De Sade's semi-autobiographical protagonist and anti-hero is Monsieur de Franval - handsome, rich, intelligent, and thoroughly immoral. When he marries a pious woman and fathers a daughter upon her, franval is determined to educate his progeny to be 'free'. The ultimate proof of his daughter's liberty? That she become his secret lover. But when the beautiful and accomplished Eugenie spurns an eligible young bachelor, instead declaring her intention to remain with her father, her naive and doting mother's suspicions are at last aroused. Confused and distressed by Augenie's behaviour, Madame de Franval confronts her husband - with tragic results.