11. Author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch Coined Masochism
Much like the author the Marquis de Sade gave us sadism, another author gave us the term masochism. Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch featured spanking and numerous other forms of physical punishment in his infamous novel Venus in Furs. The book, written in 1869, features a man, Severin von Kusiemski, whose strongest desire in life is to serve as a slave to a woman. This desire to feel pain, humiliation or domination from another person is the hallmark of masochism.
In a famous scene, Kusiemski is physically punished by his mistress and displays classical masochistic behavior by asking for more. The scene goes,
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, half- shyly, half-timidly.
“No,” I replied, “and even if you had, pains that come through you are a joy. Strike again, if it gives you pleasure.”
“But it doesn’t give me pleasure.”
Again I was seized with that strange intoxication. “Whip me,” I begged, “whip me without mercy.”
Wanda swung the whip, and hit me twice. “Are you satisfied now?”
“No.”
“Seriously, no?”
“Whip me, I beg you, it is a joy to me.”
Unlike the Marquis de Sade, who became notorious for his abuse of countless people in pursuit of sadism, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch only engaged in consensual masochism with a handful of women throughout his life. He also was noted as a humanist and socialist and spent a great deal of energy working to fight antisemitism in Austria.