compared to Christian Grey. Anastasia Steele is a fresh graduate who falls in love with Christian Grey. She comes from an ordinary family, while Grey comes from
a rich family. She experiences being a tool used for Grey‘s sexual pleasure. The things which to be discussed is her portrayal as a woman, an employee, and a
lover. The portrayal of herself carries the information how she is described as the woman, employee, and lover through her thought, action, dialog with or
commentary from other character, and the direct description from the author.
1. Anastasia Steele as a Woman
As a woman, Steele is portrayed as a devoted woman. She has willingness to obey and be devoted to Grey. Whatever comes from him, she considers it as
something that should be done for his behalf. Furthermore, she is willing to forget all about herself and surrender all for Grey. Her devotion to him is seen through
her thought, action, and her own statement. In the story, there is one moment when Grey is making out with her. She
declares in her mind that she will do anything he wants. ―Why did he say he
coul dn‘t make love? I will do anything he wants‖ James, 2011: 81. The evidence
shows that she is a devoted woman because she will do anything for him even though it is not the thing that she wants.
Her thought is supported by her action when Grey instructs her to do what he commands
. ―I do as instructed, and he reaches down and grabs the hem. Slowly, he pulls my dress up over my thighs, my hips, my belly, my breasts, my
shoulders, and over my head ‖ James, 2011: 223. At the moment, she tries to
surrender all herself for him and to be devoted to him in any way he likes. All she looks up is him as she reflects this by doing everything he instructs. She takes his
orders as the obligation for her to do. By doing so, she shows how a woman should address themselves and their men. She learns how to address Grey as her
man. Being a devoted person, Steele is also eager to put aside her feelings. She
sacrifices herself for Grey although she thinks what she does is wrong for her. She tries to think that if the thing is right for him, then she has to take it and ignore her
feeling. T
his is so… I want to think
wrong
, but somehow it‘s not. It‘s right for
Christian. It‘s what he wants – and after the last few days… after all he‘s done, I have to man up and take whatever he decides he wants, whatever
he thinks he needs. James, 2011: 336
When Steele thinks something is wrong for her, but it is right for Grey, she tries to re-think her opinion about it. She decides to put aside her feeling and to
follow what he wants, instead. It happens because as a woman, she knows that she has to consider Grey as her leader in the relationship and to follow him. Thus, she
begins to consider Grey‘s decision is right and important for her and the relationship.
As a woman, Steele is portrayed as a dependent woman. Dependency needs devotion and she is already devoted to Grey. Because she is dependent, she
cannot live alone without him. First evidence is clearly proved in Steele‘s
subconscious, ―My inner goddess is jumping up and down, clapping her hands
like a five-year-old. Please, let’s do this…otherwise we’ll end up alone with lots
of cats and your classic novels to keep you company
” James, 2011: 125. Her
