Work · Jean-Paul Sartre
The Respectful Prostitute
Lizzie witnesses racist violence in the United States and faces pressure from prominent men to sign false testimony.
Understanding the text
First staged in 1946, the play places racial domination in the United States beside the authority granted to socially respectable witnesses.
Key points
- 01
Testimony
Knowing what happened does not guarantee the ability to say it publicly.
- 02
Respectability
Powerful people's prestige makes injustice appear a duty.
- 03
Racism
Institutions mobilize prejudice to identify guilt in advance.
How to read it
Track arguments moving Lizzie from observed facts toward loyalty to the powerful.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