James includes three antagonists in the novel, Jack, Leila, and Elena. Who poses the greatest threat to Ana and Christian, and why? What theme does this antagonist most strongly embody?

Elena began grooming Christian when he was 15. How does this relationship inform Christian’s approach to relationships as an adult? How does this relate to the novel’s central themes?

Christian deposits money into Ana’s account on two separate occasions, but Ana’s reaction to each is markedly different. How does Ana’s relationship to Christian’s wealth change over the course of the novel? How does this change illuminate the theme of Power Dynamics and Control?