preparation: Coulmier rejoins his family. The Herald steps forward. Corday, Marat, and Simonne take their positions. Sade sits apart and watches intently.