In 2011, the book “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E. L. James was published and what was originally “Twilight” fan-fiction quickly became the next best erotic romance novel.
The trilogy quickly became a film series, with Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan starring as the main duo Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.
While some might find their sadomasochistic relationship charming and romantic like its equally unhealthy “Twilight” counterpart, one can disagree with the quality of the relationship portrayed.
Christian was abused from a young age and throughout his teenage years. One of his mother’s friends started a dominant and submissive relationship with him at the ripe age of 15.
Instead of actually getting psychological help for his own issues, he decides to spend his days and money in a sex dungeon with several different women. Personally, this seems to be a damaging choice, since it doesn’t actually help him with his emotional and mental scars.
He refuses to enter a meaningful relationship with any woman, until he meets the young and innocent Anastasia. All of his relationships, including Anastasia’s, are strictly based off of sex and pre-established rules. However, even when he allows his emotions into his relationship with Anastasia, he still manages to drive her away with his sadistic methods.
He tries to control her, stalk her and obtain her personal information throughout the series to get her back and maintain a relationship. They obviously don’t have a healthy relationship in the slightest. In fact, his actions would be the quickest way to a restraining order or jail in the real world.
Knowing this, it’s hard to comprehend why someone would think their relationship is romantic or acceptable.
Christian has apparent “mommy issues” and pursues women of her likeness. This is “Dating 101.” Do not date someone who has mommy or daddy issues, because they are emotionally unstable. Anastasia breaks all guidelines on choosing the right guy to date, and she chooses to fall prey to a complete creep.
If this series were about an average man with an average income and mediocre looks, then it would be considered a suspenseful drama or horror movie. His behavior is not acceptable by society’s standards. However, it’s apparently considered acceptable by Anastasia and every fan as she continues her relationship since Christian is a young,handsome billionaire.
He makes her life twice as hard with added drama and baggage outside of his “mommy issues” and former abuse.
His former submissive starts to stalk Anastasia in “Fifty Shades Darker” due to jealousy. She couldn’t understand why Christian chose Anastasia over her, which caused her to threaten Anastasia with a loaded gun.
He also had his former “mentor” give Anastasia problems due to jealousy of their relationship. After she found out the two were engaged, she confronted Anastasia claiming she wasn’t good for Christian. It’s as if no one wants the couple to be happy or together, and they take it out on Anastasia who is just trying to live her life.
In the third movie “Fifty Shades Freed,” Christian even has the nerve to hire an incredibly flirtatious architect to build their new home. He leaves Anastasia to deal with the architect’s advances instead of addressing her on his own.
Christian also becomes angry and upset at Anastasia after they find out she’s pregnant, and he brings another dark figure from his past who torments his family.
There are several more issues Christian brings into Anastasia’s life, and there are several mistakes Anastasia makes in having a relationship with Christian. This is not a relationship to be romanticized or to be used as a model for anyone.
A relationship with that much unmanaged baggage and drama that was only based on sex is not a relationship that would realistically end well. It’s time to stop romanticizing the franchise, since it only breeds unhealthy relationships and drama for no real rhyme or reason from characters who are emotional black-holes.
Abigail Varnado is a 21-year-old English senior from Amite, Louisiana.