The latest episode of The Testaments has left viewers wondering what 'Marat Sade' means. Episode 9 of the series is now available to stream on Disney Plus, and it is one of the heaviest instalments yet.
Marat/Sade is the shortened title for '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'. It is a philosophical play written in 1963 by Peter Weiss, set in a French asylum as a play-within-a-play about the French Revolution.
The drama debates two approaches to revolution: Jean-Paul Marat argues that collective revolution can improve society, even with violence, while Marquis de Sade contends that humanity is inherently selfish, so no political revolution can truly change society. Instead, de Sade prioritises individual freedom and personal pleasures.
In the episode, Becka takes a violent step towards liberation by killing her paedophile father, Dr Grove, after discovering he has been sexually abusing her friends. Her actions mirror Marat's belief in violent revolution, but it remains unclear whether they will inspire real change in Gilead.
The series finale is expected to pick a side in the Marat/Sade debate. Viewers are advised that the episode contains themes of sexual abuse.
