As the second novel in the hyper-successful Fifty Shades Trilogy, ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ continues the story of Christian and Ana after their first breakup. To better describe the characters’ thoughts, actions, and ideologies, E. L. James uses quotes to disseminate the characters’ views on love, desire, and the world at large.

Desire

Desire pools dark and deadly in my groin. He clasps my hands and grazes my knuckles with his thumb, and all my muscles clench tightly, deliciously, deep inside me.

Ana tried desperately to focus on herself and her career when she left Christian. However, the thought of Christian continuously lingered in her mind as she could not stop thinking about him. When he asked her to take him back, she did and found herself even more attracted to him than before. 

Ana’s untamable desire to be touched and loved by Christian made her stay by his side through the good and bad times. Her desire to know and understand him better made her dive deep into his past. Her love for Christian made her stay with him even when she felt inadequate for him.

We sit in silence as our driver takes us to the gallery. My anxiety has returned full force, and I realize that our time in Charlie Tango has been the eye of the storm. Christian is quiet and brooding … apprehensive even; our lighter mood from earlier has dissipated. There’s so much I want to say, but this journey is too short.

When Ana received a message from Christian about Josei’s gallery exhibit, she got saddened by the thought of seeing Christian, knowing they were not together anymore. However, when she met him, a spark in her heart lit up the flame of desire for him, and she admitted that she still loved him with everything she had.

There’s something about you Anastasia, that calls to me on some deep level I don’t understand. It’s a siren’s call. I can’t resist you, and I don’t want to lose you … don’t run, please – have a little faith in me and a little patience please.

When Ana left Christian, he realized he could not live without her. His desire to always be with her made him admit that he was indeed in love with her. The quote above is a statement Christian makes asking Ana to give him a chance to sort out the demons that haunts him. 

Uncertainty

It’s very confusing being with you. You don’t want me to defy you, but then you like my ‘smart-mouth.’ You want obedience, except when you don’t, so you can punish me. I just don’t know which way is up when I’m with you.

One thing that made Ana leave Christian when they first got together was uncertainty. Ana felt unsure about her position in his heart; this made her agree to him punishing her, hoping she would understand what he thought about her. 

Ana soon realized that she would never be enough for Christian after he whipped her, making her break up with him. When Ana gets back together with Christian, she tells him that he makes her feel like she is constantly stepping on glass, and she feels uncertain about what Christian wants from her.

Love

This is me, Ana. All of me … and I’m all yours. What do I have to do to make you realize that? To make you see that I want you any way I can get you. That I love you.

Though Christian acted cold when he first met Ana, he eventually fell in love with her. The quote above is a statement he makes reaffirming that he loves her regardless of whether she is a submissive or not. Before admitting his love for her, Christian hid his past, afraid that when Ana found out the reason for his peculiar taste in women, she would leave him. However, he admitted that his past trauma prevented him from expressing his true feelings and thoughts.

From his inside jacket pocket, he produces a ring and gazes up at me, his eyes bright gray and raw, full of emotion. ‘Anastasia Steele, I love you. I want to love, cherish and protect you for the rest of my life. Be mine. Always. Share my life with me. Marry me.’

After Christian began wrestling his inner demons, he admitted to himself that the only woman he needed in his life was Ana. The quote above is the moment he proposes to her. He concluded that she was the perfect woman for him because she loved him without judging him.

I can’t imagine my life without you, Christian. I love you so much it frightens me.

Ana realized she could not spend a day without thinking about Christian when she left him. Her love for him made her an addict to his touch as she became a shadow of herself. She made the statement above when admitting that she does not want to be in a world where she cannot love him.

But I’m a selfish man. I’ve wanted you since you fell into my office. You are exquisite, honest, warm, strong, witty, beguilingly innocent; the list is endless. I’m in awe of you. I want you, and the thought of anyone else having you is like a knife twisting in my dark soul.

The quote above is a statement Christian made admitting to Ana that he has always wanted her. He stated that he loved her personality and innocence. Though he also felt drawn to her because she had an appearance similar to his mother, he admitted that he later fell in love with her.

The Value of Love

I’m anything but fine. I feel like the sun has set and not risen for five days, Ana. I’m in perpetual night here.

Christian struggled to return to his life after Ana left him. However, he realized that without her, his life was somehow more terrible than it was before. He desperately tried to get her back. The quote above represented the moment he told her how valuable she was to him.

Life’s Process

We have to learn to walk before we can run.

The quote above explains that everything in life happens gradually and not instantaneously. It explains that small processes are the foundation of change.

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