An issue of whether consent was given as seen in rape cases is a widespread disagreement between opposing parties arguing yes vs. a typical victim-blamers. Victim blamers usually argue it’s the victim’s fault because of the way they were dressed, the time or location being heavily opposed to the victim’s favor and the victim should’ve been wary, therefore it’s the victims fault. In essence, those who blame the victim, try to pin the rape as a result of something the victim did rather than blaming the rapist. When in reality, it’s the rapist who is the only one at fault. However, many who are typically strong against victim blaming fail to see the difference between ignorant victim blamers who do everything in their power to see the victim at …show more content…
It’s invalid to use Lucy’s passive body language as an indicator she didn’t consent because the novel made it clear Soraya, David’s prostitute, was also passive in bed. In the beginning of the book as David describes Soraya to the audience he thinks about how Soraya “is not effusive[in bed]” but she’s rather “quiet and docile”(1). The OED(Oxford English Dictionary) defines effusive as "expresses feeling[s] demonstratively"(OED). The David’s mind tells us Soraya was not effusive, therefore she didn’t express her consenting feelings through her body language. The OED defines docile as “Yielding readily to treatment"(OED). Concluding one can be passive and still be consenting. Soraya was not effusive, but quiet and docile; all which are passive behaviors reflected in Lucy’s case. However, the audience knows Soraya was consenting to have sex with David though Soraya exhibited passive behaviors in actual sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is clearly incorrect to claim Lucy didn’t give consent and was therefore against sexual intercourse because she was passive. Rather the body language Lucy did give suggests she was consenting to the sexual intercourse. As …show more content…
Leading up to their first sexual intercourse, David invites Lucy over for a drink. Before David asked her to come for a drink, he greets her and ponders if she “know(s) David has an eye on her”(12) Suggesting David is attracted to her. David’s conscious follows with an approval that she is aware of his attraction, claiming women are “sensitive . . . to the weight of the desiring gaze”(12) Though readers do not get input from Lucy’s thoughts, readers are given her body language and words to hear her consent. There is a pause but Lucy gives the “OK” as if she knew the action of going over to a professor she just talked to for the first time was more or less a booty call. Those in support that Lucy was raped, say it is completely acceptable and not out of the ordinary for a professor to invite his student over for a drink. However, in American society, offering a girl a drink can also be seen as a gesture for physical interest. The readers know it cant be anything more than physical interest between the two, because David and Lucy have never talked before he offered her a drink, therefore there isn’t a verbal connection but only a physical one. In reflection, at a bar, a guy might offer a girl he’s interested in a drink, she’ll accept if she wants the drink and the implied conversation with the guy buying the drink. Even though Lucy accepted David’s offer for a drink at his place though they barely know eachother, that