Corazzi

Claudia Corazzi
Professor De Luca
EN110
May 4, 2016
Fifty Shades of Messed Up: A Different Take on Christian Grey

In the last few years, modern literature has been modified and amplified enormously.
Thanks to the increasing rate of literacy, more and more people have started enjoying the
pleasure of reading, an escape from reality. Furthermore, romantic novels are one of the most
read genres, and they have been there since very ancient times because love stories have
always been relevant and interesting; many of these books have caused controversial
discussions in the public, from Jane Eyre to Wuthering Heights. However, nowadays, a new
trend is spreading within the romance genre, which is best embodied in E.L. Jamess Fifty
Shades of Grey. This book promises an erotic adventure through the tumultuous love
story of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. The reading public initially responded
positively to this trilogy, with many women perceiving Christian Grey as a new kind of Prince
Charming, far removed from the traditional Disney stereotype. However, on closer reading,
the relationship displayed in Fifty Shades of Gray can be considered abusive since the male
character displays an obsessive and violent behavior towards the female character, presenting
to the reading public a bad example of how romantic relationships are.
First, it is possible to find worrying similarities between the profile of a stalker
and Christian Grey. Criminologically speaking, the main characterics of a stalker is the
obsession of controlling everything in their life. Strictly speaking, stalking is a phenomenon

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that was wide spread in the world since ancient times. Many male characters from various text
can not really take the fact that their female counterparts rejected their amorous advances. It is
possible to observe this kind of behavior in Ovids Metamorphoses, where the author brings
in the concept of if you cant be mine, no one else will have you. The simple that many men
cannot accept female rejection is already worrying since it directly suggests the idea that
women are things meant to be conquered with all the means necessary even if they are not
giving their consent to this. According to the stalkerprofile website,
Predatory stalking arises in the context of deviant sexual practices and
interests. Perpetrators are usually male and victims are usually female strangers in
whom the stalker develops a sexual interest. The stalking behavior is usually initiated
as a way of obtaining sexual gratification (e.g., voyeurism targeting a single victim
over time), but can also be used a way of obtaining information about the victim as a
precursor to a sexual assault. In this sense the stalking is both instrumental and also
gratifying for those stalkers who enjoy the sense of power and control that comes from
targeting the usually unsuspecting victim." (stalkerprofile)
This definition is very similar to Christian Grey's profile. Grey often finds pleasure in
controlling every aspect of his girlfriends, Anastasia, life. The most disturbing fact is that
Anastasia lets him. At the beginning, she seems reluctant to be involved with this
"mysterious" person, but at one point she does not care anymore that he may be a creepy
stranger. She "loves him". We can take as an example this passage from the book itself, You
are mine, he whispers. Only mine. Dont forget it. His voice is intoxicating,
his words heady, seductive. (James, 86) Christian demonstrates an over manipulative
personality in that he physically needs to assert his power over Anastasia. She lets him do it.
He controls her bank account, her relationships with her friends; he cannot even bear the

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thought of her going visiting her mom without being warned because, apparently, she cannot
be trusted on her own. Christian gets really mad when he notices her disappearance and
follows Anastasia to her mom's. Here is the passage:
I glance nervously around the bar but cannot see him.
Ana, what is it? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Its Christian, hes here.
What? Really? She glances around the bar too.
I have neglected to mention Christians stalker tendencies to my mom. I see
him. My heart leaps, beginning a juddering thumping beat as he makes his way
toward us. Hes really here for me. My inner goddess leaps up cheering from
her chaise longue. Moving smoothly through the crowd, his hair glints
burnished copper and red under the recessed halogens. His bright gray eyes are
shining with anger? Tension? (James, 290)
According to Professor Virginia Raciavolo, the psychology of a stalker defined by
compulsiveness, impulsiveness and obsession. (Raciavolo, Fenomenologia dallo
Stalking al Femminicidio) Christian Grey also fits in this description and even seems
pleased about it. In the books, he keeps ordering Anastasia around, and when
confronted about it, he just acknowledges it as something that cannot change, for
example:
I find you intimidating. I flush scarlet, but mentally pat myself on the back
for my candor, and gaze at my hands again. I hear his sharp intake of breath.
You should find me intimidating, he nods. Youre very honest. Please dont
look down. I like to see your face. (James, 33)

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Considering this passage, it is clear to see how Christian does not intend to change his
own behavior to the one of a normal, stable person. Moreover, he clearly uses alcohol
to blur Anastasias judgment when deciding the terms of their contract,
No, I dont. Would you like another drink? Its making you brave, and I need
to know how you feel about pain. (James, 182); Did you get me tipsy on
purpose?
Yes.
Why?
Because you over-think everything, and youre reticent like your stepdad. A
drop of wine in you and you start talking, and I need you to communicate
honestly with me. Otherwise you clam up, and I have no idea what youre
thinking. In vino veritas, Anastasia. (James, 191)
This passage should ring a warning bell for the reader as it is not a consensual act if
one of them is drunk and not able to say no to their abusive partner at all. Mary Beth
Grant, Judicial Administrator, and Cornell Law School professor Cynthia Grant
Bowman, state, When a person is the recipient of sexual advances but is highly
intoxicated, he or she may be unable to consent to any sexual conduct. In the words of
the Review Board,
Sexual interactions with another party who has been drinking heavily should . .
. be undertaken . . . at ones own risk. A panel of the Hearing Board has also
noted, No member of the community should be at risk of a sexual assault
merely because [he or she] consumes too much alcohol at a party. Cornell
aspires to be a community in which students come to the aid of others who find

