the sofa again, head hidden under her hands. He switches on the sidelight and halts, staring at me.
―Please don‘t be angry with me,‖ I whisper. His gaze is impassive; his gray eyes cold shards of smoky glass.
―I‘m sorry about the car and the books,‖ I trail off. He remains silent and brooding.
―You scare me when you‘re angry,‖ I breathe, staring at him. James, 2011: 185
She shows her fear when she begs for him not to be angry, apologizes for the things she wants to refuse, and admits her fear itself of his anger. She does it
to calm him down and to change his mood of the situation. She wants to show that she is wrong and he is right before she has to be punished for making him angry.
The action Steele taken in front of Grey also shows her fear. Here is the evidence taken from the story about her action after he punishes her. She does not
dare to fight against him or refuse his arrival after he has just punished her. ―Do you want me to throw this asshole out?‖ she asks, radiating thermo-
nuclear hostility. Christian raises his eyebrows at her, no doubt surprised by her flattering
epithet and her feral antagonism. I shake my head, and she rolls her eyes at
me. Oh… I wouldn’t do that near Mr. G. James, 2011: 200
The conversation above happens right after Grey punishes Steele and leaves her crying. Katherine, Steele‘s roommate, is very angry to him because he
dares to come back to their apartment again after making Steele cry. When Katherine asks Steele whether she wants her to throw him out of the house, she
does not dare to say yes and she will never dare to do that to him. She accepts his coming and lets him stay with her because it is better way to save herself from
getting more punishments.
As Steele is presented as the devoted woman, dependent woman, having low self-determination, and having no bravery to fight against Grey, she becomes
powerless in term of gender, compared to Grey. The first thing to be discussed about her powerlessness is related to
protection from a man because she is considered weak and cannot protect herself. ―Please, Ana, cariña,‖ he whispers against my lips. His breath is soft and
smells too sweet – of margarita and beer. He gently trails kisses along my
jaw up to the side of my mouth. I feel panicky, drunk, and out of control. The feeling is suffocating.
―José, no,‖ I plead. I don‘t want this. You are my friend, and I think I‘m going to throw up.
―I think the lady said no.‖ A voice in the dark says quietly.
Holy shit
Christian G rey, he‘s here. How? José releases me.
―Grey,‖ he says tersely. I glance anxiously up at Christian. He‘s glowering at José, and he‘s furious. James, 2011: 45
The scene above shows how Steele, as a woman, needs protection because
she cannot protect hers elf when she faces danger. The act of Jose‘s force to kiss
her represents her position is powerless in front of a man. It is a reflection of the idea that a woman is weak and can be treated that way.
Furthermore, her powerlessness is proved from the response given to the way Grey controls her to do what she does not want to do.
―I would really like you to finish your breakfast.‖ ―What is it with you and food?‖ I blurt. His brow knits.
―I told you, I have issues with wasted food. Eat,‖ he snaps. His eyes are dark, pained.
Holy Crap. What is that all about?
I pick up my fork and eat slowly, trying to chew.
I must remember not to put so much on my plate if he‘s going to be weird about food. His expression softens as I carefully make
my way through my breakfast. I note that he cleans his plate. He wants for me to finish, and then he clears my plate. James, 2011: 94
Even though she actually does not want to finish her meal, she finally
finishes her meal because Grey asks her to do so. He forces her because he thinks
it is his rights to dictate what she should do. Because she is devoted to him, she does what he asks. By finishing her meal, she shows that her position is powerless
because she is obligated to follow his rules. Besides meal, Steele is also powerless in their relationship. One example
is taken when Grey is capable of using her body sexually. ―Stop, Ana, stop. I don‘t want to come.‖
I sit up, blinking at him, and I‘m panting like him, but confused.
I thought I was in charge?
