The Character Complex: Christian Grey

That's right! We read all three books in the Fifty Shades of Grey series! And let me tell you, they are wonderful books that are not at all what the media has made them out to be. So for today's Character Complex, we give you a man that is admittedly fifty shades of effed up.

The Wonderful Christian Grey

Modeled after current day swoon-worthy character, Edward Cullen (E.L. James is an admitted TwiHard!), Christian Grey is a force; an enigma created for us to decipher and ultimately love. 

Adopted as a young child, he was saved from the life he was born into. Sadly the damage was already done. Christian Grey had suffered trauma and his life was forever changed. Growing  up to be aggressive and a trouble maker, his parents sent him to the best therapists around and still nothing seemed to work. When Christian was 15, his whole life took on some focus.

Christian used all of his anger and angst and channeled that into the world of BDSM. He was a submissive for many years until he himself became the dominant. Now I caution you, I know that these words and actions are very "taboo" and "no no" words. But if you dismiss Christian Grey because of his past you are seriously missing out on a wonderful man and his character. Do not be dissuaded by the actions of his past.

A self-made man, Christian is charming and dashing, extraordinarily business-savvy and uncommonly wealthy. To resist the likes of this man requires herculean effort and Anastasia is not immune. Their serendipitous encounter is the stuff of dreams and, to our delight, the stuff of world-wide attention.

As a grown man in his late 20's, he is one of the wealthiest people in the United States. He goes through the motions of life without really feeling anything. He is still doing BDSM but, to no end. When he meets the elusive Anastasia Steele by chance or fate, his whole life is thrown into disarray. He didn't even know that he wasn't really living. How sad is that? 

Christian makes roughly (pun intended), $100,000 an hour.  He truly is the master of his domain; it's a heady feeling to shoulder hundreds of employees and knowing that their next mortgage payment depends upon the success of his company.  But it's nothing in comparison to the thought of losing Ana, of losing his everything.  Christian and Ana make love and he is "irrevocably" altered (if James can borrow this word from Twilight, so can I).  Am I really the only one swooning here?

To know that you want something and don't know why must be a very scary thing. Christian's whole life is structure and order. To have a woman threaten that...why would he not want to dominate her? She is messing with his perfect little life he has made for himself. He knows the best way to get control back. Can you blame him for wanting to keep things the same? Change is terrifying.

Let's talk for real right now. The truth is, there are a million questions we have for Christian Grey. Why does he think he is a monster? Why did he let things go on so long with Mrs. Robinson? Can he really not tell that he loves Ana? Why does he really do the things that he does? The biggest problem is that we are only allowed to see Christian from Ana's point of view. So, we have to take what he says to Ana at face value. We have to trust that he is telling Ana everything. Yes, we do get a peek into his mind the first time he meets Ana, but it is not enough for me!

To say that Christian Grey is complex is an understatement. The things that make him tick, I believe, are still allusive to us. We are only certain of a few things when it comes to Christian: He LOVES Ana. He will do ANYTHING to keep her. Honestly, what more can a girl want? To have a man who is willing to change the very things that he defines himself by is simply, remarkable.

 

I found myself overwhelmed by Christian in the beginning.  Oddly enough, not by his preferences (to each his/her own), but by his dogged, relentless pursuit OF it.  The contract, the minute allowances he'd concede to Ana, etc...UGH!  I kept yelling at Christian to just calm down; if he eased up on the demands, Ana would be only too happy to oblige.  As in any relationship, there's a natural give and take; a compromise to satisfy both parties.  And satisfy he did!  WOW.  I've always enjoyed the steam; Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Karen Marie Moning -- they are quite adroit at how to write about attraction and its consummation.  E.L. James did her research!  While the "vanilla sex" was enough to keep me riveted, there were really 3 (four?) BDSM descriptive scenes.  This series is not without controversy, but that's what makes literature so wonderful, don't you agree?  The sales of the trilogy remain on best seller lists and have been considered inspirational in relationship enhancement. 

I am an unashamed fan of Christian's every 50 shades.  

 

2012 was a little bit more exciting for me because I got to have a little bit of Christian Grey in my life!

                                 Laters! 

                                                            Lisa 

                                                                      & 

                                                  Carmen   

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With the 50 movie coming out soon Carmen and I would like to show you who we would pick for the honorable part of Christian Grey! 

 

 

Carmen's Favorites

Lisa's Favorites

What do you guys think? Who would you pick? Who would you not pick?

                                        Have a wonderful 2013!!!