This paper analyzes how the figure Marie in Lenzs The Soldiers becomes a pawn in the hands of the powerful upper class and a victim of the patriarchy. Her entrance into the male-dominated public sphere, combined with her beauty and naivety, transform her into an object of love and the prize of male desire. Based on her gender and lower social class, Marie is forced to use manipulative strategies in order to marry her way up the social ladder. Her hidden agenda is to escape degradation and to live a self-determined life. The restrictive female role in the 18th century leads her to surrender her hopes of a romantic marriage to someone of her own social status and turn to rational, masculine actions. Maria experiences sexual violence and condemnation, as her society systematically supports the emotional and physical devastation of innocent women. Foucaults principle of power and knowledge certainly applies here. Marie, a less educated and destitute woman, is oppressed by the ruling class and deemed guilty from the start. In contrast to her female literary counterparts such as Emilia Galotti or Miss Sara Sampson, Lenz Marie moves toward a new form of femininity by empowering Marie and having her imitating certain male characteristics. Thus, she is able to survive seduction and abuse at the hands men. The strong character of Marie lives on as a memorial against discrimination, violence and the abuse of women who have been rendered speechless. Lenz thus addresses an issue in his work that is still current after 230 years.