Shades of Grey (James)

Ana is innocence. She is twenty-one, but she has never had a boyfriend, never even been kissed with more passion than that of a good friend. For this reason, she is deeply innocent of the ways between a man and a woman.

Christian was abused as a child and has been involved in the BDSM lifestyle since he was fifteen. Christian is very controlled in his life, keeping everything clear and honest, but also indulging in some of the darker sides of the Dominant lifestyle, such as spankings and canings. For this reason, it is clear that Christian is very cynical in his approach to life.

When Ana and Christian meet, there is instant attraction. At the same time, there is a clash between their levels of experience. Christian teaches Ana things that take away some of her innocence, while Ana brings to Christian a level of emotion that helps alleviate some of his cynicism. For this reason, innocence versus cynicism is a theme of the novel.