Fifty Shades of Grey
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is a best-selling romance novel by E.L. James that follows the complex sexual relationship between recent college graduate Anastasia Steele and wealthy entrepreneur Christian Grey. The narrative explores themes of bondage, dominance, submission, and control, as Anastasia navigates Christian's unconventional sexual preferences, which include BDSM practices. Initially conceived as fan fiction based on the "Twilight" series, the book became the first installment of a trilogy that has sold over one hundred million copies worldwide.
The novel was adapted into a successful film released in February 2015, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. Despite achieving significant box office success, the film faced criticism for its portrayal of romantic and sexual dynamics, with concerns raised about its depiction of an abusive relationship and its impact on societal views of sexuality. The controversy surrounding the book and film prompted discussions about consent and the representation of BDSM practices, sparking responses from both advocacy groups and the BDSM community. The trilogy's sequels were also adapted into films, further extending its cultural reach and ongoing debates about its themes.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades of Grey is a New York Times best-selling romance novel written by E L James. The book follows the sexual adventures of recent college graduate Anastasia Steele as she embarks on a romance with the enigmatic young entrepreneur Christian Grey. Anastasia soon discovers that Christian's erotic preferences involve handcuffs, whips, and blindfolds, however. Christian is also tormented by a tragic past that Anastasia is desperate to uncover.
Fifty Shades of Grey—originally created as fan fiction for the Twilight vampire series—is the first book in the Fifty Shades trilogy, which sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide within a few years of being published. Spinoff novels focusing on the character of Christian Grey were published after the original trilogy concluded; these works included Grey (2015), Darker (2017), and Freed (2021). all written by James.
The first novel was adapted into a film starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, which was released in February 2015. Two sequels—Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018)—were adapted from the two remaining books in the trilogy. Due to the graphic sexual content in the novels, the film adaptations incited much controversy.
Brief Summary
Fifty Shades of Grey takes place in the state of Washington, mostly in the city of Seattle. Anastasia Steele (or Ana) is about to graduate from Washington State University. Her roommate, journalism student Kate Kavanagh, catches a cold and sends Ana to interview mysterious millionaire Christian Grey in her place. Ana and Christian's attraction to each other is evident from the beginning. After the interview, Christian visits Ana at the hardware store where she works and buys masking tape, rope, and cable ties. He takes Ana out on a date and later reveals to her how he uses the items he purchased at the hardware store.
Christian is into BDSM, short for bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism. Christian wants Ana to sign a contract and enter into a dominant/submissive relationship with him. Ana hesitates about signing the contract because she just wants a normal relationship without rules. Her affair with Christian awakens some deep desires, however, making her consider the option. Christian is also very controlling of Ana, though he says he is just trying to protect her.
Christian continues to try to persuade Ana to become his submissive and showers her with expensive gifts. He cannot deny the feelings he has for her beyond just sexual attraction. Christian resists these affections in an attempt to protect himself and Ana from his troubled past. After a few weeks, Ana can no longer take Christian's distance and asks him to show her exactly how extreme BDSM can become. Christian relents, harshly beating her with a belt. Ana decides her relationship with Christian will never work, and the book ends with Ana leaving him.
Film Adaptation
Universal Pictures and Focus Features secured the film rights to the Fifty Shades trilogy in 2012. American actress Dakota Johnson was cast as Anastasia Steele, and Irish actor Jamie Dornan landed the role of Christian Grey. British director Sam Taylor-Johnson directed the movie. Fifty Shades of Grey opened in US theaters in February 2015.
The film earned mixed reviews upon release but fared tremendously well at the box office. It garnered $81.7 million in the United States during its opening weekend and brought in more than $338 million internationally. Taylor-Johnson confirmed that the book's sequels would also be adapted to film, although she did not return to direct the sequels. Instead, James Foley directed Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). As with the first film in the trilogy, both sequels received mixed to negative reviews from critics but became box-office successes.
Several scenes from the book were omitted from the film due to their graphic sexual nature. Certain elements of Ana's personality were left out of the movie, such as her technological ineptitude and her tendency to talk in her sleep. A few characters also did not make it into the film such as Christian's housekeeper Mrs. Jones, the trilogy's main antagonist Jack Hyde, and Ana's therapist Dr. Flynn.
Controversy and Censorship
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) had a difficult time giving the film an appropriate rating but eventually settled on an "R" rating in the United States. The movie received different ratings worldwide, however. Several conservative countries released a censored version of the film that did not include any nudity. India banned the film from theaters entirely.
The film received voluble backlash from various political and religious groups for promoting what they considered to be an abusive romantic relationship. Critics also worried how the film would affect sexual norms in society. A group of protestors from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence called for audiences to boycott the film, stating it glorified domestic violence against women. The BDSM community also criticized the film for its inaccurate depiction of dominant/submissive activities.
Bibliography
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Lang, Brent. "Box Office: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Explodes with Record-Breaking $81.7 Million." Variety. Variety Media, LLC. 15 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. http://variety.com/2015/film/news/box-office-fifty-shades-of-grey-explodes-with-record-breaking-81-7-million-1201434486/
Locker, Melissa. "Gird Your Loins: Director Says 50 Shades Sequels Set." Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. 8 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/02/50-shades-grey-sequels
Orr, Christopher. "Fifty Shades Freed: A Spoilereview." The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/02/fifty-shades-freed-a-spoilereview/552887/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2023.
Williams, Zoe. "Why Women Love Fifty Shades of Grey" Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 6 July 2012. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jul/06/why-women-love-fifty-shades-grey