How a Secretary Learns S/M Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 821 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 3

Secretary

The protagonist in "Secretary," Lee (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), goes from recently having been released from a mental institution, to learning how to type, to a job with an odd, controlling lawyer, to being his mistress of pain, to becoming his happy, horny lover at the end. It is quite a bizarre and sometimes erotic ride through this "R-rated" film. James Spader plays the part of the attorney (E. Edward Grey), and he leads this naive but attractive woman -- who is on her very first job -- through some cruel, creepy scenes.

Referring to this picture as a romantic comedy would be a stretch. On the face of it, it's about a woman struggling to become a normal working woman who is into cutting herself on a regular basis -- until her lawyer boss provides hard spanking as a substitute for the pain from cutting her legs. This is more of a psychological story than a romantic story, albeit there is romance at the end of the film.

The frequent flashbacks and vivid imaginary scenes cause a viewer to wonder -- is this scene real or is it a sly interjection of surrealism courtesy of director Steven Shainberg? There is plenty of sexual tension and Spader and Gyllenhaal are extremely well cast. The lawyer is ultra picky about her clothes, her hair, the fact that she sniffles -- but its only because the audience comes to realize he likes her and is attracted to her but he has his own hang-ups.

Stuck Writing Your "How a Secretary Learns S/M" Essay?

View All Our Example How a Secretary Learns S/M Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

He has obviously been through a number of secretaries; the sign on his front gate advertising a job for a secretary is permanent.

Although the theme running through much of the film is sadomasochism, and there are a few nude scenes and hard spanking, the bondage is nowhere near what film goers experience in "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Spader's character Grey confuses Lee; just when Lee is getting into being submissive and letting her lawyer boss spank her and otherwise dominate her, Grey pulls back. Lee misses his orneriness and his obsessive spankings, and she begins to masturbate while fanaticizing about Grey. Oddly, one day Grey orders Lee to bend over the desk as he often has and she is thrilled because it's been quite a long time since his last spanking. However, this time he asks her to pull down her pantyhose. She is curiously delighted,….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"How A Secretary Learns S M" (2015, March 14) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/secretary-learns-s-m-2149606

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"How A Secretary Learns S M" 14 March 2015. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/secretary-learns-s-m-2149606>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"How A Secretary Learns S M", 14 March 2015, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/secretary-learns-s-m-2149606
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example