My inner goddess looks like someone snatched her ice cream. James, 2011: 187
The scene shows how Steele is actually not capable of taking charge in the
relationship. Even though Grey says that she is the one who is in charge in their relationship and her position should be powerful, the fact is he still takes control
over her and dominates the relationship. As a woman, her powerlessness is seen through her crying.
―Goodbye, Christian.‖ My voice is hoarse from unbidden, unshed tears – jeez I’m not going to cry. I give him a small smile.
As I drive away, my chest constricts, my tears start to fall, and I choke back a sob.
Soon tears are streaming down my face, and I really don‘t understand why I‘m crying. James, 2011: 161
Her crying is the symbol of a woman‘s weakness. She cannot force him to give and be what she wants. However, she really wants to get more from the
relationship. She does not want to only be his sexual machine because actually it is not something that she wants. On the other hands, Grey is a man of his words.
Once he says he cannot grant what she wants, she knows he will never be and it is impossible for him to change his mind only for her. Hence, crying is the way to
show what she feels because of not being able to achieve what she wants.
When Steele is with Grey, she has to behave in a certain way and it is already set by him. ―I gape at him. Of course he has a jet, and I have to resist my
body‘s natural inclination to roll my eyes at him. I want to laugh. But I don‘t, as I can‘t read his mood‖ James, 2011: 262. There are rules for the relationship
which are made for Steele and she has to comply with them if she wants to maintain the relationship. One example of the rules is the forbiddance of rolling
eyes in front of Grey. She cannot bargain with him because he is the one who dominates the relationship. Besides, violating the rules will only bring her into the
punishments and she, as a woman, cannot protect herself from the punishments.
2. Anastasia Steele as an Employee
The portrayal of Steele as a woman is supported by her portrayal as an employee. From her job, she is categorized as a mid-proles woman. She works as
a clerk in Clayton‘s Hardware Store in Portland area. She works there for four years. As an employee, she is described as an obedient employee.
―I have to run. I can still make my shift at Clayton‘s.‖ ―Ana, you‘ll be exhausted.‖
―I‘ll be fine. I‘ll see you later.‖ James, 2011: 18
The quotation above reveals her obedience through her responsibility to attend her shift at the work. By doing so, she shows her dedication to her job. She
does not care whether she will be tired or not. What she wants is showing her dedication and loyalty to her job because it is her obligation.
From her work, it can also be seen her social class in the society. In the story, Steele is described to have part-
time job as an employee in Clayton‘s Hardware Store.
―I‘ve worked at Clayton‘s since I started at WSU. It‘s the largest independent hardware store in the Portland area, and over the four years
I‘ve worked here, I‘ve come to know a little bit about most everything we sell
– although ironically, I‘m crap at any DIY.‖ James, 2011: 18 The fact that she has
been working at Clayton‘s for four years emphasizes her social class that she is not from the upper class people. Referring to the theory
of class proposed by Fussell, she is categorized as the mid-proles, which is under the middle class group. It is not only based on the fact that she is working as a
part-time employee, but it is also supported by her lifestyle, money, and things she can or cannot afford. As shown in the evidence below,
Internet I don‘t have access to a computer, only Kate‘s laptop, and I couldn‘t use Clayton‘s, not for this sort of ‗research‘ surely?
―What is it?‖ he asks, cocking his head to one side. ―I don‘t have a computer. I‘ll see if I can use Kate‘s laptop.‖
James, 2011: 106
One simple example is shown in Steele and Grey‘s conversation in which Steele admits that she does not have a laptop. From this fact, it is concluded that
as an employee, she does not have enough money to afford a laptop. She only uses and borrows Kate‘s laptop.
