The Story of O is at its heart a tale of dominance and submission. The book starts out as O and her lover Rene go to a retreat where O is trained to be a submissive. After the retreat is over Rene wants O to learn to be a salve to someone whom she does not love and who does not love her back. He gives her to Sir Steven who is a more dominant master. No matter that she is whipped, chained and beaten she gives full consent to all that happens to her and through out the book her consent is constantly being sought.
We see In The Story Of O as she goes further and further into submissiveness. It is easy to judge her but harder yet to slip into her skin. Haven t we all wanted to be possessed by another. Haven’t we all felt that need that desire to know that we belong to someone. And at one time or another haven’t we felt that we would do anything to keep that person with us. As I was reading I was both horrified and fascinated that such extremes would be sought. After all we are the generation that grew up on, if it is real love then they will accept you as you are. Underneath though, how many times have we changed or did something just to satisfy a partner? How many times have we crossed boundaries just so that someone would stay with us. We all want to feel wanted and if it takes being whipped and pierced then who among us would dare to stop it?
The author who only came forward as the author on her death-bed said that this book was written as a love letter to her lover. And if we put aside out first knee jerk reactions we can see how each action O takes is a dedication to her love for Sir James. She places her whole being in his control. We are often fond of saying that we love someone with our whole heart and soul but we do hold back. O in this regard holds nothing back.
There is a scene in the book where Sir James takes O to a place where they perform body modification and is asked without knowing what is in store for her if she consents to whatever Sir James wants of her. She does. This is the ultimate submission. Most of us would demand to know exactly what we are submitting to. She goes ahead and gives her consent regardless.
My only gripe with this book is the ending. It ends on such an open note that one is sure there must a sequel. There is rumored to be one but it is unknown if it is by the same author as The Story of O. I myself want to know what happens after the last scene in the book where O is stripped of her humanity and is no more than an object. But alas the mystery must remain.