Dominance and Submission in E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Fifty Shades of Grey is a cultural phenomenon that is worthy of consideration due to its implications for the lives and experiences of every reader. It has become an acceptable novel even for women. It is s story of sexual attraction between a young, wealthy white man and a college-aged, middle-class, virginal. white woman. People across the globe have become enraptured with this romance story between a dominant and submissive. Some of the factors that are important to decipher how women and men think differently about their bodies and about sexuality are the language used in order to articulate the characters' knowledge.

METHODS

The descriptive method of research is used in this study by means of a qualitative approach. It is a fact-finding study aiming for accurate and adequate interpretation of data. It allowed description with emphasis on what actually exists on the topic such as current conditions, practices, situations, or any related phenomena. The researcher decided to use a qualitative approach to accomplish the overall aim of the study such as to elucidate dominance and submission in the novel. The researcher made use of the 2011 erotic romance novel book, Fifty Shades of Grey, by British author E.L. James.

RESULTS

The domination is not only through sexual activities but also through emotion, humiliation, manipulation, isolation, intimidation and stalking to Anastasia. But dominance can also be seen in Anastasia as she dominated Christian in her own way of loving him. As Christian's feelings for Anastasia deepen, the common hope that love can cure it all comes alive, rooting for Christian to allow himself to love Anastasia in the old-fashioned, traditional way. Any form of intimacy that expresses love and affection seems forbidden for Christian but he allows Anastasia to drive his emotion and one of the most endearing qualities of Christian as a character is that he slowly lets Anastasia into his emotional world and he lets her help heal his emotional wounds.

DISCUSSIONS

The study sought to analyze the predominant character traits of Christian Grey and Anastasia Stelle, describe the stages in their relationship, the Structure of Male and Female Dominance and the implications of the relationship bet the two characters that led to romantic life. Dominance is not only shown in Christian Grey but also in Anastasia Stelle. She shows her prowess to control Christian through the experimental technique until she learned the ways of gaining dominance.