Another clue refers to her social class can be seen from her thought. ―I remind myself that Kate has been to the best private schools in Washington. Her
family has money, and she‘s grown up confident and sure of her place in the world. She doesn‘t take any crap. I am in awe of her‖ James, 2011: 29. The
comparison she makes between herself and Kate reveals that she is not from the
same class with Kate. Her appreciation to Kate shows that she does not experience the same thing like Kate does. She feels inferior and tries to remind herself that
Kate is better than her because she has money, better life, and is a confident woman. She realizes that she is the opposite of Kate, in which Kate comes from
the upper class group, while Steele is not. As the person who has money, Kate has her own apartment. In comparison
to her, Steele joins in her apartment. We live in a small community of duplex apartments in Vancouver,
Washington, close to the Vancouver campus of WSU. I‘m lucky – Kate‘s parents bought the place for her, and I pay peanuts for rent. James, 2011:
17 Steele feels lucky because she does not need to pay anything for the rent. It
emphasizes the fact that she does not have enough money to afford her own apartment.
3. Anastasia Steele as A Lover in Relationship with Christian Grey
This sub-part focuses on how Anastasia Steele is presented as a lover of Christian Grey in their relationship, especially in the way she treats him as her
―boyfriend‖. Throughout the story, Steele is presented as the obedient lover. From the beginning of their relation, she respects him a lot. ―I gape at him. Of course he
has a jet, and I have to resist my body‘s natural inclination to roll my eyes at him.
I want to laugh. But I don‘t, as I can‘t read his mood‖ James, 2011: 262. She is aware of her position. She realizes that she has to be nice in front of him.
According to him, rolling her eyes in front of him is considered as the form of
disrespect and it is not allowed to do. Therefore, she obeys him by not rolling her eyes.
As a lover, Steele understands that she is Grey‘s because she has relationship with him. She knows that Grey does not like Jose, her close friend
because in the past, Jose forced Steele to accept his kiss in the bar. Therefore, she keeps the distance with Jose as she wants to keep Grey‘s feeling and to respect his
status as her ―boyfriend‖. ―Look José, now‘s not a good time.‖ I glance anxiously over at Christian
who‘s watching me intently, his face impassive as he murmurs something to his mom. I turn my back to him. James, 2011: 105
When talking about something related to Jose, Steele is trying to be careful to discuss the topic. As mentioned in the next evidence, she asks permission to
Grey about going to Jose‘s photography show and invites him to join. ―My friend José‘s photography show is opening Thursday in Portland.‖
He stills, his hands hovering over my breasts. I have emphasized the word ‗friend.‘
―Yes, what about it?‖ he asks sternly. ―I said I would go. Do you want to come with me?‖
James, 2011: 334-335
By asking permission and inviting Grey to Jose‘s show, she wants to show her commitment to their relationship that she will not cheat over him and have an
affair with Jose. By telling him about Jose, she shows her honesty to him that there is nothing she hides about her and Jose from Grey. Moreover, she
emphasizes the word ‗friend‘. It shows that she really means her relation with Jose is only as a friend. She lets him know about their friendship because she believes
it is her obligation to do so as the Submissive.
Having relationship with Grey, Steele is engaged with sexual relationship with him since it is what he wants from her. She is expected to be sexually
arousing and to be able to please him sexually. 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. He stands back to examine me and
absentmindedly folds my dress, not taking his eyes off me. He places it on the large chest beside the door. Reaching up, he pulls at my chin, his touch
searing me. James, 2011: 223
She knows her position as his lover, which he calls a Submissive, hence, she treats him sexually well by letting him explore her sexuality and use her body.
She learns that Grey is the Dominant and he has rights to use her body as his property. She lets him take all the control to use her so that he will be pleased.
Besides, she also has to learn to take all punishments as part of obligations to receive.
During their sexual activity, Steele is the passive one, seen from the dialog; it is all dominated by Grey. The one who speaks the most is him and his
words are full of commands and dictations. ―Open your mouth,‖ he commands and thrusts his thumb in my mouth. My
eyes fly open, blinking wildly. James, 2011: 86
Steele receives command and controls less. As presented in the evidence, Grey commands her to do what he wants and he does not hesitate to act forcefully,
like thrusting his thumb in her mouth.