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themselves in such a state [rather than seeing them] as someone [to] exploit.
(Grant, Bowman)
In addressing the motivations behind this kind of behavior, Professor Raciavolo
states that there are no specific pathological reasons behind stalking since the
percentage of mentally-instable individuals in stalking-studies are representing merely
10% of all the cases. (Raciavolo, Fenomenologia dallo Stalking al Femminicidio)
Indeed, the stereotypical idea that being a stalker is equal to being mentally ill is
erroneous. Hence, the reasons behind a stalker behavior are strongly related to his or
her background. It is common to observe an affection deprived background, usually
strongly related to the mother figure. Consequently to this kind of background, the
child develops an obsessive-manipulative personality that will become part of his or
her adult life. In Fifty Shades of Gray, the author actually explains that Christian had a
tumultuous childhood, but fails to specify that it cannot be a justification for his
attitude and behavior toward his girlfriend. On the other hand, Grey seems to use his
childhood as an excuse for every time he indulges in his obsessive-manipulative
behavior. Moreover, Anastasia justifies him too with the excuse of having a poor
childhood; however, this cannot be tolerated since a bad childhood cannot justify a
violent attitude. Furthermore, we can observe the way in which Christian starts to
manipulate Anastasias life,
You have a place in Seattle already?
Yes.
Where?
I cant remember the address. Its in the Pike Market District.

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Not far from me, his lips twitch up in a half smile. So what are you
going to do for work in Seattle?
Where is he going with all these questions? The Christian Grey
Inquisition is almost
as irritating as the Katherine Kavanagh Inquisition.
Ive applied for some internships. Im waiting to hear. Have you
applied to my company as I suggested?
I flush... of course not.
Um... no.
And whats wrong with my company?
Your company or your Company? I smirk. (James, 55-56)

On the other hand, it is interesting to understand also the reasons why

this book series has become so popular in the world. Cimdrp, an Italian youtuber with
a degree in psychology, tried to analyze this phenomenon in terms of why people are
so captivated. First, she explains that the book is clearly addressed to women and
women only; this could be related to the reason why the female part of the reading
public found this series so incredible. (Cimdrp, Cinquanta Sfumature di CREDICI)
This book shows to the female public a mysterious world that they may have been
imagining all along. The periodical Kirkus Review also analyzes the reasons why
women are so interested in this,

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Hundreds of thousands of women are reading this book because it's the
type of scenario that never happened to us, will never happen to us, and is one
from which we'd likely flee as fast as possible if it ever did happen to us-wouldn't we? That's the point. It's intriguing, conceptually, to wonder "what
if?" This book is not for everyone. It could have used a good editor. If you
want great characterization, perfect construction, or if the repetition of words
or phrases bothers you, probably best to not pick it up. However, it was more
entertaining and compelling than expected. While the book is not especially
well-executed, James has tapped into a female sexual and psychological
curiosity that can be disturbing if taken too seriously, but is somewhat fun and
entertaining in the imagination stage. (Kirkus Reviews, Fifty Shades of)
Moreover, if we talk about the character of Christian Grey, it is clear how much this man has
been appreciated by the reading public: he is a billionaire, he is sexy and broken by a
tumultuous childhood. The website Geek Out in their article Fifty Shades of Confused: Why
do people like this book? states the reason why Christian Grey is so appreciated,
Grey is the bad boy that gives you the fix. And this is just a very
particular type of bad boy. We're in an age now when you can
romanticize even a serial killer like Dexter, and so the options for
making someone a valid bad boy character are more open than ever.
You just have to keep upping the stakes. The magic is that Anastasia
fixes the bad boy. The BDSM is not central - it merely lends the spark
that helps to sell the book." (Geek Out, Fifty Shades of)
To conclude, Fifty Shades of Grey suggests the public an abusive example of
relationship, and it should not be idolized as the masterpiece it is believed to be. Nowadays,

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there are many associations fighting against stalking and domestic violence; answering to this
fights with this kind of a relationship is nearly an insult to all the women who suffered
through an abusive relationship. Abusive relationships are not just physically violent, but they
are mostly psychological; the victim comes out of it totally helpless and defenseless, and they
may fall also into depression and severe anxiety. Is it really a good role model for teenagers to
have for a good relationship? The answer is no. Teenagers should not be convinced that this is
what they are looking for; books should teach them how to be independent and happy with
their life, with or without a partner. The solution is to explain to the newer generations the
difference between love and violence: while love makes someone a better person, violent
relationships just drag you slowly towards a dark path of depression and isolation.